This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable show pinned items on the taskbar for specific or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
By default, the taskbar in Windows 11 shows the Start menu, Search, Task View, Widgets, Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store buttons (icons) aligned to the center and Copilot button on the right end of the taskbar.
The taskbar will also show the icon of the app for any window you have open. If you like, you can pin an app to the taskbar to always show the app's icon on the taskbar whether the app is open or not. Pinning an app to the taskbar makes it easier to open the app on demand from the taskbar.
You can enable the Remove pinned programs from the taskbar policy to prevent pinned items from being shown on the the taskbar, and to disable Pin to taskbar.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable show pinned items on the taskbar.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Pinned items on taskbar
Enable or Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.
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 Navigate to the policy location below you want in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
(All Users)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
OR
(Specific User)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
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.
5 Enable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
8 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Show Pinned Items 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_show_pinned_items_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"TaskbarNoPinnedList"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"TaskbarNoPinnedList"=-3 Disable Show Pinned Items 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_show_pinned_items_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"TaskbarNoPinnedList"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"TaskbarNoPinnedList"=dword:000000014 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 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Pin to Taskbar an App, Drive, File, Folder, or Site in Windows 11
- Unpin Items from Taskbar in Windows 11
- Pin Android Apps from Your Phone to Taskbar on Windows 11 PC
- Backup and Restore Pinned Items on Taskbar in Windows 11
- Reset and Clear Pinned Items on Taskbar in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable "Pin to taskbar" and "Unpin from taskbar" in Windows 11
- Open Apps on Taskbar in Windows 11
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