How to Ungroup Icons on Windows 11 Taskbar
Ungrouping icons on the Windows 11 taskbar can seriously make multitasking less of a headache. By default, Windows 11 pretty much lumps similar open apps into one icon, which is fine for neatness but kinda useless when you’re trying to switch quickly between stuff. Windows doesn’t have a native way to ungroup icons, but there’s a workaround using third-party tools like Winhance or ExplorerPatcher. This guide focuses on ExplorerPatcher, which rolls in a bunch of customization options. Kind of weird, but it works.
Step 1: Download ExplorerPatcher
Start by grabbing ExplorerPatcher. Go to the official GitHub page. Get the latest release—sometimes the auto-download link isn’t obvious, so look for “releases” and pick the newest one. Keeping it updated is smart because Windows updates tend to throw a wrench in things.
Step 2: Install ExplorerPatcher
Run the setup file. It’s usually just a matter of clicking “Next” a couple of times. Windows might prompt you about security — just confirm you trust the source. Pro tip: close any running apps that rely on your taskbar first, just to avoid conflicts. During setup, ExplorerPatcher will replace or modify some Windows shell components, so don’t be surprised if your system asks for a restart.
Step 3: Open ExplorerPatcher Settings
Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties or Taskbar settings. On some setups, you might see a special menu entry for ExplorerPatcher—if not, just go to Settings → Personalization → Taskbar to find the toggles. It has a dedicated menu for customizing how your icons behave.
Step 4: Customize Taskbar Behavior
Look for the section that says Taskbar in ExplorerPatcher’s options. Find the checkbox for Always Combine, hide labels or similar. To ungroup icons, select Never combine or toggle the Taskbar grouping setting to off. This should make each open window appear as a separate icon, just like the good old days. Not sure why Windows has to make it so complicated, but here we are.
Step 5: Apply Changes
Hit Apply or OK. Your taskbar should update pretty quickly, but on some setups, the change might require a quick restart or even a log-off/log-in cycle. Usually, on one machine it worked on the first try, on another, had to reboot a couple of times for settings to settle. Because Windows loves to be complicated.
Tips for Ungrouping Icons on Windows 11 Taskbar
- Make sure to download ExplorerPatcher from the official GitHub. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
- Update Windows to the latest version before tinkering, just to avoid weird bugs or weird UI glitches.
- Explore the other options in ExplorerPatcher—there’s a lot more under the hood if you’re feeling adventurous.
- Backup your system or create a restore point first, just in case something goes sideways. Better safe than sorry.
- Check for updates regularly—developers keep improving it and fixing bugs that might crop up after Windows updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use ExplorerPatcher on Windows 11?
Generally, yeah. It’s pretty stable, but always get it from the official repo. Windows doesn’t love third-party shell modifications, so it’s a bit of a gamble—just don’t go grabbing sketchy versions from random sites.
Can I revert everything if I don’t like it?
Yep. Normally, you can uninstall ExplorerPatcher or restore the default Windows explorer through its menu. Keep in mind, uninstalling might revert some other tweaks, so be prepared for that.
Does ExplorerPatcher slow down my PC?
In most cases, no. It’s lightweight and mostly tweaks the UI. But, on some older machines, you might notice a slight lag after applying heavy tweaks—nothing too dramatic.
What if Windows updates break it?
That does happen sometimes, especially right after big updates. The best move is to check the ExplorerPatcher GitHub page for updates or bug reports. Usually, the devs update pretty fast to fix compatibility issues.
Any alternatives?
Not really—Windows 11 doesn’t give a native way to do this, so third-party tools are the main option. Just stay cautious and make backups.
Summary
- Download ExplorerPatcher from GitHub.
- Install it, following prompts (probably needs a restart).
- Right-click taskbar, open ExplorerPatcher settings.
- Find the “Never combine” or similar setting and toggle it.
- Hit apply, wait for the magic to happen.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because honestly, Windows should just let us pick this without outside help, but hey, until they do, ExplorerPatcher’s a decent workaround.