Pin to Start Menu is an option available in the right-click context menu of files. This is a very useful option for quick access. If you notice that the Pin to Start Menu not working or greyed out on your Windows 11/10 computer, then this post is intended to help you. In this post, we will identify the possible causes, as well as provide the most appropriate solutions you can try to help you remediate this issue.
Pin to Start Menu not working or greyed out
If the Pin to Start Menu option is not working or greyed out on your Windows 11/10 computer, use the following fixes to resolve the issue.
- Modify the NoChangeStartMenu and LockedStartLayout registry values
- Re-register the shell32.dll file
- Disable or uninstall your antivirus
- Repair your system image files
- Reset your PC
Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.
1] Modify the NoChangeStartMenu and LockedStartLayout registry values
Since this is a registry operation, it is recommended that you back up the registry or create a system restore point as necessary precautionary measures. Once done, you can proceed as follows:
Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog. In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor. Now, navigate or jump to the registry key path below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
On the right pane, double-click on the NoChangeStartMenu entry to edit its properties. If it is not present, you have to create a new one. Right-click anywhere on the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the key NoChangeStartMenu.
- In the properties window, set the Value data to 0.
- Click OK to save changes.
Next, navigate to the registry location below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
On the right pane, double-click on the LockedStartLayout entry to edit its properties. If it is not present, you have to create a new one. Right-click anywhere on the right pane and select New > DWord (32-bit) Value. Name the key LockedStartLayout.
- In the properties window, set the Value data to 0.
- Click OK to save changes.
- Restart your computer.
On boot, check if the Pin To Start Menu not working or greyed out issue in Windows 11/10 is resolved. Else continue with the next solution.
FIX: Can’t Pin Apps to Taskbar.
2] Re-register the shell32.dll file
To re-register the shell32.dll file, do the following:
- Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
- In the Run dialog box, type cmd and then press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to open Command Prompt in admin mode.
- In the command prompt window, type the command below and press Enter.
regsvr32 /i shell32.dll
Restart your computer. Now, check if the problem persists.
3] Disable or uninstall your antivirus
Your third-party antivirus might be causing this problem. To check this, you can disable your antivirus. However, sometimes, disabling the antivirus does not help. In such cases, uninstalling the antivirus works. Uninstall your antivirus and see if you can pin applications to the Start Menu. If this works, you need to contact your antivirus vendor for support. Before uninstalling your antivirus, make sure to check if you have its activation key, as it will be required to activate your license at the time you install it again.
4] Repair your system image files
Corrupt system image files are also one possible cause of this problem. We suggest you repair your system image files with the help of built-in tools in Windows 11/10. Run the SFC scan and the DISM scan to repair the corrupted system image files. Do not interrupt the scan. After the completion of the scan, check if the issue persists.
5] Reset your PC
If none of the above solutions fixed the problem, you can reset your PC to the factory default settings. While performing this action, select the Keep my files option. This will reset your PC to the factory default settings without deleting your data.
Hope this helps!
How do I PIN to start Windows 11?
You can easily Pin your programs to the Start menu in Windows 11. Click on the Start menu, then click on the All apps button available on the top right side. Now, right-click on the program you want to pin to the Start menu and select the Pin to Start option. Alternatively, you can also pin programs to the Start menu by right-clicking on their desktop shortcuts.
How do I start Windows 11 without a PIN?
If you forget your PIN, you cannot sign in to your system. If you have set multiple sign-in options, you can use them to sign in to your system and then reset your PIN via WIndows 11/10 Settings. For example, if you have enabled Fingerprint login, you can use it to sign in to your system. If you set up only PIN as the sign-in method, Windows 11/10 will show you the Forgot my PIN option on the login screen. Click on that link and follow the on-screen instructions to sign into your system.
Read next: Start Menu grayed out and unresponsive.
