Ungrouping tabs in Windows 11 can be a bit of a weird one, but it’s handy if you’re sick of sifting through a bunch of grouped windows all the time. Basically, when you leave it on the default setting, Windows groups all your open windows for the same app together. Not the end of the world most of the time, but if you prefer each window to be separate on your taskbar, changing this makes life easier. It’s great if you want to pick out a specific window in a jiffy without clicking through a sea of icons. Fair warning, sometimes toggling this setting can be a bit dodgy — it might not change straight away, or you might need to restart Explorer or even reboot. Because, of course, Windows can be a bit finicky like that.
How to Ungroup Tabs in Windows 11
This bit’s all about how to make all those grouped windows appear separately on the taskbar. Not a massive change, but a real help if you’re juggling a few apps or just want a cleaner look. Here’s how to do it.
Method 1: Change the Grouping Settings via the Taskbar
This is the easy and reliable way that usually does the trick. Basically, you need to open the taskbar settings and tweak the “Combine taskbar buttons” option. It’s a bit tucked away, but once you find it, it’s straightforward.
- Right-click the taskbar — that strip at the bottom where all your apps sit. The right-click menu is your shortcut to the settings you need.
- Select “Taskbar Settings” — it’ll open a panel with all sorts of options about your taskbar’s behaviour. Could be a bit more obvious, but it does the job.
- Scroll to “Combine taskbar buttons” — it’s down in the “Taskbar behaviours” section, which might be collapsed if you’ve got a lot of options showing.
- Choose “Never” from the dropdown — this is the key move. Now, each window will show as its own icon on the taskbar. No more grouping.
- Close the settings window — no need to save; it applies straight away. Jump over to your taskbar and watch all your open windows spread out.
This method’s pretty handy. On some computers, the change doesn’t kick in immediately, or you might need to do a quick restart of Explorer. To do that, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer” under Processes, right-click and select Restart. You might see the taskbar flicker — totally normal.
Method 2: Tweak the Registry (A bit more advanced, but it sometimes does the trick)
If the GUI options aren’t doing the job or Windows is being stubborn, you can try editing the registry. Just a heads-up: messing with the registry can be risky, so back things up first!
- Press Win + R, type
regeditand hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
- Look for a DWORD called TaskbarGlomLevel. If it’s not there, right-click, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarGlomLevel.
- Set TaskbarGlomLevel to
2 to turn off grouping (0 or 1 might keep it going). - Close the registry editor and restart Windows Explorer (or just reboot your PC).
This method’s a bit nerdy, but it worked on one of my rigs when the GUI options weren’t cutting it. Just be sure you’re comfortable with system tweaks before diving in.
Tips for Ungrouping Tabs in Windows 11
- Keep Windows updated: Sometimes these little bugs get fixed in updates — don’t ignore those patch notes.
- Pin your fave apps: If you ungroup, your taskbar can get a bit cluttered. Pin the important ones for quick access.
- Use keyboard shortcuts: Alt + Tab makes switching between windows quick as. No need to fiddle with the taskbar.
- Try third-party tools: If Windows’ own settings are a pain, there are apps like Winhance that give you more control over your taskbar.
- Watch out for quirks: Sometimes, icons may jump or glitch right after toggling. Restarting the PC usually sorts it out.
Common Questions
How do I regroup everything once I’ve ungrouped?
Just head back into Taskbar Settings and pick a grouping option like “Always” or “When taskbar is full”—whatever suits your style.
Does ungrouping slow the system down?
Nah, it’s just a visual change. It doesn’t affect performance unless your desktop’s completely chockers or you’ve got a million windows open at once.
Can I only ungroup certain apps?
Unfortunately not — it’s a global setting, so you can’t pick and choose specific apps just yet.
Any shortcuts for toggling?
Not really. It’s all through the settings or registry, but maybe someday Windows will add a hotkey for it.
Can I change how individual icons look on the taskbar?
Not heaps — beyond pinning or unpinning and adjusting icon size, Windows doesn’t give much granular control over individual icons.
Summary
- Right-click the taskbar, select “Taskbar Settings”.
- Scroll to “Combine taskbar buttons”.
- Choose “Never” and that’s it.
- If needed, restart Explorer or reboot.
Wrap-up
Ungrouping tabs in Windows 11 isn’t too tricky once you get the hang of it. Sometimes it can be a bit buggy or confusing if you’re not used to poking around in settings, but overall, it’s a good way to tidy up your desktop. Especially if you’re running a bunch of windows or apps — separating them makes switching heaps faster and your workspace a whole lot neater. Just keep in mind, sometimes you’ll need to restart Explorer for the changes to stick. Hope this helps anyone trying to clean up their taskbar — it might seem a little clunky at first, but it’s better than a mess of icons everywhere.