The Windows Taskbar Policy allows administrators to define a consistent, centrally managed set of applications that appear pinned to the Windows taskbar on every managed device.
This ensures a standardized user experience across your organization and helps users quickly access required apps.
This policy supports both Desktop Applications (Win32/EXE) and Universal Windows Apps (UWP).
How the Taskbar Policy Works
You can pin two types of applications:
App Type | Field Name | Example Identifier | How to Identify |
Desktop Apps (EXE, non-UWP) | Desktop Application IDs |
|
|
UWP Apps (Microsoft Store apps) | App User Model IDs |
| Value always ends with |
Each entry you add becomes a pinned shortcut on the Windows taskbar.
Requirements
Windows Pro 10+
Windows Enterprise 10+
Windows Education 10+
Windows SE 10+
IoT Enterprise / IoT Enterprise LTSC 10+
Finding App Identifiers
Windows exposes app IDs through PowerShell.
Run the following command:
Get-StartApps
This returns a list of all installed applications and their identifiers.
How to tell whether an app is UWP or Desktop:
If the ID contains
!App, it is a UWP (Universal Windows App)
Example:
Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppIf the ID does NOT contain
!App, it is a Desktop/Win32 app
Example:
OpenVPN Technologies, Inc. OpenVPN GUI
1. Desktop Application IDs
Use this field to pin non-UWP applications, such as .exe programs installed through traditional installers.
You can enter:
Executable name
e.g.,openvpn-gui.exeFull path (recommended)
e.g.,{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\OpenVPN\bin\openvpn-gui.exe
Examples
{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\OpenVPN\bin\openvpn-gui.exe Anysphere.CursorHow to locate full paths
You can manually browse your system or use PowerShell tools such as:
Get-StartApps | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*appname*" }2. App User Model IDs (UWP)
Use this field for apps installed through the Microsoft Store or apps packaged as UWP.
These always include:
A package name
_8wekyb3d8bbweor similar publisher ID!Appat the end
Examples
Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App Microsoft.WindowsCamera_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Tip
If the identifier contains !App, it is definitely a UWP application.
Best Practices
Prefer full paths for Desktop Applications
Executable names may not be unique across systems.
Confirm identifiers using PowerShell
Always verify App IDs using:
Get-StartApps
Keep entries minimal and essential
Avoid overloading users with too many taskbar items.
Result on the Device
After the policy is pushed:
Desktop Application IDs → pinned directly to taskbar
App User Model IDs → pinned as UWP shortcuts
Existing user taskbar pins remain unless you apply additional cleanup policies
Summary
Field | Purpose |
Desktop Application IDs | Pins EXE/Win32 apps installed via standard installers |
App User Model IDs | Pins UWP / Microsoft Store apps |
With accurate App IDs, Swif ensures that users get consistent and compliant taskbar layouts across every managed Windows device.