How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Windows

Windows includes a special application desktop toolbar called the taskbar that shows on the bottom of a display screen by default. The taskbar allows you to find, see, open, and switch between your apps. You can also see the date and time, system icons, and items running in the background on the notification area. You can make the taskbar look how you want, manage your calendar, pin your favorite apps to it, change the size, change location on screen, and specify how taskbar buttons group together when you have more than one window open.

You can also add toolbars to the taskbar. The default toolbars include Address, Links, Desktop, and any new toolbars (custom) added by the user or an application.

If you have more than one extended display connected to your PC, then toolbars will only show on the taskbar on your main display by default.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to add and remove toolbars on the taskbar for specific or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

This can be handy if you wanted to add specific toolbars, and then disable users from being able to remove them or add more afterwards.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable adding and removing toolbars.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar for All Users using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Adding and removing toolbars on taskbar disabled in Windows 10
Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Windows-add-remove_toolbars_disabled.jpg






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Local Group Policy Editor



In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Windows-add-remove_toolbars_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Prevent users from adding or removing toolbars policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar in Windows-add-remove_toolbars_gpedit-2.png

7. When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

8. Restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar for All Users using a REG file



The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

TaskbarNoAddRemoveToolbar DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable

1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_add-remove_toolbars_on_taskbar.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Adding and Removing Toolbars on Taskbar for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_add-remove_toolbars_on_taskbar.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. Restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

8. You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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