How to Lock and Unlock the Windows 7 taskbar
The Windows 7 taskbar is one of the most important parts of the Windows 7 user
experience and customizing it to your specific needs will go a long way in making
Windows 7 easier to use. Unfortunately, a quick slip of the mouse or adding
new items to the taskbar can change a configuration that you have gotten used.
That is why it is important to customize the toolbar by pinning items and configuring
toolbars so that it works well for you and then lock it into that state so that
it does not get changed by mistake. In the future if you want to make a change,
you can then unlock the taskbar, make your changes, and then lock it again.
This tutorial will walk you through two methods that will allow you to lock
and unlock your Windows 7 taskbar.
Method 1 - Taskbar menu
This method will walk you through unlocking and locking the taskbar by using
the taskbar menu.
- Right-click on an empty space on your taskbar so that a menu like the following
image appears.
Taskbar menu
- Then select the Lock the taskbar menu option to put a checkmark
next to it and lock the toolbar. If it already has a check next to it, then
click on it to remove the check and thus unlock the taskbar. This menu option
is designated by the blue arrow in the image above.
Your Windows 7 taskbar should now be locked or unlocked depending on the setting
you chose.
Method 2 - Taskbar tab of the Start Menu properties
This method will show you how to unlock or lock the Windows 7 taskbar through
the Start Menu properties.
- Right-click on the Windows 7 Start Menu (
)
and then select the Properties menu option as shown in the
image below.
- You will now be at the Start Menu properties page. Now click on the Taskbar
tab and you will be at the Taskbar properties screen as shown in the image
below.
Taskbar properties screen
- To unlock the taskbar, simply remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled
Lock the taskbar. To Lock the taskbar, simply put a checkmark
in that checkbox.
Your Windows 7 taskbar should now be locked or unlocked depending on the setting
you chose.
If you have any questions about these steps, or problems following them, please
feel free to ask in our Windows
7 forum.
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