Forum Discussion
Snapped window groups and individual windows
So Windows 11 introduced the option to group windows by using the snapping layout feature.
It also allows you to show the group when alt-tab-ing or when hoving over the windows on the taskbar for example (Settings -> Multitasking -> show snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt + Tab).
This is a great feature but there is a single flow with it. When a user decides to treat with these windows as a window group and not as individual windows, the OS should do too. What I'm trying to say it, when you enable this feature and alt+tab for example, I should see the group listed but not the individual windows as well. That pollutes the alt+tab screen a lot and ultimately makes the screen unusable. Same for the taskbar icons.
6 Replies
As you pointed out, enabling "show snapped windows" results in both the group and individual windows appearing when you use Alt + Tab or hover over the taskbar icons. This can indeed make it confusing and cluttered.
is there solution to this in 2025?
- In Windows 11, the Snap feature allows you to easily organize and manage open windows on your desktop. This feature has been enhanced to include Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, which provide more flexibility and efficiency when working with multiple windows.
- Totally with you on this. Having snap groups appear as one thing in Alt+Tab would be a game changer for keeping things neat and easy to navigate. Why see all those windows separately when you’re thinking of them as one group? This would make flipping through tasks way smoother.
YarotskiU - not all of us work the same way. I DO want to see all my windows individually on taskbar and never wanted them grouped. After using Win 11 for a while dislike that aspect. Reason: The group windows with small icons is almost unusable and far less efficient for how I work. I do wish that were an option that could be toggled and am not alone in that complaint. I'd rather not have to try to use a suboptimal work-around with two monitors or go to a 43" monitor to do what I used to do better with ungrouped windows within apps on a 27" screen.
you can disable Snap Group if you do not want this functionality. However, I do agree that when Snap Group is used, individual windows should not be shown. Currently, there are duplicate windows of the same applications -- those in the Snap Group and those individual. Windows 11 should show one or the other, not both (screenshot).
