Move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen. If the taskbar slides up, turn off Automatically hide the taskbar in Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors. Press Windows + I to reach Settings if the bar is hard to catch.
01Check where the bar disappears
Section linkReturn to the desktop if the bar only vanishes in a full-screen app. If both screens show a desktop but the bar is missing on the extra screen, open Taskbar behaviors and turn on Show my taskbar on all displays. On a touch-capable 2-in-1, try swiping up from the bottom to expand the collapsed bar.
02Restart Windows Explorer if the bar is stuck
Section linkIf the desktop is visible but the taskbar will not respond, finish any active File Explorer transfers first. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. In Processes, select Windows Explorer and choose Restart. The bar may disappear briefly while Explorer reloads. If the process is missing, choose Run new task, enter explorer.exe, and press Enter.
03Check whether the change holds
Section linkIf the taskbar comes back, open and close the app you were using when it disappeared. If it keeps vanishing even on the desktop, save your work and restart Windows. For a managed work or school PC, tell IT whether the bar was missing on all screens and whether restarting Explorer brought it back.