How to Enable or Disable the Windows Taskbar Settings
Customizing the Windows taskbar is quite easy; however, it’s irritating when others tweak the taskbar settings without your permission.
If you’re constantly coming back to a different taskbar, here’s how to stop others from messing with it in Windows.
How to Lock or Unlock the Taskbar Settings
The best way to disable or enable the taskbar settings is by unlocking or locking the settings. To do this, you can either use the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor.
Using the Local Group Policy Editor
We’ll first check out how the Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE) can help. This is an incredible Windows tool that makes it easy to configure settings or troubleshoot system issues. The LGPE can also help youprevent others from changing the Windows desktop background.
you could access this tool on any Windows device except the Home edition. However, there are some tricks you can apply toaccess the LGPE on Windows Home. Alternatively, if you’re using Windows Home, you can skip straight to the “Registry Editor” method.
Now, here are the steps for locking or unlocking the taskbar settings using the LGPE:
From there, selectEnabledin the top-left corner of the screen. Finally, pressApplyand then press theOKbutton. This should lock (disable) the taskbar settings.
If you want to unlock (enable) the taskbar settings, follow these steps:
Using the Registry Editor
Alternatively, you can lock or unlock the taskbar settings using the Registry Editor. This tool also comes in handy whenever you want to tweak some settings ortroubleshoot issues on your PC.
However, the Registry Editor is a sensitive tool that needs to be handled with care. So, it’s advisable toback up the Registryfirst before tweaking its keys.
Now, here’s how to lock or unlock the taskbar settings using the Registry Editor:
Right-click on theWindowskey and selectNew > Key. Next, name this key asExplorerand then pressEnter.
From there, click theExplorerkey and right-click on a blank space on the right-hand side. Next, selectNew > DWORD (32-bit) Valueand name the value asTaskbarLockAll.
To lock the taskbar settings, double-click on theTaskbarLockAllvalue and set theValue datato1. Finally, pressOKand then close the Registry Editor when you finish.
To unlock the taskbar settings, follow the previous steps and set TaskbarLockAll’sValue datato0(zero).
How to Prevent Others From Changing the Taskbar Settings (and the Start Menu Settings)
Instead of locking the taskbar settings, you could restrict others from making changes to the settings. It’s almost the same as locking these settings; however, this method could also prevent others from changing the Start menu settings.
So, it’s usually best to apply this method if locking the taskbar doesn’t help. Also, this method could be ideal if you’ve been planning to prevent people from making changes to the Start menu settings.
Using the LGPE
Here’s how to prevent changes to the taskbar settings using the LGPE:
From there, selectEnabledto prevent others from changing the taskbar settings. When you finish, pressApplyand then pressOK. This should prevent changes to both the taskbar and the Start menu settings.
To change these settings at a later stage, follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can use the Registry Editor to prevent others from changing your taskbar settings. Unlike the “LGPE” method, there are chances that the “Registry Editor” method won’t affect the Start menu settings.
Now, here’s how to prevent changes to the taskbar settings using the Registry Editor:
Next, right-click on a blank space on the right-hand side and selectNew > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this value asNoSetTaskbar.
To prevent others from changing the taskbar settings, double-click theNoSetTaskbarvalue and set theValue datato1. PressOKand then close the Registry Editor when you finish.
To allow others to change the taskbar settings, apply the previous steps but set NoSetTaskbar’sValue datato0(zero).
Enable or Disable the Windows Taskbar Settings Anytime
The Windows taskbar settings make it easy to customize the taskbar. If you don’t want anyone to tweak your taskbar settings, apply any of the methods we’ve covered. And if these settings are suddenly missing, you can restore them using some of the tips we’ve covered.
Want to hide or show the taskbar quickly? You can set up some shortcuts to automatically hide or unhide the Windows taskbar.
If you’re always hiding and unhiding the taskbar, save your fingers and make some shortcuts on Windows 11.
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