OS X Catalina - Dock has disappeared

The command you're referring to shouldn't reset the dock, only turn off the autohide function. There's one other oneliner here in the replies that sure does reset the dock... If you tried that one first, I suppose that's why the dock is reset...

So for clarity:

Reset dock back to its defaults:

defaults delete com.apple.dock; killall Dock

Just turn off autohide, but keep current preferences:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool false; killall Dock

And as the "solution" points out, it might help starting the system with the second monitor disconnected. But let's hope the latest release fixes this issue!

I had exactly the same problem. I have 2 monitors, the solution was to reboot with the 2nd screen disconnected. Now its working.

My husband found this in the New York Times. Try Option+Command+D. Worked for me.

My dock also disappeared after reseting my PRAM, because my external Apple keyboard did not recognize cmd-button after Catalina upgrade.

This is how I got it(the Dock) back:

1. Open settings => Dock
2. Change size of the Dock so it starts to flicker - it is there, but just do not show constantly
3. Change hide/show option (yell, clap hands)
4. Change Dock position on the screen randomly (look quickly right and left few times)
5. Then Dock just started to work again - boom! No idea what happened, but it's here again:)

Ok, here's what worked for me: Apparently you must access your apps via Mission Control. However, you can set the trackpad to show the dock (Mission Control), along with all virtual desktops, by using 4-fingers up-swipe. Go to trackpad settings in System Preferences and set up Mission Control with up-swipe; then, you'll see the dock appear with a simple 4 finger up-swipe.

I had the same problem and thought that I could resolve it from System Preferences... no joy. However I did solve it - by accident - by swiping up (three fingers) on the trackpad and making it disappear by swiping down.

I'm having the same dual monitor issue with the dock on my Mac Mini 2018, bought just a few weeks ago.

Not only the dock won't launch, but the primary monitor also switches from the one to the other randomly (both connecter via Usb-C to Display port) and even sometimes, the apps shortcuts on the top right of the menu bar don't start.

The trick I found was to reset the PRAM in order to revive the dock, and then change again the setting that makes the dock hide automatically.

It's not the first time I'm having issue with MacOS updates and multiple monitors, I guess Apple don't check this kind of configuration enough. Usually, the next versions correct these kind of glitches.

Open Terminal.app and enter following commands:

defaults delete com.apple.Dock autohide && killall Dock

For some reason a bad setting slips in the Dock preferences file and cannot be changed using system preferences. This will revert it to default.

Try Option+Command+D & On. It worked.

Hi, solution: 1) open terminal, 2) type killall Dock

I had the same issue today.

Try Command + Option + D

It worked for me

Yeah, if I log out and then log back in - the dock comes back.

Yeah Apple needs to fix this. Is getting annoying.

Thank you! This worked Command+Option+D

Opt+cmd+D is working without resetting the dock

I have experienced this same issue after upgrading my MacBook Air 13" 2017 to macOS 10.15 Catalina. Rebooting the Mac caused Dock to disappear.

Running command defaults delete com.apple.dock; killall Dock in Terminal resolved the issue, but Dock disappears again after reboot.