Forum Discussion
Windows 11 taskbar labels
I was eager to install the official Windows 11 release today, however upon reading first I noticed that ungrouping taskbar icons / showing labels is not available anymore in Windows 11.
Why the heck would you remove such a useful feature? This is the only thing preventing me from installing Windows 11. Will this feature come back?
Might as well stick with Windows 10 until it sees its return (if ever). Solving this with third party tools is a no go.
It looks like the perfect way - but it doesn't work here. I set the value to 2 and after restart and then checking it was set to 2 - but still no labels. Do you have any ideas? aBuntobox
- Whoever made Windows 11 have NEVER had to do accounting work, where you need to have 10 spreadsheets open, they all look the same, and you rely on the name of the file (taskbar labels) to know which file you need. This removal of the taskbar labels has made my month-end closing tasks take 5 times longer. How do I reinstall Windows 10?
- I agree, I found out how much I miss the taskbar labels (instead of combining open windows) when I upgraded to Windows 11. 🙂
- It's easily restored:
Go to Start Menu, click Run, then type regedit and hit enter. The required key is located in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Locate the key TaskbarGlomLevel and change its value to 0, 1 or 2 depending on what you need it to do.
To always combine, hide labels (default): TaskbarGlomLevel = 0
Combine when taskbar is full/Show labels: TaskbarGlomLevel = 1
Never combine/Show labels: TaskbarGlomLevel = 2
I have my Windows 11 system set to 2 and the taskbar shows labels on open apps and files as it always did on Windows 10 and before.It looks like the perfect way - but it doesn't work here. I set the value to 2 and after restart and then checking it was set to 2 - but still no labels. Do you have any ideas? aBuntobox
- Yeah, same with me..
BuntoboxThanks, this was a life-saver! Viewing taskbar labels is essential for my work.
- Just did that on my newly bought laptop and it didn't work. Even restarted to see if it would change, and although the TaskbarGlomLevel is still 1, no labels.
I usually have half a dozen apps open when I'm working, not counting Explorer windows. As I use the touchscreen to navigate quickly through my workflow, I'm finding really hard to hit the right icon. Not to mention my vision problem that makes it difficult to distinguish small icons...
It was a great feature, specially from an accessibility point of of view. I can't understand why they would downgrade this kind of thing... Are they trying to make it more like a smartphone interface or something?- No, Microsoft Excels at and enjoys making people squirm and beg, not unlike any dictator or autocrat. They won't even explain their strategy to the millions impacted by their delirious decision. Suggest you install Explorer Patcher and forgo begging. Where is Bill Gates when you need him.
- I agree. I installed Windows 11 because I'm always eager to have the new OS. I uninstalled it almost immediately. Problem is, I can't work out how to provide feedback for it, now that I removed it.
- Combine taskbar Windows 11 , i need :((((((
- Same for me, I like to see the taskbar labels too and also use small icons. Also combine when taskbar is full was a great feature.
Agreed. Please vote on this issue in Microsoft's "Feedback Hub" app. Search for "Never combine" and then upvote/comment there since that is their official channel for feedback on features, suggestions and bugs.
- Been there, done that. Hope they hear us. Buntobox's reg hack doesn't work for me either, unfortunately
The only thing I have done aside from alter that registry key is select small taskbar icons, reduced the size of my taskbar and opened a QuickLauch toolbar. Here's a screenshot of it:
There is no QLA in the RTM release of Windows 11. I uninstalled W11 because of loss of the QLA, context menu and right-click on Taskbar to find so much less than W10.
Terrible first impression of W11. C'mon devs! Put the Taskbar and Start Menu back to Windows 10 features and options. I have voted up in Feedback the need for labels and to "not combine" the icons.
chunk_split Thanks for the link, unfortunately feedback hub reports "your account doesn't have access to this feedback"
The Registry edit suggested by Buntobox didn't work for me, but installing ExplorerPatcher on GitHub restored the Win10 taskbar immediately. Taskbar items are ungrouped and include labels, and you can adjust many settings via right-click -> Properties.
(Note: since Win10 release, I have used OpenShell (formerly ClassicShell), also found on Github, to restore earlier Start Button/Menu functionality.)
https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcherWin11 got foisted upon my organization this week. The UI changes weren't mere annoyances; they were a major disruption to my workflow. Immediately went looking for solutions. Found ExplorerPatcher (https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher) and am happy once again.
- Just DLed it and it's such a relief that I could cry. Thank you!
try https://www.startallback.com/. Just installed and seems to be working well.
Can't believe they took it away.
BRILLIANT! I don't even mind the small fee (cheaper than Starbucks). Thanks to whomever plugged this product - it gave me back my taskbar:
https://www.startallback.com/- Wow thanks a lot for this link !
I think I'm gonna pay that 5 bucks when the 30 days trial period is over, I just can't do without my taskbar.
This guy deserves to be rewarded for his work (and again, very poor choice from Microsoft)
brollin thank you very much, you're a life saver
- Has anybody tried Windhawk [1] + Taskbar Labels for Windows 11 [2]?
[1] https://windhawk.net
[2] https://windhawk.net/mods/taskbar-labels
- Windows 11 is like a Jail. You are not allowed to do anything.
- They wanted it like iOS. And they nailed it!
That's not my experience. I have it behaving the way I want it to and looking like Windows 2000 which I regard as the best Windows from an aesthetic point of view; also because it's the OS I got my MCSE in about twenty years ago so I'm nostalgic about it. I have the original start menu, a quick launch menu, a normal height taskbar with button labels, folder thumbnails and the start button on the left, where it should be. I also have none of those God awful touchscreen tiles anywhere on my system. I then imaged my customised and completed system so I had to do all the configuration work just once. It took a fair bit of research to find the various tweaks and hacks necessary to accomplish what I couldn't do myself but I can assure you, they're out there. You just have to look.
If you think Windows 11 is a jail then it's only because you haven't found the cell door key yet.
Buntobox yeah, I get a new car and then must I search for a Engine and Wheels that fit on.... If I only look a new Taskbar, there were a size of icons and labels a big preblem, so they remove it. I dont want to edit Registry and use of some Software only to have my old look back. I have disabled any Update for Win11.
