If Your Windows Taskbar has Disappeared

Solution 1: Find your taskbar behind other windows.

A. Minimize all windows on your desktop and see if it is hiding behind open windows.
B. Set your taskbar so it’s Microsoft Windows taskbar menualways on top of all desktop windows.

  1. Right-click the taskbar, and click Properties.
  2. Select the Lock the taskbar check box.
  3. Make sure the Auto-hide the taskbar check box is not selected.
  4. Now it will always be visible, no matter how many windows you have open. Locking your taskbar also keeps you from accidentally moving it around.

Solution 2: Find your taskbar elsewhere on your screen.

If you have tried minimizing all windows on your desktop and you still don’t see your taskbar-perhaps it has been moved. Maybe you’ve moved it yourself by accident. Or, perhaps someone’s playing a practical joke on you. Regardless, the following will help you get your taskbar back to its proper size.

  1. Minimize all windows.  If you still don’t see the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, perhaps it’s hanging out to the side or at the top of your desktop.
  2. Click-and-drag your taskbar back to the bottom of your screen
  3. Right-click the taskbar, and then click Properties.
  4. Click to select the Lock the taskbar check box.

Solution 3: Thicken the taskbar

You can make your taskbar a thin line—so skinny it’s hard to see. To see if you’ve done this unintentionally:

  1. Minimize all windows on your desktop. Look at each side of your screen. If you see a thin strip, that’s the taskbar.
  2. Point your mouse at the strip. It changes into a double-sided arro
  3. Click-and-drag the mouse toward the center of the screen to thicken your taskbar.
  4. After you thicken the taskbar, you can drag it back to the bottom of the screen by following the steps in “Solution 2″ above.