Forum Discussion
How to let windows 11 "never combine taskbar buttons"?
How to let windows 11 "never combine taskbar buttons"?
- 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.
1,327 Replies
- jmariano2020Steel ContributorI'm having the same problem.... the lack of this option, it's unproductive and it's making me think go back to installing Windows 10
- nathanstackCopper ContributorChiming in to say I, too, really want this option back in Windows 11.
- dylanrjamesBrass ContributorWhy are you copying Apple's **bleep** design standards? The people using Windows have been using Windows because they prefer the way it does things like this. You're just turning your OS into a worse version of MacOS - Mac users won't use it because it's worse, and you're alienating the people that actually use your OS. You're shooting yourselves in the foot.
- renkeholertBrass ContributorI reverted to Windows 10, too
- moin1407Brass Contributor
Please bring back never combine option otherwise it is very time consuming while I work with many windows. It is annoying too. It increases steps and decrease working rate.
- wilsod340Copper Contributor
There are two main ways to prevent Windows 11 from combining taskbar buttons:
User Settings (Recommended)
- Right-click on an empty area of the taskbarhttps://umactrackshipment.com/
- Select Taskbar settings.
- Scroll down to the Taskbar behaviors section.
- Under Taskbar buttons, use the dropdown menu and choose Never.
This is the simplest method and works for most users.
Using Registry Editor (Advanced Users):
This method is for advanced users comfortable editing the registry. Editing the registry can be risky, so proceed with caution.
Back up your registry (important).
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type regedit and press Enter.
Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Look for a value named TaskbarGlomLevel.
If it doesn't exist, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named TaskbarGlomLevel.
Double-click TaskbarGlomLevel and set its value data to 2.
Open Task Manager.
Find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab.
Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
This will force Windows Explorer to restart with the new setting applied.
Additional Notes:
- The registry method might be required for older versions of Windows 11 that don't have the "Never combine" option in Settings.
- If you use multiple monitors, you can also adjust the combine taskbar buttons setting specifically for those taskbars in the Settings menu.
- drdougIron ContributorHi everyone: we keep getting these posts about bring it back when as far as I know the latest win11 updates have the never combine option.
Do some versions of Win 11 still not have never combine?
One would think this is now a dead thread except for showing how long MS takes to fix customer concerns.
There is lots more wrong with win 11 go to or start other threads about the other faults.- HenryNGCCopper ContributorI just noticed on my PC that I can select "Never" for combining taskbar buttons, but as some other have mentioned, it sure does take up fair amount of space. Either I've gotten used to seeing/working with hidden the taskbar buttons for all this time waiting for this fix, or it really does take up more footprint. I thought I would be overjoyed once this fix came to my device, but I've resorted back to hiding for now as I'm not used to seeing so many taskbar buttons open.
- NinjaSkincareseoCopper Contributor
If you want to prevent Windows 11 from combining taskbar buttons, here's how you can do it:
Right-Click on the Taskbar: Find an empty area on the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen), right-click it.
Select Taskbar Settings: From the context menu that appears, select "Taskbar settings."
Scroll Down to "Taskbar Behaviors": In the Taskbar settings window, scroll down until you find the "Taskbar behaviors" section.
Change Taskbar Buttons Setting: Under "Taskbar buttons," you will see a dropdown menu. By default, it might be set to "Always, hide labels." Click on the dropdown and select "Never combine."
- Reza_AmeriSilver ContributorYou got the point, make sure file a suggestion in the Feedback Hub and if it already exist then upvote it.
- susanthawarnapuraIron Contributorplease bring this feature back
- MOHANAD-ABULELA2021Brass ContributorI don't know how can Microsoft did something like this because this features is very important in WINDOWS and it was Existing in almost version from XP to WINDOWS 10 The should thinking to return it back
- tanghaituanBrass ContributorPlease bring this feature back!!!!!
- yannis77Brass ContributorI hope they will include the option to never combine taskbar buttons. It's one of the first things i do everytime i install Windows. It's a very crucial option for many users.
- zoghalIron ContributorI do exactly that.
I'm disappointed. I want to go back to Windows 10 😞
- mengkzhaoyunBrass Contributorthis is ridiculous, please bring this feature back!!!!!
- wfefferBrass Contributor
Kind of glad I'm not the only one who's fuming over this oversight. At first I thought I could handle the forced combination but it's really starting to piss me off when I open more than 2 windows. Please bring this back.
- krmanrBrass ContributorI concur; It's infuriating! Why MS continually changes things at each turn, which ultimately hurts its users productivity and decreases OS functionality is beyond me.
- kche8663Brass Contributor
Oh man... Not only was I hoping for a greater improvement like having the option to group only certain apps but ungroup certain others, they are going backwards...