Can't reveal windows taskbar when set to autohide

[omriasta]

Describe the bug A clear and concise description of what the bug is. When a windows client computer has the taskbar set to autohide, usually hovering the mouse at the bottom of the screen will reveal the taskbar however this does not work when remote controlling from meshcentral. Placing the mouse cursor at the bottom of the screen does not cause the taskbar to appear. At this time as a workaround, I am "sending" the windows key to reveal the taskbar. To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Go to remote control a windows desktop that has taskbar set to autohide
2. Click on the bottom of the screen to try and cause the taskbar to pop up

Expected behavior A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen. Placing the cursor at the bottom of the screen of the client computer should cause the taskbar to appear Screenshots If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem. See attached screenshot with the setting to autohide taskbar as well as the cursor at the bottom of the screen which doesn't cause the taskbar to appear.

Server Software (please complete the following information):

• OS: Amazon Linux 2
• Virtualization: [e.g. Docker]
• Network: [e.g. LAN/WAN, reverse proxy, cloudflare, ssl offload, etc...]
• Version: [e.g. 1.0.43] 1.0.60
• Node: [e.g. 18.4.0] 16.16.0

Client Device (please complete the following information):

• Device: [e.g. Laptop] Laptop
• OS: [e.g. Ubuntu] Ubuntu 22.04
• Network: [e.g. Local to Meshcentral, Remote over WAN]
• Browser: [e.g. Google Chrome] Google Chrome
• MeshCentralRouter Version: [if applicable]

Remote Device (please complete the following information):

• Device: [e.g. Laptop] Laptop and Tablet
• OS: [e.g. Windows 10 21H2] Windows 10 as well as Windows 11
• Network: [e.g. Local to Meshcentral, Remote over WAN] Remote over WAN
• Current Core Version (if known):Current Core: Mar 25 2022, 1851657594

Additional context Add any other context about the problem here.

Your config.json file

{
  "$schema": "http://info.meshcentral.com/downloads/meshcentral-config-schema.json",
  "__comment1__": "This is a simple configuration file, all values and sections that start with underscore (_) are ignored. Edit a section and remove the _ in front of the name. Refer to the user's guide for details.",
  "__comment2__": "See node_modules/meshcentral/sample-config-advanced.json for a more advanced example.",
  "settings": {
    "_cert": "myserver.mydomain.com",
    "_WANonly": true,
    "_LANonly": true,
    "_sessionKey": "MyReallySecretPassword1",
    "_port": 443,
    "_aliasPort": 443,
    "_redirPort": 80,
    "_redirAliasPort": 80
  },
  "domains": {
    "": {
      "_title": "MyServer",
      "_title2": "Servername",
      "_minify": true,
      "_newAccounts": true,
      "_userNameIsEmail": true
    }
  },
  "_letsencrypt": {
    "__comment__": "Requires NodeJS 8.x or better, Go to https://letsdebug.net/ first before trying Let's Encrypt.",
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "names": "myserver.mydomain.com",
    "production": false
  }
}

[silversword411]

I'm not sure this is a mesh problem.

Windows uses speed as well as location to "show" a hidden taskbar. So with the "right" mouse moving you can get it to show...it's just tricky because mesh is usually in a browser (have you tried full-screen <F11>) mode?

Really, you're hiding the taskbar because your remote resolution is low. Increase it, make your life easier.

I guess you could run a script that would adjust the reg key that does hide/show on mesh connecting...but really?

[omriasta]

It's actually set by the user, not me because they use certain software that displays at full screen and the taskbar hides certain buttons..... it's odd as this works fine with teamviewer and other remote software...just meshcentral doesn't seem to pick up on this...

[si458]

ive just tried this myself with 1.0.63 and i have no issues? task bar shown, then into setting and hide it, mouse over the bottom and it gets shown?

[si458]

@omriasta found a work around for you to try - help from this link https://winbuzzer.com/2021/03/19/how-to-hide-or-unhide-the-taskbar-in-windows-10-auto-hide-xcxwbt/

1. open up a User Shell in terminal (terminal tab then right click connect)
2. RUN TO TURN OFF AUTO-HIDE powershell -command "&{$p='HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3';$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=2;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"
3. connect to computer and use with taskbar visible
4. once finished go back to terminal tab
5. RUN TO TURN ON AUTO-HIDE powershell -command "&{$p='HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3';$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=3;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"

[krayon007]

It would be interesting if I could add a configurable setting to set/reset autohide on connect/disconnect, if it was set.

[si458]

It would be interesting if I could add a configurable setting to set/reset autohide on connect/disconnect, if it was set.

That would be amazing!

In theory u could use the powershell script above to enable/disable the taskbar on the agent side It just simply changes the registry and restarts the explorer.exe Then @Ylianst could add an option to enable/disable the taskbar in the ui

[omriasta]

Thanks everyone...seems like quite a few suggestions but I think I'll just stick with sending the Win key to get access to the taskbar..for me it just seems faster and easier unless this is irking some of the other people here.

[krayon007]

Sometimes I think it's an artifact of the viewport resolution and mouse rectangle. I actually have the same problem with VMware when running windowed. I'm not able to get the taskbar and/or rdp bar to unhide, and that's when I'm sitting at the physical host machine.

[silversword411]

Win key

or ctrl+esc :)