Personalization Enable or Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar in Windows 11


  • Staff
Pin_to_Taskbar_banner.png

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

Pinned_items_on_taskbar.png





Option One

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

Pinned_items_on_taskbar_gpedit-1.png

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)​

Pinned_items_on_taskbar_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar

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

Pinned_items_on_taskbar_gpedit-3.png

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.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Show Pinned Items on Taskbar for All Users using REG file


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


(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


(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:00000001

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 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


 

Attachments

  • Pin_to_Taskbar.png
    Pin_to_Taskbar.png
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  • Disable_show_pinned_items_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg
    856 bytes · Views: 306
  • Enable_show_pinned_items_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg
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