SOLVED! Can’t Left-Click Taskbar Windows 10

For ease of convenience, Microsoft allows Windows users to access settings and apply changes by left-clicking sections of the taskbar. Usually, as soon as people left-click the taskbar, a menu is going to appear and they can begin changing things to their liking. However, from time to time, Windows users still complain that they can’t left-click taskbar Windows 10 for some reason. Read to the end if you want to know what might have gone wrong and how to restore the effect of left-clicking taskbar. 

The Usual Suspects

When you can’t left-click the taskbar on Windows 10, it is usually due to either software or hardware problems. For instance, your mouse might malfunction due to a build-up of dust or debris in the internal mechanism. With the dust/debris obstructing the components, you should have a hard time getting the clicks to register. Aside from that, a couple of issues could mess up the computer settings which result in hiccups. 

What Must Be Done

Disable Antivirus Programs 

Sometimes, antivirus programs could overreact and interfere with the functions of computers. Hence, if you notice that you can’t left-click taskbar Windows 10, it’s suggested that you disable your antivirus program.

• Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security > Windows security > Virus and threat protection > Manage Settings.
• Step 3: Turn off Real-time protection then restart your PC and see how things turn out. 

Run System File Checker (SFC) And Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Scans

For your information, it won’t take much for files on Windows 10 to become corrupted. Needless to say, when there is corruption among files that manage the mouse, mouse operations would go haywire. Because of that, if your mouse acts up, you must consider running System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

• Step 1: Press Windows + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).
• Step 2: Enter the command  DISM / Online / Cleanup-Image / Restorehealth. 
• Step 3: Once DISM scan concludes, enter the command scan now/SFC and let it run all the way as well. 
• Step 4: Close Command Prompt, restart your computer and left-click the taskbar when the screen returns to determine whether the problem persists. 

Restart Windows Explorer 

All in all, when fundamental features of Windows malfunction, it’s a good idea to restart Windows Explorer. 

• Step 1: Press Windows + X then select Task Manager.
• Step 2: Navigate to Windows Explorer, click it and choose Restart in the bottom right. 
• Step 3: Confirm if you can open menus by left-clicking the taskbar.

Disable Trackpoint 

TrackPoint is a feature available for quite a few laptops as well as keyboards for PC. While TrackPoint proves beneficial, it may complicate the performance of mouses every now and then. You can’t left-click taskbar Windows 10 and your computer contains TrackPoint? In that case, you should disable TrackPoint for good measure. 

• Step 1: Go to the Search bar, type Control panel and hit Enter.
• Step 2: Click Mouse then navigate to Touchpad > Pointing Stick > Disable.
• Step 3: Restart your computer.

System Restore

To put it plainly, System Restore permits Windows to bring their computer back to a point in the past where everything ran smoothly. If you take advantage of System Restore, you would be able to get rid of various issues including those that plague your mouse.

• Step 1: Press Windows + X then select System. 
• Step 2: Navigate to System Protection > System Restore > Next.
• Step 3: Choose a restore point, confirm the details of the restore point, click Finish and hit Next.
• Step 4: Wait for the restoration to complete. Your computer is going to automatically restart when the restoration wraps up. 

Switch 

If none of the above works, there is a good chance that your mouse is responsible. To test that possibility, you should go through the steps down below. 

• Step 1: Unplug your mouse and plug in another one. If the new mouse works, you could conclude that the original one is behind the problem. 
• Step 2: Unplug your mouse from the current USB port and plug it into another port. In case you don’t know, not all ports on computers share the same support for PC mouses.

Suggestions

• Keep Windows up-to-date
• Pay attention to driver updates 
• Clean your mouse regularly 

How Do I Move The Taskbar Around?

Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Next, go to Taskbar location on screen then set the position of the taskbar as you like. In addition, you could toggle the switch next to “Lock the taskbar” to “disabled” then drag the taskbar around at your leisure. 

Is It Possible To Reset My Taskbar?

You can reset the taskbar by resetting Windows Explorer (Task Manager > Processes > Windows Explorer > Restart).