Taskbar Context Menus - Enable or Disable

Brink · May 12, 2008

How to Enable or Disable the Vista Taskbar Context Menus

Information

This will show you how to Enable or Disable the context (right click) menu for the Start menu and button, Taskbar buttons, and Clock for all users on the computer. By default, these context menus are enabled.

Note

Disabling these context menus does not prevent users from using other methods to issue the commands that appear on these context menus. It just hides and prevents access to the context menus.

EXAMPLE: Start Menu and Button, Taskbar and Taskbar Buttons, and Clock Context Menus

OPTION ONE

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Remove access to the context menus for the taskbar and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Taskbar Context Menus

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, then click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Taskbar Context Menus

A) Selec (dot) Enabled and click OK.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

OPTION TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Taskbar Context Menus

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Taskbar_Context_Menus.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Taskbar Context Menus

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Taskbar_Context_Menus.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.

OPTION THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue 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 Context Menus

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 NoTrayContextMenu and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoTrayContextMenu 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 Context Menus

A) In the right pane, right click on NoTrayContextMenu and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.

That's it,
Shawn

Taskbar Context Menus - Enable or Disable

Attachments