This one isn’t pretty but it does work just fine. One of the most common questions I get when we do Windows 10 projects are how to modify the taskbar and to be more specific remove the Edge icon. The configuration of the Taskbar is stored in a big blob in the registry so what I simply do is modify the taskbar as I want it and then export the registry key and the files needed as well.
The script can be downloaded here: https://ccmexec.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ManageTaskbar-1.0.zip
It consists of two different scripts as the Taskbar is per-user I use a .CMD file to copy all the files needed locally and then add a Runonce command to the default user profile so that the Taskbar is imported once for each user when the profile is created.
Couldn’t this be done in the default user profile? No, as the Edge icon is added as well when the user profile is created. I will post later in the week how to export/import a Custom Taskbar to add the IE icon instead of the Edge icon.
To implement it:
- Download the file above and extract it and place it in your Package Source structure, the content of the file looks like this.
The .cmd file will copy the following files to C:\Windows\ManageTaskbar where the Runonce command will run the Powershell script from.
- And then create a Package in Configuration Manager without a program and add use the folder created with the files as package source and distribute it to your DP’s.
- In your Task Sequence add the taskbar.cmd command using the Run Command Line task.
- Then you are ready to test it out.
The script will import the registry file, copy the ManageTaskBar folder and then restart the Explorer process so that the users TaskBar is updated. The Powershell windows will show for 2 seconds, this can be solved in different way’s like calling the Powershell script using a Vbscript.
In my deployment the TaskBar will look like this with some help from Group Policies after the script is implemented.
I hope it is useful! I will post an how-to later in the week on how to use the same scripts to import a Custom Taskbar with an IE icon as well.
Thumbs up! Great work!
Thanks for this post. Can this be modified to remove both Edge and the Windows store icon? Looking forward to seeing your follow up on the custom task bar.
Hi,
The Store icon can be removed using a group policy which is the best way to do it..
Regards,
Jörgen
Thanks heaps!
Thanks Jorgan.
I admit it’s the best thing I found so far, though it is still not a solution for Inplace-Upgrade.
In an inplace-upgrade scenario users continue to use their existing profile without touching the default profile.
The most annoying thing here is that Edge is being added to any taskbar of any profile (New or existing), so you get it, you just have no option to get rid of it automatically… even if the organization doesn’t going to use Edge at all…
still trying to find an automation for removing this from any profile, either by group policy, logon script or any other method
Hi,
I have done that as well, run the same script using a Schedule Task, run it as log on instead then it will run for each user regardless of existing profile or not.
Regards,
Jörgen
Hi Jorgen,
Greate post by the way. Script perfectly works in our enviroment if user have admin rights on the machine. For our standard account, where regedit was disabled, the script will not be able to import the current user registries. Any workaround that you can give? Thanks
Hi,
You could re-write it so the scripts writes the keys instead of importing them with reg.exe
/Jörgen
@Tamir
Looks do-able.
1.Export the taskband key, figure out which part of it relates to edge and store.
2. Use the Run Once key to run a script which exports taskband, finds/replaces the section from part 1, Restart explorer.
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I’ve figured out the part which does the edge and store icon. I just can’t find/replace. If I could get that part sorted, then I’d have the working solution
Is there a way to run this script (Taskband.ps1) at each new created user profile’s first logon when using sysprep?
Nice, I does what it’s supposed to 🙂
Is there any way to use this solution to also ADD pinned apps to taskbar?
I”ve tried messing around with the scripts to add IE and Outlook 2016.
I’ve added the two shortcuts (.lnk) to the source folder (\ManageTaskbar\….\Taskbar\) and also replaced the TaskBandCU.reg with a file that was exported from the reference user. The script runs once, Edge disapears but all that is added are two broken blank pinned shortcuts.
Best Regards,
Simon
It does replace the Edge icon with IE but only if the user is member of the administrators group, otherwise is just delete the Edge icon.
Hi,
I haven’t seen that, it works great on all my customers, are you deploying any Powershell restriction, applocker policies? COuld be a timing issue as well, so that the script runs before the taskbar is loaded the first time.
/Jörgen
Hello Jorgen,
Nice a job!
What must I do to integrate this in a SYSPREP image? Shoud I run the .cmd on First running commands in my Unattend (XML) file?
Regards,
Malory
I see an issue with it. When the user first logs in and the script run, the start menu stops responding until the users logs out and logs back in again.
Is there any way to either fix that problem or else make a workaround by adding a restart command to the script so the PC reboots automatically after the task bar is reset?
Maybe just restarting explorer.exe might work?
The ps1 script ends at “Stop-Process -ProcessName explorer -Force” but that seems to make the Start menu unresponsive.
Hi,
It shouldn’t have to be used, I added the restart of explorer.exe so that it would load the new taskbar and haven’t seen any issues with it..
/Jörgen
Hi – am interested also in your defaultapps task sequence step, do you have any info on how you achieve this at all?
thanks 🙂
I am looking for a cleaner/simpler way to accomplish this.
What do you think about changing the permissions on the Taskband registry key so Edge never gets added to begin with?
Jorgen.
Thanks for this one it worked like a charm.
Sincerely,
Harmen
Any way to do with without using config manager for default user only?
Thanks!
Thanks Jörgen for sharing this with us, i have used your work as a basis for a vbscript i have written that can be placed in the default users startup folder that will run, remove edge and clean itself up all within a single file, thought i would post it here in case anyone finds use for it.
http://pastebin.com/UUkYRVJZ
This works well thank you! However, shouldn’t the file stay in the default startup folder? That way it can run for all new users the first time they login? Seems like it was staying there before but now after logging in with a couple of users and it worked, I am logging in with an admin account and the vbs is not in the default folder anymore.
Jörgen, I just noticed this is changing the Desktop link in Quick access to always point to default user, no matter who logged in. Any ideas of what i did wrong? I narrowed it down to this TS. It is running perfectly otherwise, the users taskbar is perfect, but that users quick access will have a desktop link to the default user account, not their own account.
J
Thank you Mr_ZT for your script! And thank you Jörgen for your initial work!
Microsoft keeps creating the Edge and Store icons in the Task Bar after their updates… 🙁
Those scripts needs to be runned after every MS-update that adds the icon, but at the same time, some users might want the icon so that can be an issue.
@Mr_ZT the VBS script works beautifully to remove the Edge icon! Many thanks!
Muchas Gracias Mr_ZT,
Your VBS script cleaned that Ms Edge trash from the taskbar instantly.
Ditto what JonG said.
Great work, it removes the Edge icon but not the Cortana search bar. What do i need to change for it to do that?
Fantastic work!! Love the PowerShell script and the Stop-Process. This was the only way I could get this process to work without forcing the user to log off. This is so much simpler than the convoluted process my predecessor left me. Thank you so much!
I have great success with this when performing a clean OSD but it fails to work when used with the in place upgrade TS. Anyone tried this with that scenario?
Excellent solution. Worked flawlessly. Thank you.
Still works like a charm on Windows 10 (1607)!
(Also) Still works on Windows 10 Creators Update (1703) !
How does this work with MDT Workbench and WDS? Anyone tried it?
Hi,
It will work as there are no System Context permissions required in the script, local admin is enough when it is added to the folders/registry.
Regards,
Jörgen
Where te hell do i place the task in de task sequence? 🙁
Every place i put it , it gives back an error in de task sequence..
Hi,
I normally run it near the end, it must be run in the full OS.
Regards,
Jörgen
Thank you sir! !
As of Windows 10 build 1607, the recommended way to do this is with a layout customization XML file. See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/configure-windows-10-taskbar
The will not be able to change it then. The point is to allow users to change but also remove Edge icon.