How to Remove Microsoft Store Icon from Windows 11 Taskbar
Removing the Microsoft Store icon from the Windows 11 taskbar takes just two clicks and clears out unwanted clutter from your screen. The Microsoft Store is the default app shop built into Windows 11 for downloading software and games.
Right-click the Microsoft Store icon on your taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar to make it disappear instantly. You can always pin the icon back to the taskbar later if you want quick access again. This article also covers unpinning from the Start menu , managing the icon across many PCs, and the PowerShell route, which carries a warning of its own.
To remove the Microsoft Store icon from the Windows 11 taskbar, right-click the icon and select Unpin from taskbar. The icon disappears immediately, no restart is needed, and the Microsoft Store app stays installed. You can pin it back later by searching for “Microsoft Store” in Start and choosing Pin to taskbar .
Why remove the Microsoft Store icon?
The Microsoft Store icon appears on the Windows 11 taskbar by default. Many users prefer a tidy desktop and find this icon takes up valuable taskbar space. Removing the Microsoft Store icon frees up room for frequently used applications and reduces visual clutter.
Unpinning is a per-user setting. It changes your own taskbar layout and nothing else on the PC.
What happens when done?
Unpinning the Microsoft Store removes the icon from the taskbar without deleting the app itself. The Microsoft Store app remains installed on your computer, and you can open it by searching the Start menu . No other parts of your system are affected by this action.
To undo the change, pin the Store back. Open Start All apps, or type “Microsoft Store” in search. Right-click the result and choose Pin to taskbar . The icon returns to the taskbar straight away, and no restart is needed.
Method 1Unpinning from the Taskbar
Administrator privileges aren't needed for this method. It works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro, because it only changes your own taskbar.
- Find the Microsoft Store icon on your taskbar. It is the shopping bag icon with the Windows logo on it.
- Right-click the icon. A small menu, called a jump list, opens above it.
- Select Unpin from taskbar. The icon disappears from the taskbar immediately. If the Store was open when you did this, its icon stays until you close the app.
Method 2Unpinning from the Start Menu
Administrator privileges aren't needed for this method. Use it when the taskbar icon is hard to reach, or when you want to confirm the Store's pin status from the Start menu.
- Click the Start button. The Start menu opens.
- Find the Microsoft Store icon. Look in the pinned apps area first. If it isn't there, select All apps or type "Microsoft Store" in the search box.
- Right-click the icon. A context menu appears.
- Select Unpin from taskbar. The Store icon leaves the taskbar. If the menu shows Pin to taskbar instead, the Store is already unpinned.
Advanced Deployment and System Administration
IT professionals can manage taskbar icons across multiple computers simultaneously using tools like Group Policy Objects (GPO) or Intune.
Check these requirements before you start:
- Group Policy needs Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise or Education. Home editions don't include the Local Group Policy Editor.
- GPO deployment needs a taskbar layout XML file that defines which apps are pinned. Intune needs a policy that delivers the same layout.
- These settings apply to new user profiles or to a reset layout. Users who already have a profile may keep their current pins until their taskbar layout is reset.
Test the layout on one device or a pilot group before rolling it out to everyone.
PowerShell One-Liner for Quick Fix
It deletes the Favorites value under the Taskband registry key, and that value stores all of your pinned taskbar items. Running it resets every pin on the taskbar, not just the Microsoft Store. You will need to pin your other apps again afterwards.
Make a backup before you run it:
- Open Start, type "Create a restore point" and open the result. The System Properties window opens on the System Protection tab.
- Select your system drive and click Create. If Create is greyed out, protection is off for that drive. Click Configure and turn it on first.
- Name the restore point, then click Create and wait for the confirmation message.
- Optionally, open Registry Editor, go to the Explorer key listed below, and use File Export to save a copy of it.
If you prefer using commands, remove the pinned item with this PowerShell script. Administrator privileges are not needed, because the command changes only the current user's registry key (HKCU).
The change won't show immediately. Restart Windows Explorer or sign out and back in. To restart Explorer, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer on the Processes tab and select Restart. The taskbar goes blank for a moment, then reloads with the reset layout.
Remove-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband' -Name 'Favorites'
Registry Editor and CIS Baselines
Find the relevant path at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. If something goes wrong, import your exported file or use the restore point you created. Following security guidelines, such as CIS Baselines, helps keep your system secure while you tidy up the interface.
For a single Store icon, the right-click Unpin method is safer and faster. It leaves your other pinned items alone.
Summary
Removing the Microsoft Store icon from your Windows 11 taskbar works as a reliable method for home users. However, IT professionals use specialized management tools to handle this across many computers at once.
Have a question about this guide?
Answered by AI from this guide. Good questions may be added to this page — please don't include personal details.
Did this guide fix your problem?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!