The ability to never combine taskbar buttons is one of the most requested features of Windows 11. Microsoft finally added it to Windows 11. If you want to use it, follow the below steps to enable the never combine taskbar buttons option in Windows 11.
By default, Windows 11 optimizes space on the taskbar by displaying icons and grouping windows from the same application together. When you want to access a specific window of an application with multiple open windows, you mouse over the application icon on the taskbar and select the window.
But what if you prefer each window to have its own separate button on the taskbar, complete with its own name or label? This makes it easy to recognize the application window and open it quickly. For example, showing each window separately on the taskbar is helpful if you have a lot of windows of an application, using a widescreen or multi-monitor setup, etc.
With the recent update, Microsoft added the much-requested never combine taskbar buttons option. By changing this option to “Never,” you can ensure that taskbar buttons are never combined and each application window appears individually. Let me show you how.
Important note: You should be using Windows 11 Build 23466 or higher. Here’s how to check your Windows 11 build number.
Never combine taskbar buttons on Windows 11
Follow the below steps to set taskbar to never combine button on Windows 11.
Step 1: Open the Settings app with the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut.
Firstly, press the Win + I keyboard shortcut on your desktop to open the Windows 11 Settings app directly. Alternatively, you can also search for “Settings” in the Start menu search or click the taskbar’s network/volume icon and then click/tap on the gear (Settings) icon in the Quick Settings panel.
Step 2: Go to the “Personalization> Taskbar” settings page.
Once the Settings window opens, left-click on the “Personalization” tab on the sidebar and then select the “Taskbar” option on the right panel. You can get to this same page by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting “Taskbar settings.”
Step 3: Set “Combine taskbar button and hide labels” to “Never.” This option forces the taskbar to never combine taskbar buttons.
Here, expand the “Taskbar behaviors” section and select “Never” from the “Combine taskbar button and hide labels” dropdown menu.
The changes are saved automatically and from now on, the taskbar never combines buttons and shows all open windows individually with labels.
Alternative method using the registry editor
You can also enable the never combine mode on the taskbar using the Registry Editor. Here’s how.
- Open the Registry Editor by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Go to the “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” folder.
- Right-click on the “Advanced” folder.
- Choose the “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
- Set the value name as “TaskbarGlomLevel” (without quotes).
- Right-click on the “TaskbarGlomLevel” value and select “Modify.”
- Change the Value Data from “0” to “2” (without quotes).
- Click/tap on the “Ok” button to save value changes.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Reboot the computer.
After rebooting, the taskbar never combines buttons.
Disable never combine taskbar buttons on Windows 11
If you want to disable the taskbar’s never combine mode, follow the below steps:
Via the Settings app:
- Right-click on the taskbar.
- Select the “Taskbar settings” option.
- Expand the “Taskbar behavior” section.
- Select “Always” from the “Combine taskbar button and hide labels” dropdown.
- Close the Settings app.
Via the Registry Editor:
- Open the Registry Editor.
- Go to the “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” folder.
- Double-click on the “TaskbarGlomLevel” value.
- Change the Value Data to “0” (without quote).
- Click the “Ok” button.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Reboot the computer.
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That is it. It is that simple to enable the never combine mode on the taskbar.
Related Taskbar how-to guides:
- Show missing Windows Security icon on the taskbar
- How to hide taskbar clock on Windows 11
- How to change the taskbar color to black in Windows 11
- How to pin a drive to the taskbar
- How to pin a file explorer to the taskbar
- How to show the clock on all taskbars in Windows 11
- How to hide Windows 11 taskbar
- How to show multiple clocks at once on the taskbar in Windows 11
I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.
