Configure Start Pins
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar Description
Allows admin to override the default items pinned to Start. This setting lets you specify the default items pinned to Start.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Value name: ConfigureStartPins
Enabled: ConfigureStartPins = 1
Disabled: ConfigureStartPins = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ConfigureStartPins User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ConfigureStartPins Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Configure Start Pins
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ConfigureStartPins"=dword:00000001
"ConfigureStartPinsJSON"=""More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPins' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPinsJSON' -Value '' -Type StringIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ConfigureStartPins
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="ConfigureStartPins_Name" value=""/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ConfigureStartPins' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ConfigureStartPinsJSON' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPins' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPinsJSON' -Value '' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ConfigureStartPins' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ConfigureStartPinsJSON' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Start Pins
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPins' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConfigureStartPinsJSON' -Value '' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.