Taskbar - Lock or Unlock

How to Lock or Unlock Taskbar in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to lock or unlock the taskbar to allow you to move the taskbar or toolbars on the taskbar in Windows 7.

When the taskbar is unlocked, you will see a dotted separator line to the left of pinned programs, and any toolbars.

   Tip

FIX: Locked taskbar moves to the top of the screen in Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

EXAMPLE: Taskbar

OPTION ONE

From the Taskbar

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar.

2. To Lock the Taskbar
A) Click on Lock the taskbar to check it. (See screenshot below step 3)
3. To Unlock the Taskbar
A) Click on Lock the taskbar to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

From Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Properties.
A) Go to step 3.
OR

2. Right click on the Start button and click on Properties.
A) Click on the Taskbar tab. (See screenshot below step 5)
3. To Lock the Taskbar
A) Check the Lock the taskbar box. (See screenshot step 5)

B) Go to step 5.
4. To Unlock the Taskbar
A) Uncheck the Lock the taskbar box. (See screenshot below step 5)
5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

OPTION THREE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Lock Taskbar
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Lock_Taskbar.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Unlock Taskbar
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Unlock_Taskbar.reg

Download


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, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to completely apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Pin or Unpin a Folder to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin or Unpin a Program to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Use Small or Large Icons on the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Enable or Disable QuickLaunch in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Taskbar Button Grouping
• How to Move the Windows 7 Taskbar Location on the Desktop
• How to Show or Hide the Windows 7 Taskbar with Auto-hide
• How to Change the Windows 7 Taskbar Icon Width Size
• How to Pin or Unpin a Drive to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Create a Taskbar Properties Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Resize the Taskbar in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Resizing the Taskbar in Vista and Windows 7

 

[lgutai]

I have a serious problem: I can not lock/unlock my taskbar. I can pin/unpin icons bit it apparently stays in the 'locked' position. I tried the remedy suggested in one of the treads (edit the DWORD value called LockTaskbar' in the registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. My problem with this suggestion is that I don't even have a ...\Policies\Explorer path! (I searched for the 'LockTaskbar' word and didn't find it anywhere else. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks, Laci.

 

[Brink]

Hello Laci,

I have added OPTION THREE to the tutorial for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[lgutai]

Hi Shawn, Unfortunately, this didn't work for me. Although now I have the \policies folder but still no ...\policies\Explorer path! I am still in the test installation phase, and messed up other things (e.g. my Marvell driver stopped recognizing external drives unless they are connected during boot up even though I set the Marvell 9123 Controller in the BIOS to IDE...) I am trying to find the 'master tutorial' where - I assume - you copy these remedies - so I do not have to bother you with all these questions. Thanks again, Laci.

 

[Brink]

Laci,

As a test, create a new administrator account to see if it may allow you to unlock/lock the taskbar while logged in to that account.

 

[lgutai]

Hello Brink, I created another account with administrative privileges. I couldn't lock/unlock the taskbar from there either. Will restart the computer and try again. - Laci.

Update:
Restart didn't help either... As I said, this is still (the second) test installation but it would be good to leran some of your solutions so I would neot have to restore or reinstall the system in the future if something like this is happening. Thank you very much for your help. Laci.

 

[Brink]

Laci,

I have updated the REG files in OPTION THREE. Please try them again and restart the computer afterwards to see how they work for you.

 

[lgutai]

Brink,

It didn't work either. Well I am not that desparate, I will reinstall the OS in the next one or two weeks anyway, and hopefully the last time for a longer time, after I check out a few more applications. However, if you have some more ideas, I would be happy to try. BTW, the help a few weeks ago with the disappearing system folders (My Documents, etc.) worked perfectly!
Applications I would like to check before the 'final' install: BitDefender 2011 - they say it can take DOS commands at the beginning and at the end (like Acronis?). This is important because right now, with the BD AV 2010, I use a workaround to wake the computer up, keep it from going to sleep, and at the end of the scan, I send it to sleep. I use a BAT file to check the BD log file folders: and when it writes the log file, I know I can send the computer to sleep. (When I start the PC in the morning, then I trigger a scheduled task that resets the power scheme to my default scheme (with a powercfg /a command). I was hoping to find an Event ID for this application but I couldn't. I also plan to check out Nero BurnExpress. This latter hopefully will not want to take over my whole computer like the usual Nero bloatware. (I use Nero 8 Micro right now.) If you have any advice on these two applications, I would greatly appreciate.

Thank you very much for your help,

Laci.

 

[Brink]

Sorry to hear that Laci. Please let us know how the reinstall goes.

I don't use those programs, so I can't offer an opinion on them. You might post a new thread on them in the "Software" forum area to see what others that used them thought about them though.

 

[lgutai]

Hi Brink, Thanks very much for your help (and quick replies: Some, or all, commercial software companies could learn from you!) I will post my experience (probably after the holydays). - Laci.