RetroBar releases and changelog

New features

• Dragging a file onto the Show Desktop button now automatically triggers the button (#1287)
• Input language and keyboard layout can now be changed from the taskbar (#68, thanks @SlavaArduino12345!)
• Notification area icons can now be rearranged by dragging them (#1207, thanks @xoascf!)
• The blur effect behind transparent taskbar themes can now be disabled with a setting (#1303)
• Font smoothing can now be independently controlled for context menus (#1401, thanks @rmnmjw!)
• New translations:
  • Belarusian (беларуская) (#1276 and #1441, thanks @pavel-chumakou and @Traindere!)
  • Danish (dansk) (#1421 and #1441, thanks DeepL and @Traindere!)
  • Icelandic (íslenska) (#1289, #1421, and #1441, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Macedonian (Македонски) (#1421 and #1441, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Maltese (Malti) (#1289, #1421 and #1441, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Norsk (bokmål) (#1280, #1421, and #1441, thanks DeepL and @Traindere!)
  • Slovak (slovenščina) (#1421 and #1441, thanks MrRedDiamond and @Traindere!)
  • Welsh (Cymraeg) (#1421 and #1441, thanks Iestyn Phelps and @Traindere!)

Improvements

• RetroBar has been updated to use .NET 10 instead of .NET 6 when running on Windows 10 or later (#1271)
• Portable versions of RetroBar are now available from a single download (#1400)
• The settings in the properties window have been rearranged, and the properties window no longer changes height when switching tabs (#1424)
• Fixed RetroBar starting up thinking that Explorer is not the shell in some configurations (#1359, thanks @xpewster!)
• Fixed shrunken taskbar buttons sometimes leaving a gap at the end of the taskbar (#139, thanks @rmnmjw!)
• Fixed taskbar buttons sometimes showing on the wrong monitor after sleep (#1354, thanks @SMUsamaShah!)
• Fixed the input language displaying incorrectly for certain applications (#1439, thanks @diomed16!)
• Fixed the option to automatically start RetroBar on login not working when the installed path contains a space (#1355, thanks @madbrain76!)
• Fixed the Windows Vista start button sometimes showing above full-screen windows (#1442)
• Fixed the Windows Vista start button top being clipped after closing a full-screen window (#1437)
• Fixed the Windows Vista start button top being clipped on high DPI (#1404, thanks @rmnmjw!)
• Fixed the Windows XP themes' active task title not showing sunken on vertical taskbars (#1436)
• Improved accuracy of the Windows Vista Aero theme taskbar background (#1340, thanks @custosoft!)
• When using RetroBar over Remote Desktop, hardware acceleration now works on .NET 10 builds (#1425)
• Updated translations:
  • Arabic (العربية) (#1286 and #1444, thanks @YoucefGuenaoua!)
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#1301, #1421, #1434, and #1448, thanks @som3rando and @Traindere!)
  • Dutch (Nederlands) (#1449, thanks Kabir Awan!)
  • Finnish (Suomi) (#1449, thanks @Traindere!)
  • French (français) (#1363 and #1441, thanks @Maxokie and @Traindere!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#1270, #1369, #1421, and #1441, thanks @uDEV2019 and @Traindere!)
  • Greek (ελληνικά) (#1449, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Hungarian (magyar) (#1449, thanks Benedek Halda-Kiss!)
  • Italian (italiano) (#1421 and #1441, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Japanese (日本語) (#1432, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Korean (한국어) (#1449, thanks Kim_0162!)
  • Polish (polski) (#1299 and #1441, thanks @JacekLub and nywitrzy (Aleksander Kostrzynski)!)
  • Romanian (română) (#1279, #1421, and #1441, thanks @Traindere!)
  • Russian (русский) (#1274 and #1441, thanks @1280px and @Traindere!)
  • Serbian (Cyrillic) (српски) (#1345 and #1441, thanks @rammba and @Traindere!)
  • Serbian (Latin) (srpski) (#1345 and #1441, thanks @rammba and @Traindere!)
  • Spanish (español) (#1421 and #1432, thanks @Traindere and @xoascf!)
  • Swedish (svenska) (#1421 and #1441, thanks DeepL and @Traindere!)
  • Turkish (Türkçe) (#1275 and #1438, thanks @mutoyoru and @CodeAru!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#1441, thanks @Traindere!)

Release 1.22.122 on GitHub

New features

• Added Japanese IME to the input language toolbar (#1164, thanks @moetuki!)
• Added option to show an "end task" option when right-clicking a task (#1235, thanks @Seebule!)
• When "Win+[0-9] hotkeys action" is set to "Switch tasks", holding the shift key now creates a new instance of the task instead (#1221, thanks @xoascf!)

Improvements

• Fixed multiple memory leaks (#1192)
• Fixed task buttons sometimes not appearing when using multiple rows (#1208)
• The taskbar is now accessible over a fullscreen app when the Start menu is open (#1232)
• Updated translations:
  • Catalan (català) (#1170, thanks @jvfjordiv!)
  • Ukrainian (українська) (#1188, thanks @mshcherbyna99!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#1231, thanks @michioxd!)
  • Installer: French (français), Polish (polski), Russian (русский) (#1126, thanks @JacekLub!)

Release 1.21.32 on GitHub

New features

• Added option to map the Win+[0-9] hotkeys to RetroBar (#70, thanks @noxrim!)
  • Allows using hotkeys to switch windows or to open Quick Launch items
• Added update check and license to the installer (#1119, thanks @xoascf!)

Improvements

• Fixed the taskbar sometimes behaving incorrectly after switching themes (#1155)
• Fixed closing a task from the taskbar not bringing prompts (i.e. for unsaved data) to the foreground
• Fixed handle leak
• Fixed some tasks not being removed from the taskbar when requested
• Reduced the size of the installer (#1119, thanks @xoascf!)
• Updated translations:
  • French (français) (#1124, thanks @JacekLub!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#1103, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Japanese (日本語) (#1041, thanks @Truars!)
  • Polish (polski) (#1120, thanks @JacekLub!)
  • Russian (русский) (#1121, thanks @JacekLub!)
  • Spanish (español) (#1102 and #1119, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#1117, thanks @doletrandat!)

Release 1.20.37 on GitHub

New features

• Added an installer (#887)
  • Automatically installs the correct version of RetroBar (32-bit, 64-bit, or ARM64)
  • Automatically installs .NET 6 if it is missing
  • Has options to enable auto-start and/or add shortcuts
  • Fixes miscellaneous issues (such as missing theme files) that occurred when the temp folder is cleaned (#733, #751, #796, #855, #908, #1029)
  • The existing "portable" distribution format will continue to be available as well!
• Added option to show seconds in the clock (#217)
• Added shortcut to the custom themes folder in RetroBar Properties > Advanced (#279)

Improvements

• Fixed calendar region settings not being respected (#200, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed context menu fonts not matching the theme (#1032)
• Fixed many situations where RetroBar would cover full-screen apps (#1077)
• Fixed some conditions where RetroBar could steal focus (#987)
• Fixed taskbar buttons not being selected when right-clicking them (#1034)
• Fixed taskbars sometimes not opening on all screens when configured to do so (#1087)
• Fixed task thumbnails not updating size (#1078, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed tasks sometimes showing on the wrong taskbar after adding/removing a monitor (#1077)
• Fixed tasks staying in the taskbar after being closed when restarting explorer.exe on some versions of Windows (#1074)
• Fixed the taskbar sometimes becoming blank when switching themes (#1079)
• Fixed the Vista start orb appearing misplaced in some situations (#1042)
• Fixed the Vista start orb appearing off-screen when using auto-hide (#1047)
• Updated translations:
  • Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体)) (#1055, #1056, thanks @Simpidbit!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#1031, #1065, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Ukrainian (українська) (#1033, thanks @Truars!)

Release 1.19.43 on GitHub

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 the Start button on all taskbars when using multiple monitors (#158)
  • Available in Windows 10 and 11
• Clicking the clock can now optionally do one of the following: (#992, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Show the Windows Aero-style clock/calendar flyout (#732)
  • Show the Windows 10 Modern-style clock/calendar flyout (#342)
  • Show the Notification Center ("Action Center" on Windows 10)
• Windows minimize/restore animations now use the RetroBar taskbar button location (#254)
  • If the button is on multiple taskbars, the primary is used
• Added option for XP-style horizontal taskbar slide animation (#501)
• Added option to hide the "Exit RetroBar" menu item (#874)
• Added option to hide the taskbar line when using auto-hide (#769)

Improvements

• Fixed auto-hide taskbars on a secondary screen with high DPI opening off-screen (#1030)
• Fixed delay when clicking on the clock to show the Notification Center (#992, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed disabled windows, which can't be restored, being allowed to minimize (#1030)
• Fixed first selected window un-maximizing (#997)
• Fixed focus issue when minimizing a window using the taskbar (#428)
• Fixed notification area context menu items sometimes showing in the main taskbar context menu (#1004, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed some non-full-screen-able windows going in front of the taskbar like a full-screen window (#1030)
• Fixed Start menu window showing in the taskbar in early versions of Windows 10 (#765)
• Improved performance on Windows 8 and newer (#1030)
• Set the "Adjust Date/Time" menu item boldness per-theme for better accuracy (#1007)
• Updated translations:
  • Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体)) (#973, thanks @wcxu21! #1003, thanks @yangyangdaji!)
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#1005, thanks @som3rando!)
  • Persian (فارسی) (#993, thanks @Muhammad-Noraeii!)
  • Portuguese (português) (#1011, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (русский) (#986, thanks @aeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiou! #1015, thanks @1280px!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) (#982, #983, thanks @michioxd!)

Release 1.18.56 on GitHub

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

• The taskbar can now be resized! (#14)
  • When the taskbar is on the top or bottom, making it larger adds rows (#928, thanks @Avid29!)
  • When the taskbar is on the left or right, it can be made wider (#962)
  • You can resize the taskbar while it is unlocked, or from the Properties window
• Added a System Vista theme (#718)

Improvements

• When switching virtual desktops, the taskbar will now show the correct windows (#131)
• Hidden files and folders will no longer unintentionally be shown in Quick Launch (#856)
• Holding the shift key while middle-clicking a task now performs the opposite action to what is configured (#966)
• Fixed Explorer crash loop after restarting Explorer while RetroBar is running on Windows 11 (#457)
• Fixed RetroBar behaving improperly after restarting Explorer (#96, thanks @MKKNinetyTwo!)
• Fixed RetroBar crashing if the log file can't be created (#523)
• Updated translations:
  • Croatian (hrvatski) (#952, thanks @som3rando!)
  • German (Deutsch) (#823 and #954, thanks @uDEV2019!)
  • Hungarian (magyar) (#825, thanks @56k-modem!)
  • Polish (polski) (#868, thanks @starleaf-luna!)
  • Russian (русский) (#867 and #948, thanks @aeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiouaeiou!)
  • Spanish (español) (thanks @xoascf!)
  • Turkish (Türkçe) (#834, thanks @mutoyoru!)

Release 1.17.71 on GitHub

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 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!)

Release 1.16.34 on GitHub

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 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)

Release 1.15.33 on GitHub

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

• 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!)

Release 1.14.11 on GitHub

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 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!)

Release 1.13.30 on GitHub

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

• 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!)

Release 1.12.39 on GitHub

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!)

Release 1.11.15 on GitHub

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)

Release 1.10.2 on GitHub

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!)

Release 1.9.46 on GitHub

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!)

Release 1.8.45 on GitHub

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

Release 1.7.30 on GitHub

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!)

Release 1.6.9 on GitHub

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

Release 1.5.6 on GitHub

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

Release 1.4.42 on GitHub

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

Release 1.3.9 on GitHub

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

Release 1.2.15 on GitHub

• 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").

Release 1.1.1 on GitHub

• 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").

Release 1.0.17 on GitHub

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").

Release 1.0.8 on GitHub