Prevent others from creating Tasks in Task Scheduler in Windows

In Windows OS, the Task Scheduler enables you to automatically create or perform routine tasks on a chosen computer by monitoring criteria you have set (referred to as triggers) and then executing the tasks when those criteria are met. In this post, we provide instructions on the methods how to prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler.

Prevent others from creating Tasks in Task Scheduler in Windows 11/10

On a Windows 11/10 computer set up with multiple user accounts, for one reason or the other, you may as a user with administrator privileges want to prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on the device. To achieve this, you can do so using any of the following methods:

Local Group Policy Editor
Registry Editor
Registry (.reg) file
Command Prompt

Let’s discuss these methods in detail. For the Registry Editor, REG file and Command Prompt methods especially, we recommend you back up the registry or create a system restore point as necessary precautionary measures as these methods essentially modify the Windows Registry.

1] Local Group Policy Editor

To prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on Windows 11/10 computer using Local Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to open Local Group Policy Editor.
Inside the Local Group Policy Editor, on the left pane, navigate to the path below:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Task Scheduler

Now, do any of the following per your requirement:
- To prevent other users from creating Tasks, on the right pane, double-click on the Prohibit New Task Creation policy to edit its properties.
- To prevent other users from deleting Tasks, on the right pane, double-click on the Prohibit Task Deletion policy to edit its properties.
- To prevent other users from running Tasks, on the right pane, double-click on the Prevent Task Run or End policy to edit its properties.
In either of the open policy window, set the radio button to Enabled.
Click Apply > OK to save the changes.
Exit the Local Group Policy Editor.
Restart not required.

If you’re running Windows 11/10 Home edition, you can follow the steps in this guide to add the Local Group Policy Editor feature and then carry out the instructions as provided above, or you can do the Registry Editor, REG file, or Command Prompt methods below.

Read: Prevent Users from changing Color and Appearance in Windows

2] Registry Editor

To prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on Windows 11/10 computer using Registry Editor, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Navigate or jump to the registry key path below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0

If the Task Scheduler5.0 key folder is not present, you can right-click on the Windows sub-parent key folder on the left navigation pane, click New > Key to create the registry key, and then rename the key accordingly and hit Enter.

Now, click on the Task Scheduler5.0 key, and do any of the following per your requirement:
- To prevent other users from creating Tasks, on the right pane, right-click on a blank space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this value as Task Creation.
- To prevent other users from deleting Tasks, on the right pane, right-click on a blank space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this value as Task Deletion.
- To prevent other users from running Tasks, on the right pane, right-click on a blank space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this value as Execution.
Double-click on the newly created key to edit its properties.
Input the value 0 in the Value data field.
Click OK or hit Enter to save the change.
Exit the Registry Editor
Restart not required.

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3] Registry (.reg) file

To prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on Windows 11/10 computer using Registry (.reg) file, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type notepad and hit Enter to open Notepad.
Now, do any of the following per your requirement:
- To prevent other users from creating Tasks, copy and paste the code below into the text editor.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0]
"Task Creation"=dword:00000000

- To prevent other users from deleting Tasks, copy and paste the code below into the text editor.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0]
"Task Deletion"=dword:00000000

- To prevent other users from running Tasks, copy and paste the code below into the text editor.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0]
"Execution"=dword:00000000

Now, click the File option from the menu and select Save As button.
Choose a location (preferably the desktop) where you want to save the file.
Enter a descriptive name with .reg extension (eg; PreventTaskCreation.reg).
Choose All Files from the Save as type drop-down list.
Double-click the saved .reg file to merge it.
If prompted, click on Run > Yes (UAC) > Yes > OK to approve the merge.
You can now delete the .reg file if you like.
Restart not required.

Read: How to prevent users from changing the Theme in Windows

4] Command Prompt

To prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on Windows 11/10 computer using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type cmd and then press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to open Command Prompt in admin/elevated mode.
Now, do any of the following per your requirement:
- To prevent other users from creating Tasks, copy and paste the command below into the CMD prompt and hit Enter.

reg.exe Add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0" /V "Task Creation" /T REG_DWORD /D "0"

- To prevent other users from deleting Tasks, copy and paste the command below into the CMD prompt and hit Enter.

reg.exe Add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0" /V "Task Deletion" /T REG_DWORD /D "0"

- To prevent other users from running Tasks, copy and paste the command below into the CMD prompt and hit Enter.

reg.exe Add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Task Scheduler5.0" /V "Execution" /T REG_DWORD /D "0"

Exit CMD prompt once the command executes.
Restart not required.

That’s it on the ways to prevent other users from creating, deleting, or running Tasks in Task Scheduler on Windows 11/10!

Also read:

Can non-admin create a scheduled task?

The only users who can schedule a task to run under another user’s account are users who belong to the Administrators group or who have administrative rights. However, if this is the first time the job is created, a non-administrator user can use Task Scheduler to schedule a task that runs under another user’s account.

How do I turn off Task Scheduler in Windows 11?

As of now, there is no option to turn off or disable Task Scheduler in Windows 11. However, you can disable any scheduled task included in the Task Scheduler app. For that, open the Task Scheduler, choose the task you want to disable, right-click on it, and select the Disable option.