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Server 2019 RDS - Control Start Menu Tiles via GP

Shane King 31 Reputation points
2020-07-20T04:51:30.68+00:00

I am putting the finishing touches on an RDS 2019 environment. How do I manipulate the Start Menu Tiles?

I have set folder permissions in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to prevent these from displaying when a user logs on, but they still appear in the right hand side Start Menu for each user.

Is there a way to Flush the current content, or assign shortcuts to this area via GP.

This issue dates back as far as server 2000 and I'd have thought MSFT would have addressed this a long time ago but have obviously chosen not to. It would be handy to know why.

12986-starttiles.jpg

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows
Windows
A family of Microsoft operating systems that run across personal computers, tablets, laptops, phones, internet of things devices, self-contained mixed reality headsets, large collaboration screens, and other devices.
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  1. Shane King 31 Reputation points
    2020-07-22T04:35:01.877+00:00

    Hi JennyYan, I had seen that method but it is a bit cumbersome and restrictive. I wanted to remove the administrative items such as Server Manager. PowerShell etc, but leave File Explorer and have the user be able add remove tiles to suit themselves, the way the GUI was intended to be used.

    Its a shame it cant be hanlde dbetter via GP. Thanks anyway

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Jenny Yan-MSFT 9,326 Reputation points
    2020-07-20T08:58:17.763+00:00

    Hi,

    1. If you would like remove all the pinned tiles from start layout, kindly check if below GPO would help:
      User Configuration --- Administrative Templates --- Start Menu and Taskbar --- Remove All Programs list from the Start menu
    2. If you would like to customize the start layout, you may follow the steps in below document by: customize and export Start layout.
      • Create a customized Start layout to apply to other Windows 10 devices is to set up the Start screen on a test computer and then export the layout. • After you export the layout, decide whether you want to apply a full Start layout or a partial Start layout. • When a full Start layout is applied, the users cannot pin, unpin, or uninstall apps from Start. Users can view and open all apps in the All Apps view, but they cannot pin any apps to Start. • When a partial Start layout is applied, the contents of the specified tile groups cannot be changed, but users can move those groups, and can also create and customize their own groups.
      https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/customize-and-export-start-layout

    Thanks,
    Jenny

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  3. Jenny Yan-MSFT 9,326 Reputation points
    2020-07-22T07:09:20.707+00:00

    Hi,
    Per searching, the group policies related to start menu and taskbar are located in User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar from below link. It seems that there is no exact policy that could achieve your requirement.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/windows-10-start-layout-options-and-policies?redirectedfrom=MSDN#start-options

    If you have any advice and suggestion on this, you could go to the UserVoice site to give feedback, here is the link:
    https://windowsserver.uservoice.com/forums/295047-general-feedback?category_id=141021

    But customizing start menu via xml would be helpful if you have a number of users that need same layout of start menu.

    Hope this helps and you could accept as answer if the information provided is useful.

    Thanks,
    Jenny

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