This tutorial covers how to disable pinning items in the Jump List for taskbar items in Windows 11. This Jump List feature helps to access the most recent items, pinned items, recently closed items, webpage links, etc., that you opened with a particular application. We can right-click on a pinned or unpinned app on the taskbar to access the Jump Lists for a particular app or program that supports this feature. All the pinned items appear on the top of a jump list. Those who want to disable pinning items to the jump list can do this using two native Windows 11 options.
Once you have disallowed pinning items in Jump Lists, the option to Pin to this list won’t be visible for any task, as in the image above. That means you can’t pin a task to any of the jump list of taskbar items (pinned or unpinned). This change also applies to the Jump Lists for Start menu apps. Also, do note that you won’t be able to unpin items from the Pinned items list as the Unpin from this list option will also be disabled. Not to worry as you can undo the changes anytime.
How to disable Pinning Items in Jump List for Taskbar items in Windows 11
We can disable pinning items in Jump Lists for taskbar items and the Start menu in Windows 11 with two native options:
- Using Group Policy Editor
- Using the Registry Editor.
Let’s check both options.
1] Using Group Policy Editor
The steps to disable pin and unpin items in Jump Lists using Group Policy are as follows:
- Type gpedit in the Search box and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor window
- Locate the Start Menu and Taskbar folder with the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
- Open the Do not allow pinning items in Jump Lists setting by double-clicking on it
- In that setting window, select the Enabled option
- Hit the Apply button and then the OK button.
Now when you right-click on a Start menu item or taskbar item, you won’t see pin and unpin options for recent items and pinned items.
To allow pinning items in Jump Lists in the Start menu and taskbar again, follow the steps covered above and access the Do not allow pinning items in Jump Lists setting. Click on the Not Configured option there and press the OK button.
Related: Jump List missing or disappeared permanently in Windows PC
2] Using the Registry Editor
Before following this method, backup your Windows Registry so that you can restore it if needed. Now use these steps to disable pin and unpin items on Jump Lists in taskbar and Start menu using the Registry Editor method:
- Type regedit in the Search box and use the Enter key
- In the Registry Editor window, locate the Explorer Registry key. Below is the path to that key. If you don’t see the Explorer key, then right-click on Windows key > New > Key. Rename the newly created Registry key as Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- On the right section of the Explorer key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoPinningToDestinations
- Double-click on the NoPinningToDestinations value to edit it. A small box will appear. In its Value data text field, add 1, and press the OK button.
To enable pin and unpin items on Jump Lists for the Start menu and taskbar items, you can either add 0 in the Value data text field of NoPinningToDestinations DWORD (32-bit) Value or delete the Explorer key.
That’s all.
How do I turn off pinning to the taskbar in Windows 11/10?
If you want to prevent pinning programs to the taskbar on a Windows PC, then first, open the GPEDIT (Group Policy) window. Access the Start Menu and Taskbar folder, and open the Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar setting. Select the Enabled option for this setting and press the OK button to apply the changes.
How do I turn off Jump List on Taskbar in Windows 11/10?
To turn off or disable showing Taskbar Jump Lists on a Windows PC, open the Settings app. After that, select Personalization > Start > and turn off Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists option. You can also use the REGEDIT, GPEDIT options, or Ultimate Windows Tweaker tool for it.
Read next: How to increase the number of Jump List items in Windows PC.
