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Modifying Windows 11 Start button location and Taskbar icons during OSD/AutoPilot

Posted on October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 by Jörgen Nilsson

I was determined not to do any customization of the Start button location, but I couldn’t keep my hands off. There are some useful registry keys that we can use to set the default location of the Start Button and hide Task View, Chat icon for example during OSD or AutoPilot for that matter using a PowerShell script.

The really cool part is that the Start menu moves as soon as you set the registry value as shown below.

We could make it look like below example, not saying that you should that is up to you.

The following settings can be changed using the registry.

Start button alignment – 0 = Left
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
“TaskbarAl”=dword:00000000

Remove Task View from the Taskbar
[KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
“ShowTaskViewButton”=dword:00000000

Remove Chat from the Taskbar
[KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
“TaskbarMn”=dword:00000000

Remove Widgets from the Taskbar
[KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
“TaskbarDa”=dword:00000000

Remove Search from the Taskbar
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
“SearchboxTaskbarMode”=dword:00000000


Here is a sample script that can be used during OS Deployment or Intune for that matter to set the default behaviour in in the Default user registry hive. I used reg.exe to set the Search settings otherwise the registry hive fails to unload.

REG LOAD HKLM\Default C:\Users\Default\NTUSER.DAT

# Removes Task View from the Taskbar
New-itemproperty "HKLM:\Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "ShowTaskViewButton" -Value "0" -PropertyType Dword

# Removes Widgets from the Taskbar
New-itemproperty "HKLM:\Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "TaskbarDa" -Value "0" -PropertyType Dword

# Removes Chat from the Taskbar
New-itemproperty "HKLM:\Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "TaskbarMn" -Value "0" -PropertyType Dword

# Default StartMenu alignment 0=Left
New-itemproperty "HKLM:\Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "TaskbarAl" -Value "0" -PropertyType Dword

# Removes search from the Taskbar
reg.exe add "HKLM\Default\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v SearchboxTaskbarMode /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

REG UNLOAD HKLM\Default

I run it in my task sequence as an inline PowerShell script as shown below.

I hope this can be useful! Now time for more playing around with Windows 11

  • Align Start Menu
  • Hide Chat icon
  • Hide Taskview
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 11 Start Menu
  • 12 thoughts on “Modifying Windows 11 Start button location and Taskbar icons during OSD/AutoPilot”

    1. OSD says:
      October 10, 2021 at 9:45 pm

      Hi,

      Is it possible /supported to override Windows 11 start layout and have pinned items of my choice only?
      I asked it in MS platform as well at:
      https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/583131/windows-111-gtgt-add-a-layout-to-an-image.html

      Reply
      1. Jörgen Nilsson says:
        October 12, 2021 at 11:04 am

        Hi, Working on a Post right now on the topic.Depends on if you use MEMCM or Intune.

        Regards,
        Jörgen

        Reply
    2. MStix says:
      October 11, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      hi, glad I found this writeup. How are you applying this as a scheduled task?

      Reply
    3. cb says:
      October 13, 2021 at 12:25 am

      >I used reg.exe to set the Search settings otherwise the registry hive fails to unload.

      Could you elaborate on that? Does this mean that “REG UNLOAD” fails if the last command was “New-itemproperty”, but succeeds if the last command was “REG ADD”?

      Thanks.

      Reply
      1. Jörgen Nilsson says:
        October 21, 2021 at 8:49 pm

        Correct, If you create a new Registry Key, it will remain open until the powershell process finishes and then the unload command will fail.

        I have a workaround for it but the posted script will work just fine.
        Regards,
        Jörgen

        Reply
    4. OSD says:
      October 13, 2021 at 10:03 am

      Hi
      No MEMCM or Intune either. Just working with .WIM image.

      Reply
    5. IntuneGuy says:
      October 16, 2021 at 1:01 am

      Pushed these out via intune and see them on out Win 11 test machine, but they dont appear to do anything.

      Reply
      1. Jörgen Nilsson says:
        October 21, 2021 at 8:47 pm

        Hi,
        The sample script only changes it for new users on the device. Did you push it out before anyone logged on?
        Regards
        Jörgen

        Reply
    6. Pingback: Customizing the Taskbar on Windows 11 devices – All about Microsoft Endpoint Manager
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    9. David says:
      November 3, 2022 at 11:51 am

      This script works great thank you.

      I tried adding values for making the taskbar with a dark theme and windows a light theme but it doesn’t seem to be working 🙁

      Would you have any pointers?

      I tried adding

      reg.exe add “HKLM:\Default\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize” /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
      reg.exe add “HKLM:\Default\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize” /v SystemUsesLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

      Thanks

      David

      Reply

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    My name is Jörgen Nilsson and I work as a Senior Consultant at Onevinn in Malmö, Sweden. This is my blog where I will share tips and stuff for my own and everyone elses use on Enterprise Mobility and Windows related topics.
    All code is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties.

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