The taskbar moves between the top, bottom, left, and right edges of your screen
The taskbar is the bar that holds your open programs, the clock, and system icons. On Windows, it usually sits at the bottom by default. On Mac, it sits at the top. If yours has moved or you want it somewhere else, you can drag it back to the bottom — or to whichever edge you prefer.
The taskbar is not locked in place. You can move it by clicking and dragging, as long as it is not in locked mode. If dragging does not work, the taskbar is locked, and you will need to unlock it first. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, so follow the section for your device.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, right-click the taskbar, uncheck "Lock the taskbar" if it is checked, then drag the taskbar to the bottom edge of your screen.
- If you cannot drag the taskbar, it is in locked mode — unlock it through the taskbar settings menu before attempting to move it.
- On Mac, the dock (the Mac equivalent of the taskbar) can only sit at the bottom, left, or right side — not the top — and you change its position through System Settings.
- After moving the taskbar, you can lock it again to prevent accidental movement.
Moving the taskbar on Windows
First, check whether your taskbar is locked. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar — not on an icon or the clock, but on the gray space between them. A menu will appear. Look for an option that says "Lock the taskbar." If there is a checkmark next to it, the taskbar is locked and you cannot move it yet.
If the taskbar is locked, click "Lock the taskbar" to uncheck it and unlock the taskbar. The checkmark will disappear. Now the taskbar is ready to move. Click and hold on an empty area of the taskbar, then drag it to the bottom of your screen. As you drag, you will see the taskbar follow your cursor. Release the mouse when the taskbar reaches the bottom edge.
Once the taskbar is where you want it, right-click the taskbar again and click "Lock the taskbar" to lock it in place. This prevents you from accidentally moving it while you work. The taskbar will stay at the bottom until you unlock and move it again.
Moving the dock on Mac
On Mac, the taskbar is called the dock. Unlike Windows, the Mac dock cannot move to the top of the screen — it can only sit at the bottom, left side, or right side. If your dock is on the left or right, you can move it to the bottom through System Settings.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings." In System Settings, click "Dock & Menu Bar" in the left sidebar. Look for the option labeled "Position on screen" and click the radio button next to "Bottom." The dock will move to the bottom of your screen when ready.
If you want to move the dock back to the left or right side later, return to the same menu and select "Left" or "Right" instead. You can also adjust how large the dock appears and whether it hides automatically when you are not using it, all from this same settings page.
What to do if the taskbar will not move
If you try to drag the taskbar and nothing happens, it is almost certainly locked. On Windows, the most common reason the taskbar will not move is that "Lock the taskbar" is still checked. Right-click the taskbar, find "Lock the taskbar," and make sure there is no checkmark next to it. If there is a checkmark, click it to remove the checkmark and unlock the taskbar.
On some Windows computers, the taskbar can also be pinned to a specific location through the taskbar settings. If unlocking does not work, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to "Personalization" and click "Taskbar." Scroll down and look for any option that says the taskbar is pinned or locked to a specific edge. Uncheck or toggle off any such option, then try dragging the taskbar again.
On Mac, if the dock will not move, it may already be in the position you want. Remember that the Mac dock only moves between bottom, left, and right — never to the top. If it is already at the bottom and you want it elsewhere, open System Settings, click "Dock & Menu Bar," and select a different position.
Locking the taskbar after you move it
Once your taskbar is in the right place, lock it so you do not move it by accident. On Windows, right-click the taskbar, then click "Lock the taskbar." A checkmark will appear next to the option, showing that the taskbar is now locked. When the taskbar is locked, you cannot drag it, and it will stay exactly where it is.
Locking the taskbar also prevents you from accidentally resizing it. On Windows, when the taskbar is unlocked, you can drag the edge of the taskbar to make it taller or shorter. Locking prevents this. On Mac, the dock does not have a lock option — it straightforward stays in whatever position you set it to until you change it again through System Settings.
Moving the taskbar to other edges
The Windows taskbar can sit on any of the four edges of your screen: bottom, top, left, or right. To move it to a different edge, unlock the taskbar, then drag it to the edge you want. Drag it all the way to the edge — the taskbar will snap into place once it reaches the edge. Release the mouse, and the taskbar will stay there.
Some people prefer the taskbar on the left or right side to save vertical space on their screen, especially if they use a widescreen monitor. Others prefer it at the top to match the layout of older operating systems. Whichever edge you choose, the taskbar works the same way — it still shows your open programs and system icons, and you can still click on anything in it.
On Mac, the dock can only move to the bottom, left, or right. It cannot move to the top. If you want the dock out of the way, you can also set it to hide automatically — it will disappear when you are not using it and reappear when you move your cursor to the edge where the dock sits. This option is also in System Settings under "Dock & Menu Bar."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move the taskbar to the top of my screen on Windows?
Yes. Unlock the taskbar, then drag it to the top edge of your screen. It will snap into place at the top. You can move it back to the bottom or any other edge the same way — just unlock it, drag it, and lock it again when you are done.
Why does my taskbar keep moving back to where it was?
This usually means the taskbar is locked and you are not actually moving it. Right-click the taskbar and make sure "Lock the taskbar" does not have a checkmark. If it does, click it to unlock the taskbar, then try dragging it again. If the taskbar still will not move, check Windows Settings under Personalization > Taskbar for any pinning options.
Can I hide the taskbar completely?
On Windows, open Settings, go to Personalization > Taskbar, and toggle on "Automatically hide the taskbar." The taskbar will disappear and only reappear when you move your cursor to the edge where it sits. On Mac, open System Settings, click Dock & Menu Bar, and toggle on "Automatically hide and show the Dock."
Does moving the taskbar affect how my programs work?
No. Moving the taskbar only changes where it appears on your screen. All your programs, files, and settings work exactly the same no matter which edge the taskbar is on. It is purely a visual preference.
What is the difference between the taskbar and the system tray?
The taskbar is the entire bar that holds your open programs and icons. The system tray is the small area on the right side of the taskbar (on Windows) that shows the clock, volume, network, and other system icons. When you move the taskbar, the system tray moves with it.