Prevent Internet Explorer from Re-Pinning to Taskbar on Windows 10

Oh, dearie me! You know, Internet Explorer just keeps pinning itself back to that taskbar, doesn’t it? Every time you turn on that computer, there it is again. Maybe you’re like me, getting a bit annoyed with seeing it right there, taking up space. Well, here I’m gonna walk you through a few tricks to keep it from popping back. It ain’t always easy, but I got some steps that might help you keep that pesky Internet Explorer from sticking to your taskbar.

First Step: Try the Basic Unpin

Alright, this is the simplest thing to do, so let’s start here. Right-click on the Internet Explorer icon on the taskbar. You should see a little menu pop up, and there should be an option saying, “Unpin from taskbar.” Go ahead and click on that. Now, for most people, that does the trick! Internet Explorer will scoot off, leaving you with a little more space down there. But if you reboot and it just sneaks back on there, don’t worry—there’s more we can try.

Second Step: Check the Startup Layout

Sometimes, Windows just loves to add things back to the taskbar for no good reason. This can happen if there’s a layout setup that pins certain apps automatically. Now, this might be done by your system, especially if it’s an office computer or one where you’re sharing it with family. When there’s a setup that’s putting Internet Explorer back on there, it’s like that app just can’t take a hint!

Here’s what you can do. Press Win + R to open the Run menu, type , and press Enter. In there, you can go to User Configuration, then Administrative Templates, then Start Menu and Taskbar. See if there’s anything about Start Layout or Taskbar Layout – sometimes there’s a setting that forces certain apps to pin. You might need to disable it. This one’s a little tricky, so be careful.

Third Step: Try a Reset on the Taskbar Pinned Apps

If that Internet Explorer is just being extra stubborn, resetting all the pinned apps might be what you need to do. This one’s a bit of a drastic step since it clears everything from your taskbar, so if you like keeping other things pinned, you might want to skip this. But, if you’re ready to clear it all, here’s how:

• Open File Explorer and go to C:Users[Your Username]AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser PinnedTaskBar.
• Delete everything in this folder. This should clear out the whole taskbar.

After you do this, you might need to restart the computer. This should give you a fresh start with that taskbar. But remember, if Internet Explorer is still showing up after a reset, you might need to look into some more advanced options.

Fourth Step: System Registry Check

Alright, now if you’re still with me, it means that pesky Internet Explorer is still sticking around, huh? Time to roll up our sleeves and check the registry. But be careful—don’t go poking around too much, or you could mess things up. Here’s what you can do:

1. Press Win + R and type in regedit, then press Enter.
2. Once you’re in the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerTaskband.
3. Delete any entries related to Internet Explorer here.

After doing this, give the computer a reboot and check that taskbar. Sometimes, a registry entry gets saved that keeps pinning Internet Explorer back up there. This should hopefully get rid of that little nagging pinning problem.

One Last Thing: Windows Updates

Sometimes it’s just a bug in the system! Check if there are any updates available. Windows can be tricky, and little bugs like this can sometimes just be ironed out with a quick update. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on “Check for updates.” If there’s something there, give it a go and install any pending updates.

Final Words

Well, there you have it, folks! Keeping Internet Explorer off the taskbar can be a bit of a hassle, but if you follow these steps, you should be able to sort it out. Now, don’t get too frustrated—sometimes these things take a bit of patience. Just keep at it, and that taskbar should look just the way you want it, free from any unwanted icons. And remember, if it keeps coming back, maybe it’s time to think about using a different browser! Just a thought!

Tags：[Internet Explorer, taskbar, Windows 10, pinning, unpinning, troubleshooting]