Disabling Taskbar Grouping in Windows 11
Having multiple apps grouped together on the taskbar can be pretty annoying, right? Windows 11 doesn’t offer a straightforward switch to turn off grouping. But don’t worry—there are tweaks and tricks to get it behaving more like you prefer. Essentially, it’s about showing each application as its own icon, which makes juggling multiple windows much easier and clearer.
If you’re fed up with icons merging into a big blob, this is definitely worth trying out.
Getting Started: Head to Settings
First up, you’ll need to open the Settings menu—this is where all the magic happens. Click the Start button and select the gear icon, or just type “Settings” in the search bar. Done! This is your gateway to customised taskbar behaviour.
Go to Personalisation
Next, find the Personalisation section. Think of this as your Windows wardrobe—where you can change themes, wallpapers, and more. It’s also where you’ll find the settings to tweak how your taskbar looks and functions. Time to give your taskbar a makeover.
Locate the Taskbar Settings
Scroll down and click on Taskbar. This is your hub for all taskbar options, including icon display and behaviour. Accessing this is key to modifying how things appear on your screen.
Pro tip: Right-clicking the taskbar itself also brings up Taskbar settings directly—perfect if you want to be quick about it.
Adjusting Taskbar Behaviours
Once inside, look for the ‘Taskbar behaviours’ section. Here, you can fiddle with options like badge notifications and how cluttered your taskbar gets. If you dislike clutter, this is your space to take control.
It’s worth noting that simply turning off grouping in Windows 11 isn’t super straightforward via the UI. Sometimes, registry adjustments or third-party tools are needed for finer control.
Disabling Taskbar Grouping
The main hurdle—Windows 11 doesn’t let you toggle taskbar grouping with a single click. Instead, you’ll need to modify the system registry:
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Look for a DWORD named TaskbarGroupEnabled. If it’s not there, create it.
- Double-click it, and set the value to
0(enter 0 in the Value data box). - Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows Explorer to see the changes. To do that:
- Open Task Manager via Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Find Windows Explorer, right-click, then select Restart.
If editing the registry sounds daunting, specialised tools like 16kwindowshell or StartAllBack can simplify this process and help you manage icon grouping without risking registry errors.
Tips for Managing Taskbar Grouping
There are third-party apps that can give you more control over your taskbar than Windows offers out of the box. These tools can help you organise icons and layout the way you want. Also, keep your system up to date—Windows updates sometimes include new features that could helpful for customising your taskbar.
Pinning your favourite apps directly onto the taskbar is a good way to keep things tidy. Just remember, after making tweaks, a quick restart might be needed for everything to settle in.
Frequently Asked Questions about Taskbar Grouping
Why can’t I turn off taskbar grouping in Windows 11?
The reason is simple: Windows 11 doesn’t provide a built-in option for this. You’ll need to rely on third-party tools or registry tweaking to get the behaviour you want.
Can I do this in Windows 10?
Absolutely! Windows 10 makes it easier with a simple setting: go to Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Combine taskbar buttons and select Never. Many users prefer this straightforward approach.
Is using third-party tools risky?
It can be, depending on the tool. Some are perfectly safe, while others might cause issues or even include malware. Always stick to trusted sources and read reviews before installing anything.
Will turning off grouping slow down my PC?
Nope—this change only affects how icons look. Your system performance won’t be impacted.
Are there other ways to customise my taskbar?
Definitely. You can change colours, resize icons (Right-click > Taskbar settings), or move it around the screen. These options let you set up a workspace that suits your style.
A Quick Recap
- Open Settings from Start or the search bar.
- Head to Personalisation to adjust layout options.
- Select Taskbar within Personalisation.
- Adjust taskbar behaviours, including whether icons are grouped.
- Remove icon grouping via registry edits or specialised tools.
Making your taskbar display only what you need makes multitasking much smoother. It does take a bit of effort, especially since Windows 11 doesn’t include a simple toggle. But with some patience and possibly a handy third-party app, you can get your taskbar looking and functioning just how you want. Hopefully, these tips save you a headache down the track.