How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10


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.

If you like, you can enable a policy that allows you to disable the Taskbar settings page for users. The user will also be unable to resize, move or rearrange toolbars on their taskbar.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable taskbar settings for specific or all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable taskbar settings.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings for All Users using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Taskbar settings enabled and disabled
Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_enabled-1.jpg Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_disabled-1.jpg Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_enabled-2.png Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_disabled-2.png






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Local Group Policy Editor



The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 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 Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Lock all taskbar settings 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 Taskbar Settings

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 Taskbar Settings

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

Enable or Disable Taskbar Settings in Windows 10-taskbar_settings_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 Taskbar Settings 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

TaskbarLockAll 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 Taskbar Settings 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_taskbar_settings.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Taskbar Settings for All Users

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

Disable_taskbar_settings.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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