For users of Windows 10/11, the taskbar stands as a convenient gateway to their most frequented applications and utilities. One feature that empowers this ease of access is the “Pin to taskbar” option. By simply right-clicking on an application or file, users have the option to pin it to the taskbar for swift access or unpin it when it’s no longer a priority. This tailored approach ensures that one’s most-used programs are just a click away. Yet, there might be scenarios where restricting this freedom becomes necessary, especially if you want to maintain a consistent taskbar layout across multiple user profiles or on a shared system. Thankfully, Windows 10/11 comes equipped with methods to either hide or show the “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” options from the right-click context menu. In this guide, we’ll delineate the pathways to achieve this, focusing on two predominant methods: through Group Policy and via the Registry Editor. Let’s dive in to explore the procedures.
Using Group Policy, how to Show or Hide “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu in Windows 11/10?
To add or remove “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu using Local Group Policy Editor, use the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Local Group Policy Editor window.
Quick Reminder: If you are using Windows 11 Home Edition, you’ll need to enable gpedit.msc.
Step 2. When the Local Group Policy Editor window appears on your computer, navigate to the following path from the left sidebar:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
Step 3. Double-click the “Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar” policy to change its setting on the right sidebar.
Step 4. Select the Enabled option.
Step 5. Click Apply.
Step 6. Click OK.
Step 7. Sign out from your account or restart your computer.
Once you complete the above steps, the “Pin to taskbar” option is removed from the right-click context menu. Also, when you right-click any pinned apps on the taskbar, the “Unpin from taskbar” option will not appear anymore.
To show the “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” options in the Windows 11 context menu, repeat the above steps, and in step 4, select the Not Configured option.
How to Add or Remove “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu in Windows 11 through Registry Editor?
Using Windows Registry Editor, you can also show or hide the “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from the Windows 11 context menu. For that, do the following:-
Step 1. Open Registry Editor.
Step 2. When Registry Editor opens, steer for the following key in the left sidebar:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Step 3. Then, right-click the Windows folder and select the New > Key option.
Step 4. Name the new key Explorer.
Step 5. Now, right-click on the newly created Explorer folder and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 6. Name the new DWORD as NoPinningToTaskbar and then double-click on it to change its Value data.
Step 7. Click OK.
Step 8. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Once you complete the above steps, the “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” context menu items will not appear on your Windows 11 PC.
To undo the changes, navigate to the following key in the Registry Editor:-
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
On the right-sidebar of the Explorer key, double-click on NoPinningToTaskbar and change its Value data from 1 to 0.
How to Hide “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu in Windows 10 through Registry Editor?
Step 1. Open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Then, browse to the following key in the left sidebar of the Registry Editor window:-
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Step 3. After that, right-click on the following subkey under ContextMenuHandlers and select the Delete option:-
{90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449}
Step 4. Click the Yes button when prompted.
Finally, reboot your computer to see the changes.
How to Show “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu in Windows 10 through Registry Editor?
Follow these steps to display “Pin to taskbar” and “Unpin from taskbar” from Context Menu in Windows 10 through Registry Editor:-
Step 1. Open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Then, browse to the following key in the left sidebar of the Registry Editor window:-
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Step 3. Then, right-click on the ContextMenuHandlers folder and select New > Key.
Step 4. Name the new key:-
{90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449}
Step 5. On the right side, double-click on the (Default) string and set its Value data to Taskband Pin.
Step 6. Click OK.
Step 7. Reboot your computer to see the changes.
Conclusion
Customizing your Windows interface goes beyond aesthetic changes; it’s about tailoring your OS environment for optimized usability. By understanding how to manage ‘Pin to Taskbar’ and ‘Unpin from Taskbar’ options, you can streamline your desktop experience and control how you and other users interact with apps. Whether through Group Policy or the Registry Editor, these steps ensure you have the desired control over your taskbar functionalities.
