How to pin Local Group Policy Editor to Start and taskbar on Windows 10

How-to
By Mauro Huculak
last updated

Don't seem to find a way to pin the Group Policy app to the Start menu or taskbar? In this guide, we'll show you a workaround to make this possible on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is a powerful tool that allows you to implement advanced custom configurations (such as, disabling automatic updates or Windows Defender Antivirus), usually not available through the Settings app (or Control Panel). 

Although it's a handy tool, for some odd reason, the editor lacks the option to pin the experience to the taskbar or Start menu, which it may not seem essential, but it can be a useful feature to save unnecessary steps for IT administrators and tech-savvy users who configure policies in the regular basis.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the easy steps to make the Local Group Policy Editor available from the Live Tile section in the Start menu and taskbar.

How to add quick access to Group Policy Editor to Start and taskbar

To pin the Group Policy Editor to the Start menu and taskbar for quicker access, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Under the "This PC" section, on the left pane, select the Local Disk C: drive.
  3. Create a new folder (Ctrl + Shift + N keyboard shortcut).
  4. Name the new folder "Shortcuts" and press Enter.

  1. Double-click the Shortcuts folder.
  2. Right-click on the folder and select the New, and click on the Shortcut option.

  1. Type the following path in the field:%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\gpedit.msc

  1. Click the Next button.
  2. Type a descriptive name for the shortcut — for example, Local Group Policy Editor.

  1. Click the Finish button.
  2. Right-click the newly created shortcut and select the Pin to Start option.

  1. Right-click the shortcut again and select the Pin to taskbar option.

Once you complete the steps, the shortcut will be available in the Live Tiles section of the Start menu and in the taskbar giving you quicker access to the Local Group Policy Editor on Windows 10.

If you want to remove the shortcut, simply right-click the button, and select the Unpin from Start or Unpin from taskbar option.

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Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.