How to remove the Command Bar in Internet Explorer 7

Summary

The user interface in Internet Explorer 7 does not allow removing the Command Bar. In case you ever wanted to remove the Command Bar, here is the registry hack to do so. Be sure to read the caveats mentioned in the article.

Removing the Command Bar

Hide the Command Bar shortcuts only

• Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
• Navigate to the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\CommandBar

• Create a new REG_DWORD value named Enabled
• The Value data for Enabled must be set to 0
• Close REGEDIT.EXE

Removing the entire Command Bar

Potential side-effect of this method: None of the Explorer Bars work (Favorites/Feeds/History).

This method removes the entire Command Bar, which includes the tabs and the two Favorite icons. Use this only if you're not using the Tabbed browsing feature.

• Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
• Navigate to the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions

Important Note: The above branch does not exist by default. You need to create them manually, or use the REG file at the bottom of this page to automate the setting.

• Create a new REG_DWORD value named NoCommandBar
• Double-click NoCommandBar and type 1 as its Value data
• Close REGEDIT.EXE