[Article] How to Create Taskbar layoutmodification.xml file and add important applications and apply to Windows 11 22H2 build no 22621

Question

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Technical type: Intermediate

Summary:

Many many Windows 11 users are pinning their very useful applications or very frequently used applications in the taskbar.

But OEM customized the taskbar so that icons will shown In the taskbar.

In this article, I will explain how to create a TaskbarLayoutModification.xml file and apply it to Windows 11 22H2 build no 22621.xxxx

Step 1

Create a sample layout file using the Notepad application.

Step 2

Open the Notepad application, copy the below lines, & paste them into Notepad, and save as file name TaskbarLayoutModification.xml choose to save as type All files ( .)** set encoding: UTF-8 Save the file to desktop for further reference

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">

2a. saved file photo

Step 3

You can change the region like the US|EN, UK|EN as you wish.

Step 4

How to find extract UWA application full names with IDs, Open Powershell application with administrator rights, type the following the following command

Get-StartApps

4a.

4b.

4c.

4d.

4e. Shows full applications list with IDs

Step 5

Examples of UWA AppUserModelID

Settings windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel

Movies & TV Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneVideo

Voice Recorder Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Terminal Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Paint 3D Microsoft.MSPaint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.MSPaint

Camera Microsoft.WindowsCamera_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Feedback Hub Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Windows Security Microsoft.SecHealthUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe!SecHealthUI

Cortana Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Photos Legacy Microsoft.PhotosLegacy_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Calculator Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Media Player Microsoft.ZuneMusic_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneMusic

Clock Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Maps Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Tips Microsoft.Getstarted_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Notepad Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Get Help Microsoft.GetHelp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Snipping Tool Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Paint Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Game Bar Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Get Started MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy!WebExperienceHost

Windows Backup MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy!WindowsBackup

Microsoft Defender Microsoft.6365217CE6EB4_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Mail microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail

Calendar microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar

Xbox Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App

WinDbg Microsoft.WinDbg_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WinDbg

Microsoft Store Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Microsoft Clipchamp Clipchamp.Clipchamp_yxz26nhyzhsrt!App

Photos Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Step 6

Examples of DesktopApplicationID

Microsoft Edge MSEdge

Google Chrome Chrome

Excel Microsoft.Office.EXCEL.EXE.15

Access Microsoft.Office.MSACCESS.EXE.15

Publisher Microsoft.Office.MSPUB.EXE.15

OneNote Microsoft.Office.ONENOTE.EXE.15

Outlook Microsoft.Office.OUTLOOK.EXE.15

PowerPoint Microsoft.Office.POWERPNT.EXE.15

Visio Microsoft.Office.VISIO.EXE.15

Project Microsoft.Office.WINPROJ.EXE.15

Word Microsoft.Office.WINWORD.EXE.15

Control Panel Microsoft.Windows.ControlPanel

File Explorer Microsoft.Windows.Explorer

Remote Desktop Connection Microsoft.Windows.RemoteDesktop

Run Microsoft.Windows.Shell.RunDialog

Task Manager Microsoft.AutoGenerated.{923DD477-5846-686B-A659-0FCCD73851A8}

Event Viewer Microsoft.AutoGenerated.{BB044BFD-25B7-2FAA-22A8-6371A93E0456}

Task Scheduler Microsoft.AutoGenerated.{C1C6F8AC-40A3-0F5C-146F-65A9DC70BBB4}

Steam {7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\Steam\steam.exe

System Information {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\msinfo32.exe

services {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\services.msc

Step 7

After the finding application full names with corresponding iDS , select the names of the applications that should add-in TaskbarLayoutModification.xml

Step 8

Open this file TaskbarLayoutModification.xml with Notepad application,

If you want to add UWA like Settings app, Notepad & Snipping Tool app.

Then you must replace

UWA_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with Windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel

UWA_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

UWA_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

If you want to add DEsktop applications like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Excel, Steam & Service app.

Then you must replace

Desktop_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with MSEdge

Desktop_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with Chrome

Desktop_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with Microsoft.Office.EXCEL.EXE.15

Desktop_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with {7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\Steam\steam.exe

Desktop_Application_fullnamewith_ID1 with {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\services.msc

Step 9

*Create a new folder OEM under C:\Windows*

Save the modified TaskbarLayoutModification.xml to C:\Windows\OEM folder

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">

9a. Samplefile

Step 10

Open the Command prompt application with an administrator rights, type the following line

cmd /c reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ /v LayoutXMLPath /d C:\Windows\OEM\TaskbarLayoutModification.xml

10a. see above example

Step 11

Type gpedit.msc in the Command prompt application and press enter Local Group Policy Editor will open

11a

Go to this path Local Computer Policy > Administrative Templates > StartMenu and Taskbar

11b

And then go to Start Layout

11c

Right-click on Start Layout, click Edit, Select Enabled in the search box type C:\Windows\OEM\TaskbarLayoutModification.xml and put tickmark in Reapply layout at every logon.

Click Apply.

Click OK

Exit Local Group Policy Editor Application.

11d.

Step 12

Restart Windows.

Tested on Windows 11 23H2 build no 22621.2428 and Windows 11 23H2 build no 22635.2552

12a. Before applied

12b. After applied

Source links

Configure and customize Windows 11 taskbar - Configure Windows | Microsoft Learn

Find the Application User Model ID of an installed app - Configure Windows | Microsoft Learn

Thanks for reading my article i hope this article will help the users to create a start menu layout. If you like then share with other users and give upvotes to me.

Thanking You

Varadharajan K M.sc B.ed Mathematics