Glitch related to mod 'Taskbar height and icon size'

[Caracarn]

Until recently I ran Windows 11 23H2 with Open Shell, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and ExplorerPatcher.
But after updating to 24H2, my favorite customizations were no longer working.
So I removed 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and ExplorerPatcher, and started using Windhawk.
No regrets so far. In fact, I like it so much that I will soon be hitting that donate button.

One weird thing has been happening though. Nearly always after login, a white box appears around the start button.
(You can observe the same effect when pressing TAB on your keyboard.)
Without doing anything, the white box disappears within seconds. Nonetheless it is an annoying glitch that I would like to get rid of.

Obviously I tried tracking down the source. First I used Windows for days without Windhawk running in the background. No problem.
Then I used Windows for days WITH Windhawk at startup, but all mods deactivated. Again, no problem.
One by one I began activating mods to see if the glitch reemerged. And it finally did, the first reboot after activating 'Taskbar height and icon size' mod.

To rule out conflicting mods, I deactivated all other mods and ran Windows only with this mod.
And yes, nearly every time after a reboot, the white box is back.
So to me, this confirms that somehow this mod is causing the glitch. No idea how or why, I only observed that it does.
Maybe a conflict with Open Shell start menu?

I am now hoping that someone here can shed some light on this situation and possibly figure out why this is happening.
Any additional information needed, I will provide.

In this post I have included a link to a video on youtube, that I had to record with the camera on my tablet.
Despite the low quality of the video, the problem can still easily be observed. Keep looking at the bottom left corner of the screen in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gyBnHEvDlBU

The settings in 'Taskbar height and icon size' are:

• Icon size 36
• Taskbar height 48
• Taskbar button width 56

[m417z]

Maybe a conflict with Open Shell start menu?

Maybe. I assume that it doesn't happen without it? If you change the mod's settings, does it cause the white box to appear?

Also, have you tried asking the Open Shell devs about it?

[Caracarn]

That's the one thing I haven't tried: running Windows without Open Shell start menu.
Don't like it, since I really hate the 'modern' start menu, but just to rule this out or confirm it, I'll try running Windows without it for a few days.

If it makes no difference, then I suppose changing the mod-settings will be next to try.
It will take a few days to provide definitive results though, since this issue shows up 8 or 9 times out of 10, and only after a reboot.

So I'll hold off on contacting Open Shell devs until I know more.
I'll keep you posted.

[Caracarn]

I've done some further testing and experimenting and I think I've narrowed the problem down to the start button.

Only 'Taskbar height and icon size' not active? No problems.
Only Open Shell start menu not running? No problems.
Both running simultaneously with preferred settings? White box around the start button.

So yes, there's clearly a conflict between those two. Let's go over the results of my experimenting.

I found out that if I use 'Taskbar height and icon size' as preferred (size 36 / height 48 / width 56) and use Open Shell with Replace Start button unchecked, everything works.

If I set 'icon size' in the mod to the default value, Open Shell also works with replacing the start button.

Changing 'icon size' not only changes the size of taskbar icons, but also the size of the start button.
And it appears that this is what causes the issue if the icon size is set beyond a certain value.

No idea how or why this conflict happens because of that.
I can only tell you that although the Open Shell start menu still works fine, the same can't be said for Open Shell taskbar customizations. And it doesn't look like they intend to fix it.

Thank you, this is known issue.
Taskbar customizations don't work since Win11 22H2.

Using Open Shell to replace the start button results in two start button images on top of each other.
I had to use Taskbar Styler to hide the original image, but obviously it's not really replaced, so this could have something to do with it.

So what are the realistic options here?

1. The issue would not manifest if the mod would allow a different (or default) icon size for the start button.
2. The issue would be solved if I could use Taskbar Styler to choose an animated Start button image.
3. It's Windows. You can't have everything you want. Deal with it.

Option 2 would be the ideal solution to my particular problem, but it seems Taskbar Styler can't replace the Start button image with an animated png.
Am I correct in that assumption or am I doing something wrong or missing something?

The png I would like to use is this one -

However, if I use the instructions in the Taskbar Styling guide to replace the start button image, it is treated as a static icon.

[m417z]

I had to use Taskbar Styler to hide the original image

Is the white border part of an element that's added by Open Shell? Or is it part of the Windows 11 taskbar? If it's the latter, perhaps it can also be hidden with Taskbar Styler. It looks like something that can be fixed with either FocusVisualPrimaryThickness=0 or FocusVisualSecondaryThickness=0, you just need to figure out the target. UWPSpy can help with that.

Option 2 would be the ideal solution to my particular problem, but it seems Taskbar Styler can't replace the Start button image with an animated png. Am I correct in that assumption or am I doing something wrong or missing something?

It's not an animated image, it's three images glued together. The styler mod doesn't support this format, but what might work is splitting it into three images, and setting the right image for each state. The different visual states of the Taskbar.TaskListButtonPanel element should help.

If you'd like to pursue this and need help, create an issue here.