Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start: registry value NoUninstallFromStartComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Policy ID: NoUninstallFromStart
Scope: Computer Configuration, User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Start Menu and Taskbar

Registry

NoUninstallFromStart

REG_DWORDComputerUser

…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

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)
; Enabled
"NoUninstallFromStart"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"NoUninstallFromStart"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "NoUninstallFromStart" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "NoUninstallFromStart" /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)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'NoUninstallFromStart' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'NoUninstallFromStart' -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)
; Enabled
"NoUninstallFromStart"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"NoUninstallFromStart"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "NoUninstallFromStart" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "NoUninstallFromStart" /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)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'NoUninstallFromStart' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'NoUninstallFromStart' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null