Taskbar Toolbars - Enable or Disable

Information

This will show you how to enable or disable Taskbar Toolbars for all users on the computer. This is enabled by default in Vista. If disabled, this will remove the Toolbars option from the Start menu and taskbar properties window and from the right click menu on the taskbar. Also when disabled, any existing toolbars will be removed from the taskbar when you logoff and logon or restart the computer next.

NOTE

If disabled, this will prevent all users on the computer from being able to create and add taskbar toolbars.

Tip

If you would just like to add or remove a taskbar toolbar, then see: How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista instead. If you would like to enable or disable adding and removing of taskbar toolbars without removing all current toolbars, then see: How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Taskbar Toolbars in Vista

• How to Add or Remove a Desktop Toolbar in Vista
• How to Use Quick Launch in Vista
• How to Hide or Show a Notification Icon in Vista
• How to Show or Hide All Notification Area System Tray Icons in Vista
• How to Turn Open Window Thumbnail Previews On or Off for the Taskbar in Vista
• How to Turn Group Similar Taskbar Buttons On or Off in Vista
• How to See the Date and Time on the Taskbar in Vista
• How to Lock or Unlock the Taskbar in Vista
• How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Lock the Taskbar in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Taskbar Toolbars in Vista
• How to Show or Hide Folder Full Path in the Vista Taskbar Buttons

NOTE

This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Do not display any custom toolbars in the taskbar and click on Properties.



6. To Enable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) Dot Enabled and click on OK.

8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
9. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply all changes.
NOTE: If disabled, this removes any existing toolbars from the taskbar. The Toolbars option from the Start menu and taskbar properties window and from the right click menu on the taskbar is removed or added immediately.

NOTE

This method will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:

1. To Enable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Taskbar_Toolbars.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Taskbar_Toolbars.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.
5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply all changes.
NOTE: If disabled, this removes any existing toolbars from the taskbar. The Toolbars option from the Start menu and taskbar properties window and from the right click menu on the taskbar is removed or added immediately.

The Manual Way:

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer



5. To Disable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type NoToolbarsOnTaskbar and press Enter.
C) Right click on NoToolbarsOnTaskbar and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

F) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Taskbar Toolbars -

A) In the right pane, right click on NoToolbarsOnTaskbar and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply all changes.
NOTE: If disabled, this removes any existing toolbars from the taskbar. The Toolbars option from the Start menu and taskbar properties window and from the right click menu on the taskbar is removed or added immediately.