If you want to remove the PEOPLE icon from Windows 10 Taskbar there are three easy ways:
MANUALLY REMOVE PEOPLE ICON FROM TASKBAR:
To Add or Remove People Button from Taskbar in Taskbar Context Menu This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 16226. Right click or press and hold on the taskbar, and click/tap on Show People button to toggle it to show (checked) or hide (unchecked). (see screenshot below).
- Right click on any blank space in the Taskbar
- Uncheck SHOW PEOPLE IN THE TASKBAR
People app is not new in Windows 10 though. It was even available in Windows 8. But the new addition is the People app in the Windows taskbar. Most people do not need that. Thus, it is better to remove it and get some extra space on the taskbar. Before finding out how to unpin People from the taskbar, it is worth knowing what it does. On the right, scroll down to the People section. Disable the option Show people on the taskbar to hide the icon. The People icon will be removed from the taskbar (see the screenshot below). To add the People taskbar icon in Windows 10, visit the same page of the Settings app and enable the.
GPO TO REMOVE PEOPLE ICON FROM TASKBAR:
- In GPEDIT expand User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
- Double click REMOVE THE PEOPLE BAR FROM THE TASKBAR
- Set it to ENABLED
REGISTRY ENTRY TO REMOVE PEOPLE ICON FROM TASKBAR:
- Launch REGEDIT.EXE
- Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced
- Double click the PEOPLEBAND key and set it to 0 (that is zero)
- Sign out, sign in
Start policies
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderDocuments
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderDownloads
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderFileExplorer
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderHomeGroup
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderMusic
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderNetwork
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderPersonalFolder
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderPictures
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderSettings
- Start/AllowPinnedFolderVideos
- Start/DisableContextMenus
- Start/ForceStartSize
- Start/HideAppList
- Start/HideChangeAccountSettings
- Start/HideFrequentlyUsedApps
- Start/HideHibernate
- Start/HideLock
- Start/HidePeopleBar
- Start/HidePowerButton
- Start/HideRecentJumplists
- Start/HideRecentlyAddedApps
- Start/HideRestart
- Start/HideShutDown
- Start/HideSignOut
- Start/HideSleep
- Start/HideSwitchAccount
- Start/HideUserTile
- Start/ImportEdgeAssets
- Start/NoPinningToTaskbar
- Start/StartLayout
Start/AllowPinnedFolderDocuments
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Documents shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderDownloads
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Downloads shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderFileExplorer
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the File Explorer shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderHomeGroup Gamex86 .dll download.
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the HomeGroup shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderMusic
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope: Tv app download for pc.
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Music shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderNetwork
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Network shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderPersonalFolder
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the PersonalFolder shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderPictures
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Pictures shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderSettings
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Settings shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/AllowPinnedFolderVideos
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy controls the visibility of the Videos shortcut on the Start menu.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 – The shortcut is hidden and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 1 – The shortcut is visible and disables the setting in the Settings app.
- 65535 (default) - There is no enforced configuration and the setting can be changed by the user.
Start/DisableContextMenus
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 4 |
Business | 4 |
Enterprise | 4 |
Education | 4 |
Scope:
Enabling this policy prevents context menus from being invoked in the Start Menu.
ADMX Info:
- GP English name: Disable context menus in the Start Menu
- GP name: DisableContextMenusInStart
- GP path: Start Menu and Taskbar
- GP ADMX file name: StartMenu.admx
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (Do not disable).
- 1 - True (disable).
Start/ForceStartSize
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | |
Business | |
Enterprise | |
Education |
Scope:
- Device
Note
This policy is only enforced in Windows 10 for desktop and not supported in Windows 10 Mobile.
Forces the start screen size.
If there is policy configuration conflict, the latest configuration request is applied to the device.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – Do not force size of Start.
- 1 – Force non-fullscreen size of Start.
- 2 - Force a fullscreen size of Start.
Start/HideAppList
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 3 |
Business | 3 |
Enterprise | 3 |
Education | 3 |
Scope:
Note
This policy requires reboot to take effect.
Allows IT Admins to configure Start by collapsing or removing the all apps list.
Note
There were issues reported with the previous release of this policy and a fix was added in Windows 10, version 1709.
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- 1 - Enable policy and restart explorer.exe
- 2a - If set to '1': Verify that the all apps list is collapsed, and that the Settings toggle is not grayed out.
- 2b - If set to '2': Verify that the all apps list is collapsed, and that the Settings toggle is grayed out.
- 2c - If set to '3': Verify that there is no way of opening the all apps list from Start, and that the Settings toggle is grayed out.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – None.
- 1 – Hide all apps list.
- 2 - Hide all apps list, and Disable 'Show app list in Start menu' in Settings app.
- 3 - Hide all apps list, remove all apps button, and Disable 'Show app list in Start menu' in Settings app.
Start/HideChangeAccountSettings
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Change account settings' from appearing in the user tile.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the user tile, and verify that 'Change account settings' is not available.
Start/HideFrequentlyUsedApps
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- User
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding most used apps.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable 'Show most used apps' in the Settings app.
- Use some apps to get them into the most used group in Start.
- Enable policy.
- Restart explorer.exe
- Check that 'Show most used apps' Settings toggle is grayed out.
- Check that most used apps do not appear in Start.
Start/HideHibernate
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Hibernate' from appearing in the Power button.
Note
This policy can only be verified on laptops as 'Hibernate' does not appear on regular PC's.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Laptop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the Power button, and verify 'Hibernate' is not available.
Start/HideLock
Remove People From Taskbar Registry
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Lock' from appearing in the user tile.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the user tile, and verify 'Lock' is not available.
Start/HidePeopleBar
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 3 |
Business | 3 |
Enterprise | 3 |
Education | 3 |
Scope:
- User
Added in Windows 10, version 1709. Enabling this policy removes the people icon from the taskbar as well as the corresponding settings toggle. It also prevents users from pinning people to the taskbar.
Value type is integer.
ADMX Info:
- GP English name: Remove the People Bar from the taskbar
- GP name: HidePeopleBar
- GP path: Start Menu and Taskbar
- GP ADMX file name: StartMenu.admx
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
Start/HidePowerButton
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Note
This policy requires reboot to take effect.
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding the Power button from appearing.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, and verify the power button is not available.
Start/HideRecentJumplists
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Note
This policy requires reboot to take effect.
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding recently opened items in the jump lists from appearing.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable 'Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start of the taskbar' in Settings.
- Pin Photos to the taskbar, and open some images in the photos app.
- Right click the pinned photos app and verify that a jump list of recently opened items pops up.
- Toggle 'Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start of the taskbar' in Settings to clear jump lists.
- Enable policy.
- Restart explorer.exe
- Check that Settings toggle is grayed out.
- Repeat Step 2.
- Right Click pinned photos app and verify that there is no jump list of recent items.
Start/HideRecentlyAddedApps
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Note
This policy requires reboot to take effect.
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding recently added apps.
ADMX Info:
- GP English name: Remove 'Recently added' list from Start Menu
- GP name: HideRecentlyAddedApps
- GP path: Start Menu and Taskbar
- GP ADMX file name: StartMenu.admx
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable 'Show recently added apps' in the Settings app.
- Check if there are recently added apps in Start (if not, install some).
- Enable policy.
- Restart explorer.exe
- Check that 'Show recently added apps' Settings toggle is grayed out.
- Check that recently added apps do not appear in Start.
Start/HideRestart
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Restart' and 'Update and restart' from appearing in the Power button.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the Power button, and verify 'Restart' and 'Update and restart' are not available.
Start/HideShutDown
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Shut down' and 'Update and shut down' from appearing in the Power button.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the Power button, and verify 'Shut down' and 'Update and shut down' are not available.
Start/HideSignOut
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Sign out' from appearing in the user tile.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the user tile, and verify 'Sign out' is not available.
Start/HideSleep
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Sleep' from appearing in the Power button.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the Power button, and verify that 'Sleep' is not available.
Start/HideSwitchAccount
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding 'Switch account' from appearing in the user tile.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Open Start, click on the user tile, and verify that 'Switch account' is not available.
Start/HideUserTile
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure Start by hiding the user tile.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (do not hide).
- 1 - True (hide).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Log off.
- Log in, and verify that the user tile is gone from Start.
Start/ImportEdgeAssets
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
- Device
Remove Search Bar From Taskbar
Here is additional SKU support information:
Release | SKU Supported |
---|---|
Windows 10, version 1607 and older | Not supported |
Windows 10, version 1703 and later | Enterprise, Education, Business |
Windows 10, version 1709 and later | Enterprise, Education, Business, Pro, ProEducation, S, ProWorkstation |
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. This policy imports Edge assets (e.g. .png/.jpg files) for secondary tiles into its local app data path which allows the StartLayout policy to pin Edge secondary tiles as weblink that tie to the image asset files.
Important
Please note that the import happens only when StartLayout policy is changed. So it is better to always change ImportEdgeAssets policy at the same time as StartLayout policy whenever there are Edge secondary tiles to be pinned from StartLayout policy.
The value set for this policy is an XML string containing Edge assets. For an example XML string, see Add image for secondary Microsoft Edge tiles.
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Set policy with an XML for Edge assets.
- Set StartLayout policy to anything so that it would trigger the Edge assets import.
- Sign out/in.
- Verify that all Edge assets defined in XML show up in %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalState path.
Start/NoPinningToTaskbar
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | 2 |
Business | 2 |
Enterprise | 2 |
Education | 2 |
Scope:
Added in Windows 10, version 1703. Allows IT Admins to configure the taskbar by disabling pinning and unpinning apps on the taskbar. Tkinter download for windows.
The following list shows the supported values:
- 0 (default) – False (pinning enabled).
- 1 - True (pinning disabled).
To validate on Desktop, do the following:
- Enable policy.
- Right click on a program pinned to taskbar.
- Verify that 'Unpin from taskbar' menu does not show.
- Open Start and right click on one of the app list icons.
- Verify that More->Pin to taskbar menu does not show.
Start/StartLayout
Windows Edition | Supported? |
---|---|
Home | |
Pro | |
Business | |
Enterprise | |
Education |
Scope:
- User
- Device
Important
Added in Windows 10 version 1703: In addition to being able to set this node on a per user-basis, it can now also be set on a per-device basis. For more information, see Policy scope
Here is additional SKU support information:
Release | SKU Supported |
---|---|
Windows 10, version 1511 and older | Not supported |
Windows 10, version 1607 and later | Enterprise, Education, Business |
Windows 10, version 1709 and later | Enterprise, Education, Business, Pro, ProEducation, S, ProWorkstation |
Allows you to override the default Start layout and prevents the user from changing it. If both user and device policies are set, the user policy will be used. Apps pinned to the taskbar can also be changed with this policy
For further details on how to customize the Start layout, please see Customize and export Start layout and Configure Windows 10 taskbar.
ADMX Info:
- GP English name: Start Layout
- GP name: LockedStartLayout
- GP path: Start Menu and Taskbar
- GP ADMX file name: StartMenu.admx
Footnotes:
- 1 - Available in Windows 10, version 1607.
- 2 - Available in Windows 10, version 1703.
- 3 - Available in Windows 10, version 1709.
- 4 - Available in Windows 10, version 1803.
- 5 - Available in Windows 10, version 1809.
- 6 - Available in Windows 10, version 1903.
- 7 - Available in Windows 10, version 1909.
- 8 - Available in Windows 10, version 2004.