Taskbar is missing - resize your taskbar

Taskbar is missing - resize your taskbar

Document number: 69005

"My taskbar disappeared! How do I get it back?" This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The most common cause of this problem is that the taskbar has been accidentally resized into a thin bar against the edge of the screen.

Here is how to find your taskbar:

A. The most common place to lose the taskbar is at the bottom edge of the screen:

Move your mouse pointer slowly to the bottom of the screen. Watch the pointer carefully. If it hits the edge of the taskbar the pointer shape will suddenly change style (usually to a double-headed arrow, but you may see only the top of the arrow) then:

Keep the mouse pointer on the edge of the taskbar, hold down the left mouse button and slowly drag the taskbar back up into view.

B. If you have trouble finding the edge of the taskbar or have trouble dragging the taskbar try this:

Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.

Is the Start menu at the bottom left hand corner of your screen? If it is then continue. If it is not, click here for further instructions.

Press and hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar.
Select Size.
Press the up arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar up. If you keep pressing the up arrow key the taskbar will get larger.
Press { Enter} to finish.

C. Still can't find it?

Try rebooting. If you still can't find your taskbar it may be hidden under another window, or on auto hide. For more information on finding your taskbar see the document 69006 — How to find, move and modify the taskbar.

When you have resized your taskbar, it should once more be in view.

Finding your taskbar when it isn't on the bottom

Try moving your mouse slowly around the edges of the screen.
See if the pointer changes when it touches the edge of the hidden task bar. (The pointer should change to a double-headed arrow when on the edge of the taskbar, but sometimes you can only see that the type of arrow has changed. You might not be able to see both ends of the arrow when it is against the screen edge)

With the pointer on the edge of the taskbar hold the left mouse button down and slowly drag the edge of the taskbar toward the center of the screen.
Release the mouse button when the taskbar is the size you want.

If you still can't find it then try using keystrokes to locate and resize it as follows:

Hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Select Settings, then Taskbar.
If the taskbar menu appears in the upper right hand corner of your screen then the taskbar is against the right edge of the screen. To resize it do the following:
1. Hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
2. Hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar; and then select Size.
3. Press the left arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar to the left.
4. Press enter to finish.
5. If the "Taskbar Properties" window is still open, close it by clicking on OK.
If the taskbar menu appears in the upper left hand corner of your screen then the taskbar is either against the top of the screen or along the left hand side.
1. Hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
2. Hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar; and then select Size
3. Press the right arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar to the right. If the taskbar does not come into view try pushing the down arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar down.
4. Press { Enter} to finish.

Still can't find it?

If you still can't find your taskbar it may be hidden under another window, or on auto hide. For more information on finding your taskbar see the document 69006 — How to find, move and modify the taskbar.

When you have resized your taskbar it should once more be in view.

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