This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Task View button on the taskbar for your account, specific users, or all users in Windows 11.
Task View (Win+Tab) is a virtual desktop manager that allows you to quickly switch between all of your open apps on multiple desktops. This makes multitasking and organizing with your opened apps much easier.
Windows 11 has a Task View button that shows on the taskbar by default, but can be removed.
Removing or disabling the Task View button on the taskbar does not prevent opening Task View using other options.
- Option One: Add or Remove Task View Button on Taskbar for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Add or Remove Task View Button on Taskbar for Current User using REG file
- Option Three: Add or Remove Task View Button on Taskbar for Current User in Registry Editor
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Task View Button on Taskbar for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Five: Enable or Disable Task View Button on Taskbar for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Six: Enable or Disable Task View Button on Taskbar for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Task View button on taskbar
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Taskbar on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn On (default) or Off Task view for what you want on the right side under Taskbar items. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
This option will not work when Administrator protection is turned on.
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShowTaskViewButton"=dword:00000001(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShowTaskViewButton"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2 Navigate to the key location below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 3)
Substitute <SID> in the key path above with the actual SID for the account you want to apply this to.
For example:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2498639629-3946114050-4100787084-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3 In the right pane of the Advanced key, double click/tap on the ShowTaskViewButton DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)
4 Enter 0 (remove) or 1 (add - default) for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
Enable or Disable Task View Button on Taskbar for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22610.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Six to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Hide the Task View button policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
This is the default setting to allow using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
This will prevent users from using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
Enable or Disable Task View Button on Taskbar for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22610.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Six to configure the same policy.
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 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Hide the Task View button policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
This is the default setting to allow using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
This will prevent users from using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22610.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want.
This is the default setting to allow using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideTaskViewButton"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideTaskViewButton"=-This will prevent users from using Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideTaskViewButton"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideTaskViewButton"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
