In this post, we will see how to lock or unlock the Taskbar settings and prevent access to the taskbar control panel, and disallow resizing, arranging, moving toolbars and so on. You can lock all Taskbar settings using the Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry. We will also show you how to prevent users from changing Taskbar and Start Menu settings.
Lock all taskbar settings in Windows 11/10
When you lock all Taskbar settings in Windows 11/10 you will not be able to make any changes to the Taskbar.
Using Windows Registry
Open Regedit and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
On the right-hand side, look for a value named TaskbarLockAll. If it exists, right-click on it and click Modify. The following are the values:
- 0 : Unlock all Taskbar settings
- 1 : Lock all Taskbar settings
Check the DWORD value mentioned. If it is mentioned as 1, it would have the effect corresponding to the name, ie, Lock All Taskbar. So make sure its value is 1.
If you don’t see the DWORD TaskbarLockAll, create it.
To go back to the default setting, change its value to 0. Or else simply delete it.
Using Group Policy
If your version of Windows has Group Policy Editor, then open it, i.e., Run gpedit.msc, and navigate to the following :
User Configuration > Admin Templates > Start Menu & Taskbar
Search for the Lock all taskbar settings. Open its Properties. Change the setting to Configured.
If this setting is Enabled, it will prevent the user from making any changes to the taskbar settings through the Taskbar Properties dialog. If you enable this setting the user cannot access the taskbar control panel, unlock, resize, move or rearrange items on their taskbar.
If you Disable or Do not configure this setting, the user will be able to set any taskbar setting that is not disallowed by another policy setting.
Prevent others from changing Taskbar and Start Menu settings
Instead of locking the taskbar settings, you have the option of preventing other users from making any changes to the Taskbar settings – along with the Start Menu settings.
Using Registry Editor
Open REGEDIT and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Right-click on a blank space on the right-hand side > Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > Name this value as NoSetTaskbar. Now double-click on it and give it the value of 1.
- 1: To prevent users from changing its settings
- 0: Will allow users to change settings.
Using Group Policy Editor
- Open GPEDIT and navigate to the following setting:
- User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
- On the right side, double-click on Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings.
- If you enable this policy setting, The user will be prevented from opening the Taskbar Properties dialog box.
- Select Enabled to apply this policy.
If the user right-clicks the taskbar and then clicks Properties, a message appears explaining that a setting prevents the action. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the Taskbar and Start Menu items are available from Settings on the Start menu.
You may need to restart explorer.exe or your computer, for the setting to take place.
