Start Layout: registry value LockedStartLayout and 2 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Policy ID
- LockedStartLayout
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Start Menu and Taskbar
Registry
LockedStartLayout
-ComputerUser…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
StartLayoutFile
REG_EXPAND_SZComputerUser…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Start Layout File
- Value type
- REG_EXPAND_SZ
- Expandable string (REG_EXPAND_SZ)
- true
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data ; hex(2) and hex(7) data must be written as hexadecimal (UTF-16LE) "StartLayoutFile"=hex(2):<enter value>
CMD
:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "StartLayoutFile" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f
PowerShell
# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'StartLayoutFile' -PropertyType ExpandString -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data ; hex(2) and hex(7) data must be written as hexadecimal (UTF-16LE) "StartLayoutFile"=hex(2):<enter value>
CMD
:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "StartLayoutFile" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f
PowerShell
# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'StartLayoutFile' -PropertyType ExpandString -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null
ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon
REG_DWORDComputerUser…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Checked
- 1
- Unchecked
- 0
- Element
- Reapply layout at every logon
- Value type
- REG_DWORD
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Checked "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon"=dword:00000001 ; Unchecked "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon"=dword:00000000
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Checked reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Unchecked reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Checked New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Unchecked New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Checked "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon"=dword:00000001 ; Unchecked "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon"=dword:00000000
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Checked reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Unchecked reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Checked New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Unchecked New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ReapplyStartLayoutEveryLogon' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null