The Mac taskbar is called the Dock

Why it happens

On Windows, the taskbar holds your pinned and open programs. On a Mac that job belongs to the Dock, which usually sits along the bottom of the screen. The clock, Wi-Fi and battery icons from the Windows system tray live in the menu bar at the top instead.

How to fix it

1. Look at the bottom of your screen. Apps sit on the left part of the Dock, and folders and the Trash, the Mac's Recycle Bin, sit on the right past a thin line.

2. Click any icon to open that app, or to bring it to the front if it's already open. Open apps show a small dot under their icon.

3. To pin an app, like pinning to the taskbar, open it, Control-click its icon in the Dock and choose Options, then Keep in Dock.

   Dock›Control-click the app icon›Options›Keep in Dock

4. To unpin one, drag its icon up out of the Dock until Remove shows, then let go. The app stays installed.

5. Can't see the Dock? Move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen, or press Option-Command-D. To keep it showing all the time, turn off Automatically hide and show the Dock in Desktop & Dock.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Automatically hide and show the Dock

Still not fixed?

1. Dock on the left or right of the screen? Choose Bottom for Dock position on screen in Desktop & Dock.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Dock position on screen

2. No dots under open apps? Turn on Show indicators for open applications in the same section.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Show indicators for open applications

3. Icons too small to hit? Drag the Size slider in Desktop & Dock to the right.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Size

4. To jump between open apps from the keyboard, hold Command and press Tab, the Mac version of Alt-Tab.

5. If the Dock is frozen or won't appear even after you restart your Mac and install the latest macOS update, contact Apple Support.