[23h2] Windows 11 taskbar apps via GPO/intune - can't get it to work

[LRSFC_DanJ]

This used to work under Windows 10 and according to the Microsoft documentation the process is supposed to be the same for Windows 11 (just it doesn't support changing the Start Menu any more, only the Taskbar layout) but I don't seem to be able to get the taskbar apps layout working for our staff users.

 

Here's what I've got:

 

    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">

	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
		
	

 

No matter whether I apply this through GPO or Intune though, it doesn't seem to be having any effect. What am I doing wrong? Have Microsoft changed how taskbar management works again and just not told anybody / not updated their documentation?

Edited February 5, 2025 by LRSFC_DanJ

[RLR]

Works for us and yours is very similar to ours. I vagueley remember there possibly being a change to the File explorer link in a recent update? Maybe see if changing your file explorer link to match this?

We also deploy it via intunes Config Profile > Settings catalog > Start > Start Layout

Edited February 5, 2025 by RLR

[LRSFC_DanJ]

Works for us and yours is very similar to ours. I vagueley remember there possibly being a change to the File explorer link in a recent update? Maybe see if changing your file explorer link to match this?

We also deploy it via intunes Config Profile > Settings catalog > Start > Start Layout

Do you actually paste the XML content into Intune, or do you have to put a path to a file name? As there seems to be conflicting opinions on that around the internet.

[RLR]

Do you actually paste the XML content into Intune, or do you have to put a path to a file name? As there seems to be conflicting opinions on that around the internet.

 

You paste your xml code into the start layout box in the settings catalog. Here is a screenshot:

 

I've just tested UNC paths by creating a shortcut on my desktop and trying to drag it to my start bar. This doesn't seem to work so I think you need to remove these from your xml.

[RLR]

This is how ours looks.

 

[LRSFC_DanJ]

You paste your xml code into the start layout box in the settings catalog. Here is a screenshot:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]73087[/ATTACH]

 

I've just tested UNC paths by creating a shortcut on my desktop and trying to drag it to my start bar. This doesn't seem to work so I think you need to remove these from your xml.

If we can't pin a UNC path to a shortcut, do you know if there's a way we can pin a website? As that's what the UNC path shortcuts are in our settings.

 

I will say though, these did work fine under Windows 10.

[mikes]

Works for us and yours is very similar to ours. I vagueley remember there possibly being a change to the File explorer link in a recent update? Maybe see if changing your file explorer link to match this?

We also deploy it via intunes Config Profile > Settings catalog > Start > Start Layout

 

Thanks - I deploy mine through group policy XML (I think, can't remember) and couldn't get the file explorer to pin, it got rid of Edge though - using this for file explorer worked so now I have file explorer pinned :-)

[RLR]

If we can't pin a UNC path to a shortcut, do you know if there's a way we can pin a website? As that's what the UNC path shortcuts are in our settings.

 

I will say though, these did work fine under Windows 10.

 

I can't find a way to add .url or .lnk items to the task bar. One alternative is to create the shortcuts on the desktop.

[mikes]

We changed the GPO in start layout to point to one of the XML examples here and pointed to 2 url's I have in a redirected start menu. Not sure if I have our start menu set up the best - ours redirects to a network share \\dc1\studentmenu but it seems others here use a local start menu so might have to look into that. But pointing to the .lnk on those network shares has worked fine.

Otherwise getting to the file explorer in Win 11 seems so unintuitive? for me the quickest way was literally to go into the recycle bin and click computer from there!