Phenquestions
In this post we will see how to lock or unlock the Taskbar settings and prevent access to taskbar control panel and disallow resizing, arranging, moving toolbars and so on. You can do lock all Taskbar settings using the Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry.
Lock all taskbar settings
Using Windows Registry
Open Regedit and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
In 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 mentioned as 1, it would have the effect as mentioned, 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.
You may need to restart explorer.exe or your computer, for the setting to take place.
