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NetboxGlobal's avatar
NetboxGlobal
Iron Contributor
Jul 25, 2021

Ungroup items on the Taskbar in Windows 11

I need help on how to ungroup items on the Taskbar in Windows 11  
Mousefluff's avatar
Mousefluff
Iron Contributor
Oct 31, 2021

Open Powershell -> Start Menu -> Run -> taskmgr -> File -> Run new Task -> %SystemRoot%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -> Select "Create this task with administrative privileges." -> Click OK.

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope LocalMachine -Force
# Restore the Classic Taskbar in Windows 11
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000001";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -Value "00000001";
# Disable Taskbar / Cortana Search Box on Windows 11
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000000";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -Value "00000000";
# Ungroup Taskbar Icons / Enable Text Labels in Windows 11
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000001";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -Value "00000001";
./taskkill /f /im explorer.exe;
./CMD /Q /C START /REALTIME explorer.exe;

Run this to reverse the changes...

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -Value "00000000"
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -Value "00000001";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -Value "00000000";
./taskkill /f /im explorer.exe;
./CMD /Q /C START /REALTIME explorer.exe;

https://winaero.com/how-to-restore-classic-start-menu-in-windows-11-and-get-back-live-tiles/

 

  • myahmedmerza's avatar
    myahmedmerza
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 24, 2022
    dears, i tried but failed, when reversed back i have problem with search in start menu as it can type letter or two then stopped, can you help me?
  • myahmedmerza's avatar
    myahmedmerza
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 23, 2022
    after reverse changes, i have problem with searching in start menu
  • xjikka's avatar
    xjikka
    Copper Contributor
    Oct 31, 2021

    The right key is:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages
    New DWORD value UndockingDisabled set to 1
    + restart explorer
    As described here: https://winaero.com/how-to-restore-classic-start-menu-in-windows-11-and-get-back-live-tiles/

     

    Edit: But it is unusable [by me, maybe somewhere it works OK]. After enabling that property, the Start menu doesn't work (it is not showed anymore) and explorer starting very slow. If I set UndockingDisabled back to 0, Start menu works again (but with icon grouping).

     

    • Mousefluff's avatar
      Mousefluff
      Iron Contributor
      Nov 01, 2021

      xjikkaTry this instead (it didn't let me post last time.) Restarting explorer is ALWAYS slow...

      Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope LocalMachine -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000001";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -Value "00000001";
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000000";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -Value "00000000";
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -PropertyType DWord -Value "00000001";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -Value "00000001";
Get-AppxPackage -allusers 1527c705-839a-4832-9118-54d4Bd6a0c89 | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers c5e2524a-ea46-4f67-841f-6a9465d9d515 | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers F46D4000-FD22-4DB4-AC8E-4E1DDDE828FE | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.Windows.Search | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Windows.CBSPreview | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers windows.immersivecontrolpanel | Reset-AppxPackage;
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Windows.PrintDialog | Reset-AppxPackage;
./taskkill /f /im explorer.exe;
./CMD /Q /C START /REALTIME explorer.exe;

       

      • xjikka's avatar
        xjikka
        Copper Contributor
        Nov 01, 2021

        Mousefluffthank You. Registry changes doesn't helped. Same result: Start Menu does not work /is not showed/ and Explorer is starting in about 1-2 minutes. Installing other packages I did not tried. I need this simply revertable (meaning only acceptable are registry changes). I'm developer, and I must test my applications in "standard W11 Environment" our Customers have. Anyway, thank You. I'm using last standard official W11 version with all the updates installed.

    • francebb's avatar
      francebb
      Copper Contributor
      Oct 31, 2021
      C'mon Microsoft. It's been a while now. Bring the ungroup items in the taskbar option back. We're literally begging you

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