Forum Discussion

huali1405

Bronze Contributor

Jul 03, 2021

Solved

How to let windows 11 "never combine taskbar buttons"?

Heather_Poulsen
Jul 30, 2024
The November 2023 update added “never combined” mode on the taskbar for Windows 11. To find this feature, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. Set Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never. It also added a separate setting for turning this feature on for other taskbars when you use multiple monitors.

AileenLaDoctora

Brass Contributor

Oct 06, 2022

Every time I get a new computer the FIRST thing I do is to change from the utterly unproductive useless "Combine" mode of the taskbar to the WONDERFUL very productive "uncombine" mode. The uncombine mode allows for MUCH better workflow. As you may have guessed, this is a new computer and I am very frustrated that I cannot easily uncombine the taskbar icons. PLEASE FIX THIS NOW! I don't want to have to install a third-party program just because someone at Microsoft thinks a "cleaner look" is more important than a productive, easy-to-multitask Taskbar. Whoever thought this was a good idea should lose their job, because it is NOT a good idea. One of the main reasons I have stuck with PCs instead of Apple is the freedom to alter programs so they are more user-friendly. Not having the ability to "never combine taskbar buttons" is the same intolerable paternalistic attitude toward software that keeps me away from Apple. If you are going to take up the infuriating paternalistic attitude of apple (which I despise) then I may as well get rid of my PCs and use the better-engineered Apple laptops.

CassRT

Iron Contributor

Oct 06, 2022

AileenLaDoctora I feel your pain. I uploaded to Windows 11 last Fall, when it was initially released. Like you, the first thing I do is change the "group" to "ungroup." When I realized I couldn't ungroup the task bar, I was able to uninstall the upgrade since it was within the 7 day (?) window.

I am limping along with a computer that lost its responsiveness sometime after a Windows update in June or July. I am terrified of having to buy a new computer. I would think we could uninstall Windows 11 on a new computer and get the software for Windows 10. Anyway, that's what I'm considering right now.

Rich5555
Iron Contributor
Oct 06, 2022
Totally agree and that’s going to by my solution until at least 2025 when support for Windows10 is scheduled to end. Any new or existing PC can be upgraded from Windows11 to Windows10 and the installation media is freely available on Microsoft’s website. Obviously this option is not available to many users with business machines with restrictions imposed by their employer but for home users and the self-employed there is no reason to accept the restrictions imposed by the new OS.