[Windows Tip] Restrict Users from Changing Tab Bar Position in Internet Explorer

We know that Internet Explorer 9.0 and later IE versions show the tab bar, address bar and other toolbar buttons such as back/forward in same row. But Internet Explorer also allows users to show tab bar in a separate row just below the address bar.

If you right-click on the titlebar or toolbar, you get an option “Show tabs on a separate row” in the context menu which can be enabled to put tabs on bottom i.e. below the address bar.

If you are comfortable with using tab bar in a separate row, you might want to permanently enable this feature and want to restrict other people from changing this option. Or you may always want to show tabs next to the address bar in the same row and want to prevent people from changing its position. Any other person can change tab bar position by right-clicking on the titlebar or toolbar and checking or unchecking the option.

Today in this tutorial, we are going to share a small trick to force Internet Explorer to always show tab bar on a separate row or in same row. This method will remove the option “Show tabs on a separate row” from the context menu and tab bar will always show below the address bar or next to address bar according to your requirements.

If you want to restrict other users from changing tab bar position in Internet Explorer, following steps will help you:

METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc)

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type gpedit.msc in RUN and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor.

2. Now go to:

3. In right-side pane, double-click on “Display tabs on a separate row” option and set it to any of following 2 options:

Enabled – to show tabs on a separate row and remove “Show tabs on a separate row” option from the context menu

Disabled – to show tabs next to address bar in same row and remove “Show tabs on a separate row” option from the context menu

4. Apply the changes and launch Internet Explorer and the tab bar will be shown at your desired place. Now try to right-click on titlebar or toolbar and you’ll not see “Show tabs on a separate row” option.

PS: If you decide to remove the restriction in future, double-click on “Display tabs on a separate row” option and set it to Not Configured again.

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)

If you are using Windows 10 Home edition, you’ll not be able to run gpedit.msc command because this edition doesn’t come with Group Policy Editor.

If you can’t use or don’t want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit in RUN and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

3. Under Microsoft key, create a new key and set its name as Internet Explorer

4. Now create another new key under the new Internet Explorer key and set its name as MINIE

So the final path would be:

5. Now select MINIE key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD ShowTabsBelowAddressBar and set its value to 1 or 0 according to your requirements as mentioned below:

1 – to show tabs on a separate row and remove “Show tabs on a separate row” option from the context menu

0 – to show tabs next to address bar in same row and remove “Show tabs on a separate row” option from the context menu

6. Now launch Internet Explorer and you’ll see tab bar at your desired position. Also the option “Show tabs on a separate row” will be no longer present in the right-click menu.

NOTE: If you want to remove the restriction later, delete the ShowTabsBelowAddressBar DWORD from registry editor.