diff --git a/RetroBar/Program.cs b/RetroBar/Program.cs
index c79a631d..a00848b5 100644
--- a/RetroBar/Program.cs
+++ b/RetroBar/Program.cs
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ private static bool SingleInstanceCheck()
             return false;
         }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/RetroBar/PropertiesWindow.xaml b/RetroBar/PropertiesWindow.xaml
index d4666fec..677cad30 100644
--- a/RetroBar/PropertiesWindow.xaml
+++ b/RetroBar/PropertiesWindow.xaml
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@
                             <CheckBox IsChecked="{Binding Source={x:Static Settings:Settings.Instance}, Path=AutoHide, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}">
                                 <Label Content="{DynamicResource enable_auto_hide}" />
                             </CheckBox>
+                            <CheckBox IsChecked="{Binding Source={x:Static Settings:Settings.Instance}, Path=EnableTaskbarToggleHotkey, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}">
+                                <Label Content="Enable Alt+T to toggle taskbar" />
+                            </CheckBox>
+                            <CheckBox IsChecked="{Binding Source={x:Static Settings:Settings.Instance}, Path=DisableAnimations, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}">
+                                <Label Content="Disable AutoHide animation" />
+                            </CheckBox>
                             <CheckBox x:Name="cbShowBadges"
                                       IsChecked="{Binding Source={x:Static Settings:Settings.Instance}, Path=ShowTaskBadges, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}">
                                 <Label Content="{DynamicResource show_badges}" />
diff --git a/RetroBar/Taskbar.xaml.cs b/RetroBar/Taskbar.xaml.cs
index 9882230e..9c393383 100644
--- a/RetroBar/Taskbar.xaml.cs
+++ b/RetroBar/Taskbar.xaml.cs
@@ -274,10 +274,18 @@ protected override void OnAutoHideAnimationBegin(bool isHiding)
             // Prevent focus indicators and tooltips while hidden
             ResetControlFocus();
 
-            if (!isHiding && Opacity < 1)
+            if (!isHiding)
             {
-                Opacity = 1;
-                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Opacity));
+                if (Settings.Instance.DisableAnimations)
+                {
+                    // Instantly snap to full opacity
+                    Opacity = 1;
+                }
+                else if (Opacity < 1)
+                {
+                    Opacity = 1;
+                    OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Opacity));
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -285,9 +293,17 @@ protected override void OnAutoHideAnimationComplete(bool isHiding)
         {
             base.OnAutoHideAnimationComplete(isHiding);
 
-            if (isHiding && Settings.Instance.AutoHideTransparent && AllowsTransparency && AllowAutoHide)
+            if (isHiding)
             {
-                Opacity = 0.01;
+                if (Settings.Instance.DisableAnimations)
+                {
+                    Opacity = 0; // Instantly hide
+                }
+                else if (Settings.Instance.AutoHideTransparent && AllowsTransparency && AllowAutoHide)
+                {
+                    Opacity = 0.01; // Subtle transparency
+                }
+
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Opacity));
             }
         }
diff --git a/RetroBar/Utilities/HotkeyManager.cs b/RetroBar/Utilities/HotkeyManager.cs
index b1d05c94..de47fb03 100644
--- a/RetroBar/Utilities/HotkeyManager.cs
+++ b/RetroBar/Utilities/HotkeyManager.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 using ManagedShell.Common.Logging;
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using System.Windows.Forms;
 using static ManagedShell.Interop.NativeMethods;
 
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ public class HotkeyManager : IDisposable
     {
         private readonly HotkeyListenerWindow _listenerWindow;
 
+        private const int TOGGLE_TASKBAR_HOTKEY_ID = 9999;
         public HotkeyManager()
         {
             _listenerWindow = new HotkeyListenerWindow(this);
@@ -57,6 +59,15 @@ private void Settings_PropertyChanged(object sender, System.ComponentModel.Prope
                     _listenerWindow.UnregisterHotkeys();
                 }
             }
+            if (Settings.Instance.EnableTaskbarToggleHotkey)
+            {
+                _listenerWindow.RegisterToggleAutoHide();
+            }
+            else if (!Settings.Instance.EnableTaskbarToggleHotkey)
+            {
+                _listenerWindow.UnregisterHotkeys();
+                ShellLogger.Debug("Alt+T toggle is disabled by settings.");
+            }
         }
         #endregion
 
@@ -81,6 +92,13 @@ protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
                 if (m.Msg == (int)WM.HOTKEY)
                 {
                     int hotkeyId = m.WParam.ToInt32();
+                    if (hotkeyId == TOGGLE_TASKBAR_HOTKEY_ID)
+                    {
+                        // Toggle built-in AutoHide setting
+                        Settings.Instance.AutoHide = !Settings.Instance.AutoHide;
+                        ShellLogger.Debug($"HotkeyManager: Alt+T toggled AutoHide to {Settings.Instance.AutoHide}");
+                        return;
+                    }
                     if (_registeredHotkeys.Contains(hotkeyId))
                     {
                         _manager.TaskbarHotkeyPressed?.Invoke(this, new TaskbarHotkeyEventArgs { index = hotkeyId });
@@ -124,6 +142,37 @@ public void RegisterHotkeys()
                 }
             }
 
+            public void RegisterToggleAutoHide()
+            {
+                ShellLogger.Debug("HotkeyManager: Registering toggle autohide hotkey");
+                // Register Alt+T for toggling taskbar
+                bool altTRegistered = RegisterHotKey(
+                                        Handle,
+                                        TOGGLE_TASKBAR_HOTKEY_ID,
+                                        (uint)(MOD.ALT | MOD.NOREPEAT),
+                                        (uint)VK.KEY_T);
+
+                if (altTRegistered)
+                {
+                    _registeredHotkeys.Add(TOGGLE_TASKBAR_HOTKEY_ID);
+                    ShellLogger.Info("HotkeyManager: Registered Alt+T for AutoHide toggle");
+                }
+                else if (Settings.Instance.EnableTaskbarToggleHotkey)
+                {
+                    ShellLogger.Info("HotkeyManager: Autohide toggled using Alt+T");
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    ShellLogger.Warning("HotkeyManager: FAILED to register Alt+T for AutoHide toggle");
+                }
+            }
+
+            public void UnregisterToggleAutoHide()
+            {
+                    UnregisterHotKey(Handle, 9999);
+                    ShellLogger.Info($"HotkeyManager: Unregistered Alt+T for AutoHide toggle");
+            }
+
             private void LoadExplorerResources()
             {
                 // Initialize with empty table as fallback
diff --git a/RetroBar/Utilities/Settings.cs b/RetroBar/Utilities/Settings.cs
index 67b93627..04939bf9 100644
--- a/RetroBar/Utilities/Settings.cs
+++ b/RetroBar/Utilities/Settings.cs
@@ -276,6 +276,20 @@ public bool AutoHide
             set => Set(ref _autoHide, value);
         }
 
+        private bool _enableTaskbarToggleHotkey = false;
+        public bool EnableTaskbarToggleHotkey
+        {
+            get => _enableTaskbarToggleHotkey;
+            set => Set(ref _enableTaskbarToggleHotkey, value);
+        }
+
+        private bool _disableAnimations = false;
+        public bool DisableAnimations
+        {
+            get => _disableAnimations;
+            set => Set(ref _disableAnimations, value);
+        }
+
         private bool _lockTaskbar = false;
         public bool LockTaskbar
         {