ToolTipFixer is a patch (of sorts) by NeoSmart Technologies created to permanently fix one of Windows’ most annoying & oldest bugs to date. The “hidden tooltip” bug has been around since the days of Windows 95, and became progressively worse with each Windows Upgrade – until Windows Vista, where it only appears from time to time; but it is still there nevertheless. If you are experiencing tooltips hidden behind the taskbar, then this is for you.

If your tooltips are appearing the toolbar, then ToolTipFixer is what you need.

The Bug…

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – but if the first picture is worth a thousand, then the second is priceless:

ToolTipFixer Before

The Fix:

With NST ToolTipFixer installed:

ToolTipFixer After

As you can see – no bug! Best of all, this patch (unlike some of other “fixes” floating around the web) really works, only needs to be installed/run once (whereas other patches have you running it every time you experience this problem), never gets in your way, can be safely & easily uninstalled, and best of all, it’s free.

How this is different from other solutions

Other solutions floating around the net all have a couple (or more) drawbacks, here’s how TTF is different:

  • Set it and forget it. No need to keep running a program every time you experience this bug.
  • Does one thing only – and does it right. Don’t worry about unneeded bloat and useless features.
  • It’s free!

What Microsoft has to Say

This bug has been around since the very first day Microsoft invented “the shell” with explorer.exe, the taskbar, and the concept of a tooltip – with Windows 95. In 2006, Microsoft finally admitted that this bug exists in Windows XP… But their “solution”?

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:

  • Log off and then log back onto the current account.
  • Restart your computer.

Gee! How helpful!

Testimonials

 

I just wanted to say thanks for the ToolTipFixer. It is AMAZING. Something so simple (and stupid) has bugged me for years and years. It was so random with no rhyme or reason, it drove me crazy.

— J. Whitworth

Download and Instructions

  • Currently, the latest version of ToolTipFixer is version 2.0, and is freely available for download (under 100kb!) at the download page.
  • Instructions on using ToolTipFixer (both in “Set it and forget it” and manual invocation modes) are available here.

Donate

As with all other NeoSmart projects/services, NST ToolTipFixer is 100% absolutely free. If you found this patch that Microsoft refused to bother with all these years to be useful, how about showing a token of your appreciation?