How to Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps 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 control pinning apps to the taskbar for users.

If enabled, users will no longer be able to Pin to taskbar and Unpin from taskbar apps. If any apps are already pinned to the taskbar, these apps continue to show in the taskbar. However, users cannot unpin these apps already pinned to the taskbar, and they cannot pin new apps to the taskbar.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to pin and unpin 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 "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps for All Users using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps
Enable or Disable Pin and Unpin Apps on Taskbar in Windows-pin_to_taskbar_enabled.jpg Enable or Disable Pin and Unpin Apps on Taskbar in Windows-unpin_from_taskbar_enabled.jpg
Enable or Disable Pin and Unpin Apps on Taskbar in Windows-pin_and_unpin_on_taskbar_disabled.jpg






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps 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 Pin and Unpin Apps on Taskbar in Windows-pin_to_taskbar_gpedit-1.jpg

3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Do not allow pinning programs to 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.


5 To Enable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps

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 "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps

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

Enable or Disable Pin and Unpin Apps on Taskbar in Windows-pin_to_taskbar_gpedit-2.png

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






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps 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\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

NoPinningToTaskbar 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 "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps 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_pin_and_unpin_apps_on_taskbar.reg

Download


3 To Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" for Apps for All Users

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

Disable_pin_and_unpin_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


Related Tutorials



  • Windows 11 Tutorials