How To Customize Taskbar Pins in a Custom Windows ISO

Customizing taskbar pins ensures that essential applications are immediately accessible in a customer-ready Windows image. This guide explains how to configure taskbar pins using XML during Audit Mode before running Sysprep.

Phase 1: Preparation in Audit Mode

• Install Software: Ensure all applications you want to pin are installed.
• Configure System Settings: Apply system-wide and default profile tweaks.
• Identify Your Apps: Use PowerShell to list Application User Model IDs (AUMIDs):

  Get-StartApps | Format-Table -Wrap

Phase 2: Understanding XML Pin Types

Applications can be defined in XML using three methods:

• Desktop Application ID: For standard Windows components.

  <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationID="Microsoft.Windows.Explorer"/>

• Application User Model ID (AUMID): For UWP/Microsoft Store apps.

  <taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="Microsoft.MicrosoftLoop_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"/>

• Desktop Application Link Path: Points to a shortcut (.lnk).

  <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk"/>

Note: Always use %ALLUSERSPROFILE% instead of %APPDATA% for accessibility across all users.

Phase 3: Creating the XML File

Create TaskbarLayoutModification.xml and choose from these templates:

Option 1: Add to Existing Pins

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection> ... </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

Option 2: Replace All Pins

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace"> ... </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

Option 3: Allow Users to Unpin

<taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="Microsoft.M365Companions_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Files" PinGeneration="1"/>

Option 4: Remove All Pins

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace"> ... </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

TaskbarLayoutModification.xml Content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LayoutModificationTemplate

    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"

    xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"

    xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"

    xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"

    Version="1">

  <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">

    <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

      <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationID="Microsoft.Windows.Explorer" PinGeneration="1" />

        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationID="MSEdge" PinGeneration="1" />

        <taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" PinGeneration="1" />

        <taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel" PinGeneration="1"/>

        <taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" PinGeneration="1" />

<taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk" PinGeneration="1" />

      </taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

    </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

  </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

</LayoutModificationTemplate>

Phase 4: Deployment and Generalization

• Save TaskbarLayoutModification.xml to:

  C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\

• Apply via Group Policy:

  Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

  Enable Start Layout and specify the XML path.

Phase 5: Registry Tweaks (Optional)

Disable consumer features and cloud content suggestions:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent" /v "DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent" /v "DisableCloudOptimizedContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Key Considerations

• No Limits: You can pin unlimited apps.
• Persistence: Pins are restored unless PinGeneration="1" is used.
• Order Matters: Apps appear in the order listed, following language direction (LTR for English, RTL for Arabic).

Final Step: Sysprep

Generalize the image with Sysprep, capture the ISO, and test thoroughly in a Virtual Machine before deployment.

By following these steps, you can deliver a professional, customized Windows ISO with a taskbar tailored to your users’ needs.

How To Create a Custom Windows ISO with Apps & Settings (Customer-ready image)