Restore a Windows taskbar and Start menu that have disappeared
Summary: Learn how to restore the Microsoft Windows taskbar and Start menu if they are missing from the screen.
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Instructions
The Windows taskbar, along with the Start menu, can be hidden off-screen. To restore the Windows taskbar, use one of the following methods.
Option 1:
- Press the Windows key + I, then select Personalization, then select Taskbar.
- Select Taskbar behaviors to expand the selection.
- Uncheck the box for Automatically hide the taskbar.
Option 2:
- Move your mouse cursor to the edge of the screen where the Windows taskbar was last located. A thin gray line should appear along the edge of the screen where the Windows taskbar was last seen.
- When the cursor turns into a thin arrow pointing away from that edge, click and hold the left mouse button and drag away from that edge. This should allow users to drag the Windows taskbar to the wanted size.
Booting into Safe mode and back into normal mode in Windows can also help get the Windows taskbar back.
See Dell Knowledge Base article How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11 or Windows 10 for more information.
For more taskbar solutions, see Microsoft KB article Fix problems with the Start menu.
Affected Products
Alienware, Inspiron, OptiPlex All-In-One, OptiPlex Micro, OptiPlex Small Form Factor, OptiPlex Tower, OptiPlex Ultra, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPSArticle Properties
Article Number: 000152407
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2024
Version: 16
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