How to Enable or Disable Pinned Apps 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.
If you like, you can enable a policy that allows you to remove pinned programs from the taskbar for users.
If enabled, all pinned apps on the taskbar will be hidden, and users will no longer be able to Pin to taskbar apps. The icon of opened items will still show on the taskbar.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable and show or hide pinned apps on the taskbar for specific or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable pinned apps on the taskbar.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar for All Users using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar
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)
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove pinned programs from the taskbar policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
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.
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.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
TaskbarNoPinnedList DWORD
(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
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_and_Show_pinned_apps_on_taskbar.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_and_Hide_pinned_apps_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 Brink
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps in Windows
- How to "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" Apps in Windows 10
- How to Hide or Show App Icons on Taskbar in Tablet Mode in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Pinning Store app to Taskbar in Windows 8 and Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Pin to Taskbar Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Backup and Restore Pinned Apps on Taskbar in Windows 10
- How to Reset and Clear All Pinned Apps on Taskbar in Windows 10
Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar in Windows
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New #1
Hi, Brink
This group policy will make Microsoft News become blank such as the picture attached.
I have tested this setting several times.
By the way, Computer Configuration group policy of Remove pinned programs from the taskbar might be removed by MS.
Best regards,
Steven.
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New #2
Hello Steven,
There's not a Computer Configuration version of this policy available.
Odd. I've tested the policy on my system, but News and Interests still works for me. Not blank like yours.
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New #3
Thanks, Brink.Hello Steven,
There's not a Computer Configuration version of this policy available.
Odd. I've tested the policy on my system, but News and Interests still works for me. Not blank like yours.
That's strange to me.
Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar in Windows
How to Enable or Disable Pinned Apps on Taskbar in WindowsPublished by Shawn BrinkCategory: Customization
05 May 2021
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