Taskbar and Start Menu customization

🧑‍🔧 Customize the Windows 11 Taskbar

Customising the Windows 11 Taskbar allows you to personalise the user experience by pinning frequently used applications and removing unnecessary shortcuts. This section provides instructions on creating a Taskbar configuration XML file and testing it in a controlled environment. To make things easier and avoid having to create a complicated XML file, I've created a script that gives you a handy list of your apps to select and then creates the XML file for you.

Creating the Taskbar settings XML

1. Configure the taskbar with Microsoft Intune or GPO by automatically creating the XML file using the script I created from the PSGallery.

Install-Script -Name New-TaskbarCustomizationXML

Or you Download the script directly from my Github.

2. As soon as you Start the Script with the command below, a Windows Explorer Dialog opens and you can select a Folder to save your Script.

New-TaskbarCustomizationXML

3. Next, the script opens a list of your current taskbar shortcuts. Select the shortcuts you want to add to the XML file.

TIP

Hold Strg or Shift to add multiple items.

4. The script opens a list of all your installed packages (programs). Select the ones you want to add to the XML file.

TIP

If you select nothing in either list, the final XML will automatically add the nessecarry lines for a taskbar icon removal.

5. Pressing OK will create a new folder called TaskBar_XML in the folder you selected. You can then find your new XML file in this folder.

XML file example from Microsoft:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LayoutModificationTemplate
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
    xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
    xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
    xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
    Version="1">
  <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
    <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
      <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
        <!-- your pins list goes here -->
    </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
 </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

INFO

You can find more Information on Taskbar customization in this Microsoft Learn Article: Configure the Windows taskbar.

Test Taskbar XML

To test the XML file quickly and set up Start Pins, follow these instructions:

1. Start the Windows Sandbox, any other VM or your own PC. If you're using a Virtual Machine, copy the XML file onto it.

INFO

You can find out how to install the Windows Sandbox here.

2. Open the local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.
   
3. Next open Start Layout, select Enabled and enter the path of the XML file.
4. Finally click OK.

5. Now open a command prompt or powershell window and enter the following command.

gpupdate /force

6. When the command is completed, open the Taskmanager, scroll down to the Windows Explorer and select Restart.

INFO

Restarting the Windows Explorer service restarts the Taskbar aswell.

Taskbar before:

Taskbar after:

Deploy Taskbar XML

When deploying the Start Menu XML, please note that there is a slight oddity in Intune.
It is not possible to import the file directly; instead, the XML text must be copied and pasted into the text box.

INFO

You can find more Information on how to deploy the XML file with Intune or GPO in this Microsoft Learn Article: Deploy the taskbar configuration

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you can easily test and validate your Taskbar XML configuration in a controlled environment like Windows Sandbox or a virtual machine. This ensures that your customizations work as intended before deploying them to production systems.

NOTE

You can find the XML file I used here.

🧑‍🔧 Customize the Windows 11 Start layout

You can customise the Windows 11 Start layout to make it consistent and user-friendly by pinning essential apps and organising the Start menu. This section provides guidance on creating the JSON file and deploying it.

Creating the Start Menu Layout JSON

1. Microsoft provides a CMDlet to help you create the Start Menu JSON.

2. Open a Powershell Windows and use the code below:

Export-StartLayout -Path "C:\temp\LayoutModification.json"

JSON file example from Microsoft:

{
  "pinnedList": [
      { "desktopAppLink": "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Microsoft Edge.lnk" },
      { "packagedAppId": "windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel" },
      { "desktopAppLink": "%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\File Explorer.lnk" },
      { "desktopAppLink": "%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Windows PowerShell\\Windows PowerShell.lnk" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
      { "packagedAppId": "MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.SecHealthUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe!SecHealthUI" },
      { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.OutlookForWindows_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.OutlookforWindows"}
  ]
}

INFO

You can find more Information on Start Menu customization in this Microsoft Learn Article: Configure the Start menu.

Layout Modification Options

Key	Description
packagedAppID	Used for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. To pin a UWP app, use the app's AUMID.
desktopAppID	Used for desktop apps. To pin a desktop app, use the app's AUMID. If the app doesn't have an AUMID, use the desktopAppLink instead.
desktopAppLink	Used for desktop apps that don't have an associated AUMID. To pin this type of app, use the path to the .lnk shortcut that points to the app.
secondaryTile	Used for Microsoft Edge pinned sites.

Deploy Menu Layout JSON

You'll find the setting for deploying the Start Menu Customisation in the Settings Catalog in Intune.
When you're deploying the Start Menu JSON, you can import the file into Intune.

Start Menu before:

Start Menu after (The user can`t remove the Start Menu items):

NOTE

You can't create multiple sections or customise the Start Menu in other ways like was possible in the past with the XML variant, unfortunately.

Conclusion

If you follow the steps above, you can easily customise the Start Menu using the JSON file, making sure that users have a consistent experience.

NOTE

You can find the JSON file I used here.