Pin Apps to Start when installed
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar Description
This policy setting allows pinning apps to Start by default, when they are included by AppID on the list.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Value name: StartPinAppsWhenInstalled
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_StartMenu/StartPinAppsWhenInstalled User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_StartMenu/StartPinAppsWhenInstalled 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: Pin Apps to Start when installed
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"StartPinAppsWhenInstalled"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled]
; List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'StartPinAppsWhenInstalled' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.Intune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_StartMenu/StartPinAppsWhenInstalled
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<!-- StartPinAppsWhenInstalled_Name: enter one value per line before copying this XML payload. -->Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
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
}
# HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled: List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'StartPinAppsWhenInstalled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'StartPinAppsWhenInstalled' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.SCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
# 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: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
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
}
# HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled: List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'StartPinAppsWhenInstalled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Pin Apps to Start when installed
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'StartPinAppsWhenInstalled' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\StartPinAppsWhenInstalled'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.