How to Disable Editing Quick Settings in Windows 11

Windows 11 features a Quick Settings menu that lets you toggle things like Wi-Fi, volume, and brightness. You can find this by clicking the status icons (Wi-Fi / Ethernet, Volume, Battery) on the Taskbar.

By default, anyone using the computer can change which buttons appear in this menu by clicking the pencil icon. You might want to lock this down to keep your settings exactly how you like them. This prevents accidental changes or unauthorized edits.

Why do this? It keeps your computer interface stable and prevents others from removing useful shortcuts.

What happens when done? The pencil icon will disappear from the Quick Settings menu, and users will no longer be able to add or remove buttons.

To follow these steps, you will need Administrator privileges.

Follow these steps to turn off editing:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor by clicking the Start menu and typing “Edit group policy.” Select it from the results.

Note: You must be an administrator to make these changes.

1. In the window that opens, use the left side to navigate to this folder:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

2. Look at the right side of the window. Find the setting named Disable Editing Quick Settings and double-click it.

3. In the new window that pops up, select the Enabled option.

4. Click OK and close the editor.

If you ever want to change this back, follow the same steps but select Not configured instead of Enabled.

Summary

You can lock the Quick Settings menu in Windows 11 to prevent unwanted changes. By using the Local Group Policy Editor (found at

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

), you can disable the edit button. This ensures your system settings remain exactly as you configured them, providing a more consistent experience for everyone using the machine.