Get Back Your taskbar has disappeared

The taskbar is that horizontal bar at the bottom or your computer screen that displays open programs on your desktop. The taskbar also contains the Start menu, which allows you to navigate to various programs installed on your computer. In many ways, it's your command central.
Thus, there's nothing more frustrating than going to start a program, only to find the taskbar gone. A computer without a taskbar will bring you to a grinding halt.
The good news is that the taskbar never disappears—it just hides. It may be hiding behind other open windows, or at the top or side of your screen. You can also (unintentionally) make the taskbar so thin that it seems invisible.
The following are possible reasons why your taskbar has vanished, as well as solutions to keep your taskbar from ever running away again.

Solution 1: Find your taskbar behind other windows

• If you don't see your taskbar, minimize all windows on your desktop. See if your taskbar is hiding behind your open windows.
  
  Finding your taskbar behind maximized windows
• Set your taskbar so it's always 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.

Locking and keeping the taskbar on top

Now your taskbar 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. As you did in the previous steps, minimize all windows on your desktop. If you don't see your taskbar at the bottom of the screen, perhaps it's hanging out to the side or at the top of your desktop.
   
   Finding a hidden taskbar
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 your taskbar

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

1. Minimize all windows on your desktop. Look at each side of your screen. If you see a thin strip, that's the taskbar.
   
   Finding a thin taskbar
2. Point your mouse at the strip. It changes into a double-sided arrow
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.