Windows 10: Windows PowerShell - Pin and Unpin Programmatically

Hey MS Community,


I'm looking for a method to programmatically unpin Microsoft Edge and pin Internet Explorer. Currently, our vendors have sites that are only supported in Internet Explorer, and will result in an error if opened with Microsoft Edge. Since the two icons are so similar, many new users end up calling IT simply due to using the wrong browser. This is because Edge is pinned by default whenever a user first signs in.


I was able to find a program online that unpin's programs, however I can't seem to get the pin portion functioning.


Thanks in advance for taking a look.



Here is the script that I have:



function Pin-App ([string]$appname, [switch]$unpin, [switch]$start, [switch]$taskbar, [string]$path) {

if ($unpin.IsPresent) {

$action = "Unpin"

} else {

$action = "Pin"

}



if (-not $taskbar.IsPresent -and -not $start.IsPresent) {

Write-Error "Specify -taskbar and/or -start!"

}



if ($taskbar.IsPresent) {

try {

$exec = $false

if ($action -eq "Unpin") {

((New-Object -Com Shell.Application).NameSpace('shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}').Items() | ?{$_.Name -eq $appname}).Verbs() | ?{$_.Name.replace('&','') -match 'Unpin from taskbar'} | %{$_.DoIt(); $exec = $true}

if ($exec) {

Write "App '$appname' unpinned from Taskbar"

} else {

if (-not $path -eq "") {

Pin-App-by-Path $path -Action $action

} else {

Write "'$appname' not found or 'Unpin from taskbar' not found on item!"

}

}

} else {

((New-Object -Com Shell.Application).NameSpace('shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}').Items() | ?{$_.Name -eq $appname}).Verbs() | ?{$_.Name.replace('&','') -match 'Pin to taskbar'} | %{$_.DoIt(); $exec = $true}



if ($exec) {

Write "App '$appname' pinned to Taskbar"

} else {

if (-not $path -eq "") {

Pin-App-by-Path $path -Action $action

} else {

Write "'$appname' not found or 'Pin to taskbar' not found on item!"

}

}

}

} catch {

Write-Error "Error Pinning/Unpinning $appname to/from taskbar!"

}

}



if ($start.IsPresent) {

try {

$exec = $false

if ($action -eq "Unpin") {

((New-Object -Com Shell.Application).NameSpace('shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}').Items() | ?{$_.Name -eq $appname}).Verbs() | ?{$_.Name.replace('&','') -match 'Unpin from Start'} | %{$_.DoIt(); $exec = $true}



if ($exec) {

Write "App '$appname' unpinned from Start"

} else {

if (-not $path -eq "") {

Pin-App-by-Path $path -Action $action -start

} else {

Write "'$appname' not found or 'Unpin from Start' not found on item!"

}

}

} else {

((New-Object -Com Shell.Application).NameSpace('shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}').Items() | ?{$_.Name -eq $appname}).Verbs() | ?{$_.Name.replace('&','') -match 'Pin to Start'} | %{$_.DoIt(); $exec = $true}



if ($exec) {

Write "App '$appname' pinned to Start"

} else {

if (-not $path -eq "") {

Pin-App-by-Path $path -Action $action -start

} else {

Write "'$appname' not found or 'Pin to Start' not found on item!"

}

}

}

} catch {

Write-Error "Error Pinning/Unpinning $appname to/from Start!"

}

}

}



function Pin-App-by-Path([string]$Path, [string]$Action, [switch]$start) {

if ($Path -eq "") {

Write-Error -Message "You need to specify a Path" -ErrorAction Stop

}

if ($Action -eq "") {

Write-Error -Message "You need to specify an action: Pin or Unpin" -ErrorAction Stop

}

if ((Get-Item -Path $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null){

Write-Error -Message "$Path not found" -ErrorAction Stop

}

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject "Shell.Application"

$ItemParent = Split-Path -Path $Path -Parent

$ItemLeaf = Split-Path -Path $Path -Leaf

$Folder = $Shell.NameSpace($ItemParent)

$ItemObject = $Folder.ParseName($ItemLeaf)

$Verbs = $ItemObject.Verbs()



if ($start.IsPresent) {

switch($Action){

"Pin" {$Verb = $Verbs | Where-Object -Property Name -EQ "&Pin to Start"}

"Unpin" {$Verb = $Verbs | Where-Object -Property Name -EQ "Un&pin from Start"}

default {Write-Error -Message "Invalid action, should be Pin or Unpin" -ErrorAction Stop}

}

} else {

switch($Action){

"Pin" {$Verb = $Verbs | Where-Object -Property Name -EQ "Pin to Tas&kbar"}

"Unpin" {$Verb = $Verbs | Where-Object -Property Name -EQ "Unpin from Tas&kbar"}

default {Write-Error -Message "Invalid action, should be Pin or Unpin" -ErrorAction Stop}

}

}



if($Verb -eq $null){

Write-Error -Message "That action is not currently available on this Path" -ErrorAction Stop

} else {

$Result = $Verb.DoIt()

}

}


Pin-App "Microsoft Edge" -unpin -taskbar

Pin-App-by-Path "C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe" -pin -taskbar

:)

 

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- - - Updated - - -

Also want to add:

I've attempted all the methods of unpinning that are listed in this tutorial:
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