With the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a revamped taskbar, positioning its items in the center, a noticeable shift from the traditional bottom-left alignment in previous versions. This centralized taskbar now houses integral icons like the Start menu, Search, Task View, Widgets, Teams Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and the Microsoft Store. Beyond these default icons, users have the flexibility to pin additional applications or folders directly to the Taskbar, enhancing accessibility. A simple right-click and “Unpin from Taskbar” option allow users to declutter this space. But what if you wish to maintain a uniform look for the taskbar across different user accounts, preventing alterations? This guide aims to provide you with steps on how to enable or disable the “Unpin from Taskbar” feature, ensuring consistency in taskbar appearances for all users. Whether you’re an IT administrator or someone who wants a consistent desktop environment, our step-by-step tutorial has got you covered.
Topics Covered:-
- How to Turn On or Off Unpin from Taskbar in Windows 11?
- How to Prevent Pinning or Unpinning Programs to the Taskbar in Windows 11 via Registry Editor?
How to Turn On or Off Unpin from Taskbar in Windows 11?
To enable or disable unpinning from the taskbar in Windows 11, use the following steps:-
Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. When the Local Group Policy Editor appears on your computer, steer for the following path:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
Step 3. On the right-side pane of the “Start Menu and Taskbar,” double-click the policy name “Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar” to open its settings.
Step 4. Then, select the Enabled option.
Step 5. Next, click the Apply button.
Step 6. After that, hit the OK button.
Step 7. At last, restart your computer to apply the changes.
After executing the mentioned steps, if you right-click on a shortcut or an application, you’ll observe the absence of the “Pin to taskbar” option. Furthermore, when right-clicking on a program already pinned to the Windows 11 Taskbar, the “Unpin from taskbar” choice won’t appear.
Should you decide to undo these modifications and wish to enable the functionality to pin or unpin programs to the taskbar again, redo the steps and, at step 4, choose the “Not Configured” selection.
How to Prevent Pinning or Unpinning Programs to the Taskbar in Windows 11 via Registry Editor?
To stop or prevent pinning or unpinning applications to the Taskbar in Windows 11 via Registry Editor, use these steps:-
Step 1. First, launch Registry Editor.
Step 2. When the Registry Editor appears on your computer, browse to the following key on the left side:-
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Step 3. Next, right-click on the Explorer key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 4. Name the newly created REG_DWORD as NoPinningToTaskbar.
Step 5. Now, double-click on NoPinningToTaskbar and set its Value data to 1 to stop pinning and unpinning from the Windows 11 Taskbar.
Step 6. Then, click OK.
Step 7. Finally, reboot your computer to apply the changes.
Once you complete the above steps, pinning or unpinning will be stopped on the Windows 11 Taskbar.
If you change your mind in the future and want to pin or unpin apps on the Windows 11 Taskbar, steer to the following registry key on the left side of Registry Editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
On the right-side pane, double-click on NoPinningToTaskbar and change its Value data to 0.
Conclusion
Windows 11 introduced a more centralized taskbar design, offering enhanced accessibility options for users. However, if you aim to maintain a uniform look and feel across multiple user accounts, it’s crucial to know how to enable or disable the “Unpin from Taskbar” feature. This guide provided two approaches to achieve this consistency: through the Local Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor. Whether you are an IT administrator aiming for a standardized desktop experience or an individual wanting a streamlined interface, the steps laid out will help you customize the Taskbar to your preference.
