RetroBar

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

[!IMPORTANT]
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Added more settings for notification area icons:
  • Added a "remove" behavior setting for notification icons, which allows you to completely remove an icon from the notification area (#338)
  • Added an "always hide" behavior setting for notification icons, which will suppress notifications from an icon
  • In the "Customize Notifications" window, you may now select which icons will be inverted per the "invert system icons" advanced setting. The window shows icons in their inverted state if selected. (#812)
  • Notification area icons can now be optionally inverted on Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Added new advanced options: (#810, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Automatic update checks can be disabled
  • Added a "do nothing" option for using the middle mouse button on a task
• Badges can now be shown on taskbar icons (#797)
• Support for Basque (euskara) (#802, thanks @erlgr!)

Improvements

• Fixed an error appearing when the "show input language" option is enabled (#758)
• Fixed an issue that could cause the taskbar to get stuck visible while auto-hide is enabled
• Fixed the taskbar being one pixel away from the screen edge with certain scaling settings (#735)
• Fixed the Show Desktop button being difficult to click on the Windows 9x themes (#680)
• Fixed the taskbar scale setting causing an incorrectly sized taskbar when the taskbar is not locked (#806)
• Updated translations:
  • Chinese (Traditional) (中文(繁體)) (#788, thanks @karurosuma!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#789, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch) (#759, thanks @VoXaN24!)
  • Portuguese (português) (#809, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (русский) (#763, thanks @aeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiou!)
  • Spanish (español) (#807, thanks @xoascf!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

[!IMPORTANT]
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Added option to show the input language on the taskbar (#744, thanks @igprya!)
• Network and Power system notification area icons in Windows 11 now open the specific network or power flyout with version 22H2 or later
• Notification area icons can now be middle-clicked (#703)
• Support for Thai (ไทย) (#674, thanks @sfaraway91!)

Improvements

• Improved Windows Vista Aero and Basic themes with scaling/high DPI (#740)
• Improved properties window to better reflect the unlocked taskbar
• Fixed tooltips unexpectedly appearing (#364)
• Fixed auto-hide animation and XP unlocked appearance with RTL languages (#672, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed inverting system icons when using software rendering (#700, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed notification area icons for some apps, such as DS4Windows, not functioning (#730)
• Fixed some potential errors when taskbar items change (#699)
• Fixed some potential errors when changing theme (#687, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed system icons not working in Windows 11 with ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack (#737)
• Updated translations:
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#678, thanks @som3rando!)
  • Portuguese (português) (#725, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (русский) (#755)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Note
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Changed how RetroBar stores settings, so future updates after this one will no longer clear all settings (#666)
• Support for Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch) (#652, thanks @VoXaN24!)

Improvements

• (hotfix) Fixed errors in the Properties window when changing language (#670, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed issues with the Windows Vista theme images (#607, #627)
• Fixed occasional missing taskbar items after system display changes when showing RetroBar on multiple monitors, using the "same taskbar as window" setting (#499)
• Fixed the Properties window preview when the taskbar is unlocked with quick launch disabled (#668)
• Updates to translations:
  • Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体)) (#642, thanks @yangyangdaji!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#641, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Serbian (српски, srpski) (#658, thanks @bzzrak!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Turkish (Türkçe) (#667, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#644, thanks @cheesethesylveon!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Note
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Changed how RetroBar stores settings, so future updates after this one will no longer clear all settings (#666)
• Support for Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch) (#652, thanks @VoXaN24!)

Improvements

• Fixed issues with the Windows Vista theme images (#607, #627)
• Fixed occasional missing taskbar items after system display changes when showing RetroBar on multiple monitors, using the "same taskbar as window" setting (#499)
• Fixed the Properties window preview when the taskbar is unlocked with quick launch disabled (#668)
• Updates to translations:
  • Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体)) (#642, thanks @yangyangdaji!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#641, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Serbian (српски, srpski) (#658, thanks @bzzrak!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Turkish (Türkçe) (#667, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#644, thanks @cheesethesylveon!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Note
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Added auto-hide feature (#77)
• The taskbar can now be locked or unlocked (#498)
  • When unlocked, the taskbar can be dragged to another edge of the screen
• Added setting to control system icon invert (#637)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Latvian (latviešu) (#626, thanks @WF4123!)
  • Slovak (slovenčina) (#620, thanks @SAMUELLL41!)

Improvements

• Fixed issue moving the taskbar from the left edge to the top edge in Windows 7
• Improved performance when moving the taskbar
• Updates to translations:
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#573, thanks @som3rando!)
  • Persian (فارسی) (#599, thanks @ejrv!)
  • Polish (polski) (#591, thanks @MeTonaTOR!)
  • Serbian (srpski, српски) (#576, thanks @bzzrak!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Ukrainian (українська) (#609, thanks @CsyeCokTheSolly!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#589, #622, thanks @michioxd and @cheesethesylveon!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Note
Windows 11 users: Recent updates have impacted RetroBar's ability to hide the default Windows taskbar. Before starting RetroBar, it is recommended to open Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, select "Taskbar behaviors", then enable "Automatically hide the taskbar."

New features

• Option to enable a Show Desktop icon at the end of the taskbar (#84, thanks @xoascf!)
  • This also supports peek, which can be enabled in the right-click menu
• Option to scale the taskbar to be a larger size (#480)
• Option to close windows on middle-click (#516, thanks @fediaFedia!)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#483, #489, #511, #534, thanks @som3rando!)
  • Malay (Melayu) (#473, thanks @zct823!)
  • Persian (فارسی) (#528, thanks @ejrv!)
  • Serbian (Cyrillic) (српски) (#531, thanks @bzzrak!)
  • Serbian (Latin) (srpski) (#531, thanks @bzzrak!)
  • Ukrainian (українська) (#525, thanks @csyecokthesolly!)
• Themes such as this one can now center taskbar items (#526)

Improvements

• Debug logging is no longer enabled by default and is now an option (#523)
• Fixed clock AM/PM symbol and separators not changing with system settings (#477, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed issues when using multiple displays with mixed DPI (#456)
• Fixed System XP theme not changing color dynamically (#520)
• Fixed system fonts not being used on system themes (#509)
• Fixed version localization in the Properties window (#472, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed an error that could occur with quick launch enabled (#560)
• Fixed the Vista start button spilling over onto vertically stacked monitors (#563, thanks @khalleu!)
• Improved spacing around quick launch icons on secondary monitors (#533)
• Improvements to the Properties window (#532)
• Miscellaneous improvements to all languages (#547, thanks @xoascf!)
• Additional language updates:
  • Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体)) (#470, thanks @wcxu21!)
  • Polish (polski) (#522, thanks @MeTonaTOR!)
  • Portuguese (português) (#539, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (русский) (#537, thanks @1280px!)
  • Spanish (español) (#517, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Turkish (Türkçe) (#484, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#497, thanks @s1stine!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

New features

• Added option to show window thumbnails on hover (#408)
• For systems with multiple displays, added options to show tasks on: (#439)
  • All taskbars
  • Same taskbar as window
  • Same taskbar as window and primary taskbar
• Shift-clicking 'Exit RetroBar' will now restart it instead (#402)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Swedish (#438, thanks @maclermo!)
  • Indonesian (#437, thanks @leap0x7b!)

Improvements

• Moved "RetroBar" settings section to its own tab, added version information, and a GitHub link (#184)
• Custom themes and languages can now also be installed to %localappdata%\RetroBar\Themes or %localappdata%\RetroBar\Languages
• Improved error handling
• Updated languages:
  • Catalan (#444, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Russian (#460, thanks @1280px!)
  • Vietnamese (#454, thanks @michioxd!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Starting with v1.9, RetroBar requires .NET 6.0.2 or later instead of .NET Core 3.1. If you haven't already, download the .NET 6 desktop runtime.

New features

• Added progress indicator to tasks (#387)
• Drag items into Quick Launch to create a shortcut (#378)
• Drag items onto the Start button to open the Start menu (#378)
• Location, microphone, and Windows Update icons are now inverted when they should be (#427)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Catalan (#390, thanks @jvfjordiv!)
  • Lithuanian (#376, thanks @ItsMeSaturn and @xoascf!)

Improvements

• Fixed non-grayscale colors inverting on notify icons
• Improved colors on Vista Basic theme (#414, thanks @xoascf!)
• Text on Start button is always smoothed on XP non-classic themes (#391)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

Starting with v1.9, RetroBar requires .NET 6.0.2 or later instead of .NET Core 3.1. If you haven't already, download the .NET 6 desktop runtime.

New features

• ARM64 system support (#66)
• New themes:
  • Windows Longhorn Aero (#350)
  • Windows Vista Aero (#15)
  • Windows Vista Basic
• Support for additional languages:
  • Bulgarian (#348, thanks @SA2180!)
  • Traditional Chinese (#322, thanks @karurosuma!)
  • Dutch (#323, thanks @Mathijsz!)
  • Romanian (#345 and #347, thanks @florinsdistortedvision and @Edward205!)
  • Korean (#359, thanks @Y0Pa!)

Improvements

• Fixed balloon notifications sometimes appearing on the wrong monitor (#311)
• Fixed popup windows not being brought to foreground by the taskbar (#353)
• Fixed positioning issues with tray icons on multiple monitors
• Fixed the scrollbar showing in the taskbar unexpectedly (#314)
• Fixed the taskbar not showing when pressing the Windows key in a full-screen app (#171)
• Fixed taskbar buttons being too short in some themes (#333)
• Fixed spacing issues in some themes (#341, #375)
• Updated languages:
  • Russian (#309, thanks @iDolmatov!)
  • Vietnamese (#324, thanks @Toasty9004Dev!)
• Updated XP themes to show the date on vertical taskbars (#374)
• Theme authors can now add a Vista-like protruding Start button by setting UseFloatingStartButton to True in the theme
• Theme authors can now customize the layout of the clock (#300, thanks @xoascf!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

New features

• 32-bit system support (#143)
• New themes:
  • Windows XP Embedded Style (#266, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Windows XP Olive Green (#195)
  • Windows XP Royale (#263)
  • Windows XP Royale Noir (#235, thanks @lpmusicon!)
  • Windows XP Zune Style (#266, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Windows Vista Classic (#296, thanks @xoascf!)
• Scrolling over the volume icon changes volume (#264, thanks @xoascf!)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Czech (#238, thanks @mrflamist!)
  • English (United Kingdom) (#256, thanks @mrflamist!)
  • German (#230, thanks @0x5066!)
  • Greek (#257, thanks @ColdSalt09!)
  • Turkish (#232, thanks @mutoyoru!)
• System notification area icons that are monochrome white are now dark when necessary (#41)

Improvements

• Accuracy improvements for the Windows XP Classic theme (#248, thanks @xoascf!)
• Custom themes can use large icons by setting UseLargeIcons to True (#289)
• Default task context menu item is now correctly bold (#253, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed clock position on Windows XP Blue and Silver themes (#270)
• Fixed Explorer taskbar sometimes stuck in autohide after closing RetroBar
• Fixed Start button not appearing as pressed (#255, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed Start button showing outline (#133, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed windows sometimes maximizing to the wrong size, especially on Windows 7
• Improved reliability of customized notification area icons (#261)
• Updated languages:
  • Polish (#301)
  • Portuguese (#229, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#228, thanks @wcxu21!)
  • Spanish (#247, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Vietnamese (#241, thanks @michioxd!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Collapsed icons in the notification area are individually configurable (#47)
• Taskbar buttons and quick launch icons can be re-arranged via drag-and-drop (#19)
• System theme option with XP flag (#28)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Arabic (#196, thanks @WindowsNinetyTen!)
  • Italian (#212, thanks @Davoleo!)
  • Polish (#219, thanks @setmatrix!)

Improvements

• Updated the properties window layout to more closely resemble Windows XP, with accurate previews (#221)
• Font smoothing settings are respected in context menus
• The context menu near the clock shows all items
• Prevented duplicate instances of RetroBar starting (#136)
• Fixed RetroBar not starting with Magnifier open in docked mode (#186)
• Fixed pressing quick launch buttons occasionally shifting the taskbar (#225)
• Updated languages:
  • Russian (#216, thanks @1280px!)
  • Spanish (#211, thanks @xoascf!)
• License is now included

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Windows XP Silver theme (#115, thanks @xoascf!)
• Option to use software rendering if necessary (#57, #130)
• Right-to-left language support (#132, thanks @xoascf!)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Hebrew (#142, thanks @novatiberium!)
  • Japanese (#182, thanks @noyciy7037!)
  • Vietnamese (#160, thanks @michioxd!)

Improvements

• Fixed Chromium-based apps, Firefox, and others incorrectly thinking the taskbar is auto-hidden and displaying a gap at the bottom of their window (#53)
• Fixed clock not reflecting changes to system region settings (#156, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed middle-click on UWP apps not opening a new instance on supported apps (#174)
• Fixed Open Shell Menu sometimes not appearing correctly (#159)
• Fixed some applications not starting from quick launch due to an incorrect working directory
• Improved appearance of scrollbars on Windows XP Blue theme (#185, thanks @xoascf!)
• Updated languages:
  • French (#176, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Hungarian (#179, thanks @webmaster442!)
  • Portuguese (#166, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (#163, thanks @1280px!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#154, thanks @wcxu21!)

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Option to show the taskbar, notification area, and clock on multiple monitors (#13)
• Left-clicking the clock now opens Action Center on Windows 10 (#146)
• Added new languages:
  • Brazilian Portuguese (#113, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Hungarian (#134, thanks @webmaster442!)
  • Russian (#122, thanks @1280px!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#111, thanks @wcxu21!)

Improvements

• Fixed the start button getting stuck on Windows 7
• Fixed double-clicking the clock on Windows 11 also opening notification center
• Fixed a line showing next to the Windows XP Blue start button with high DPI (#43, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed appearance of the notification area toggle with no pinned icons visible
• Improved accuracy of Task Manager menu item (#116)
• Improved appearance when changing DPI with RetroBar running

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• The taskbar can now be shown on any side of the screen, even on Windows 11 (#50)
• Balloon notifications are now shown when RetroBar is running (#51)
• Windows 11 support
  • Power/Network/Volume notification area icons now correctly open the action center (#65)
  • Left-clicking on the clock now opens the calendar and notification center (#46)
• Support for multiple languages (#34 - thanks @xoascf!)
  • English
  • Español (translation by @xoascf)
  • Français (translation by @VoXaN24)
• When an update is available, an unobtrusive notification will appear in the RetroBar context menu (#105)

Improvements

• Start button correctly stays pressed when the start menu is open for non-English users, Windows 7 and 8, as well as alternate Start menus such as Open Shell, StartIsBack, and Start8/10 (#40, #60)
• Log files are now available in %localappdata%\RetroBar\Logs
• Improved keyboard navigation (#72)
• System theme now uses the system font (#20)
• Fixed some notification area flyouts appearing at the top of the screen (#81)
• Fixed some minor issues when changing themes
• Fixed some Windows 8 shell windows incorrectly appearing in the taskbar

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Font smoothing is now configurable
• Option to start RetroBar automatically at logon (#12)
• Uses the Windows 10 start button context menu for better usability
• Windows XP-style collapsible notification area option (#25)
  • Always shows system icons (power, network, sound)

Improvements

• Start button correctly stays pressed when the start menu is open, and clicking it again closes the start menu (#33)
• The properties window can no longer have multiple instances
• Fixed a condition that could cause the notification area to be unresponsive
• Fixed .scf files such as "Show Desktop" not working (#21)
• Fixed settings being forgotten in certain cases
• Fixed the Explorer taskbar sometimes appearing while RetroBar is open

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Click in the taskbar margins to activate buttons (#22)
• Drag over a taskbar button to restore that window (#16)
• Middle-click on taskbar buttons to open a new window
• More windows visible at a time in a scrolling taskbar
• Support for hiding system notification icons via GPO/registry (#11)
• Support for transparent themes
• Watercolor theme (modeled after build 2416 for the most part)

Improvements

• Fixed appearance and behavior of flashing taskbar items
• Fixed appearance and behavior of the taskbar overflow scrollbar
• Fixed layout of taskbar when using non-integer scaling
• Fixed overflowed taskbar button size sometimes being incorrect
• Fixed overflowed taskbar not scrolling to active window when switching windows
• Fixed RetroBar covering some full-screen apps
• Fixed some notification icons not appearing or working incorrectly (#11)
• Fixed some windows not restoring correctly when clicked in the taskbar
• Fixed sounds not playing for minimize/restore when enabled
• Fixed system theme not updating when system color scheme changed
• Fixed UWP app icons not showing for some windows

• Added a basic quick launch toolbar (#8)
• Improved compatibility

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

• Fixed custom themes not appearing (#7)
• Bug fixes

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

Initial release! Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").