[Tip] Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10 so that No One can Change it

In this tutorial, we are going to share a very easy and useful tip which will help you in preventing and restricting people from changing Start Menu layout in your Windows 10 computer.

We all customize and modify Start Menu layout according to our requirements. For example, we remove (unpin) default built-in tiles from Start Menu, we add (pin) new programs and apps tiles to access them easily and quickly, we also resize, move and organize tiles in different groups. I also customize the Start Menu in all Windows 10 devices in a fixed format such as adding different web browsers tiles in a single group as I regularly need to test features introduced in new versions of web browsers.

When someone else use your computer system, you are always worried about the changes the other person is going to make in your device. The other person can modify your customized Start Menu layout. For example, he can remove a few tiles or resize existing tiles or reorder/move tiles.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could lock the Start Menu layout so that no one can change it? Here is a good news for you.

Windows 10 allows users to lock Start Menu layout and once you lock it, no one will be able to modify it. No one will be able to add/remove tiles, resize tiles, etc.

When you lock Start Menu layout, all customization options such as Unpin, Resize, etc are automatically removed from tile context menu. When a user tries to right-click on a tile in Start Menu, he doesn’t get Unpin and Resize options in context menu. Only “More” option is displayed in the context menu. Also the user will not be able to reorder or move tiles using drag-n-drop.

Following image shows what happens when you lock Start Menu layout in Windows 10:

As you can see in above image, options such as Unpin from Start, Resize, Uninstall were removed from tile context menu after locking the Start Menu.

If you also want to lock Start Menu layout in Windows 10 so that no one can modify it, following registry tweak will help you:

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

2. Now go to following key:

To lock Start Menu layout for all user accounts in the device:

To lock Start Menu layout for your current user account only:

3. Under Windows key, look for Explorer key. If the key is not present, right-click on Windows key and select “New -> Key” option. Set the new key name as Explorer.

4. Select Explorer key and in right-side pane, right-click on empty area and select “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.

Set new DWORD name as LockedStartLayout and double-click on the DWORD and change its value to 1 to lock Start Menu layout.

Congratulations. You have successfully locked Start Menu layout but to apply effects, you’ll need to either restart your device or log off and login again.

Alternatively, you can also restart Explorer using any methods given here or restart Start Menu as mentioned in this article to apply effects.

Now try to right-click on any tile in Start Menu and you’ll no longer see options such as Unpin, Resize to modify Start Menu layout.

PS: In future, if you decide to unlock Start Menu and allow users to modify Start Menu layout, delete the above mentioned DWORD “LockedStartLayout” from registry or change its value to 0. Restart or log off to apply changes.

Also Check:

[Tip] Backup and Restore (Import/Export) Start Menu Layout in Windows 10

[Tip] Add, Remove and Group Program Shortcuts in Windows 10 Start Menu

[Tip] Speedup Start Menu Opening / Launching in Windows 10