How do I Ungroup Task Bar Buttons in Windows 11

Anonymous
2022-08-26T12:28:10+00:00

Hi,

This is driving me mad. Windows 11 Groups Taskbar items and it is killing me, rather than being able to click on the, e.g. browser tab that I want, I now have to hover over Edge and scan all open browsers - it wastes soooo much time.

How can I ungroup Icons like I did with "Never Combine" in Windows 10.

Also - how do I complain officially to Microsoft about this.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accessibility

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SD - IA 179.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2022-08-26T13:05:17+00:00

Hi,

I am Sumit here to assist you with this question.

They are tracking Feedback on this, but no updates yet. It is also not clear if this feature would come.

List of Changed or removed features/functionalities in Windows 11 - Microsoft Community

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

A 3rd party alternative called ExplorerPatcher may help you in the meantime.

Improve Windows 11 Taskbar functionality using these tools - Your Windows Guide

https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2021/09/restor...

ExplorerPatcher, a 3rd party tool that aims to bring the older Windows 10 styled functionality in the Windows 11 Taskbar by just adding DLL files in 3 specific directories of WIndows. Because the older code is still present in Windows 11, by putting the DLL file, the Windows 10 styled taskbar is enabled. Some of the functionalities the developer claims the is restored:

Restores Windows 10 styled taskbar menu.

Restore Windows+X context menu.

Show app list by default in Start menu.

Ability for start menu and search to align left and many more

How to use ExplorerPatcher

Download the Software from this GitHub Repository:

Releases · valinet/ExplorerPatcher (github.com)

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/rele...

Hope that helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-10-04T16:40:31+00:00

    To be fair, they did add back Folder thumbnail previews after a lot of backlash from removing that in Windows 11

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-10-04T16:36:59+00:00

    It is more about MS removing features and seemingly being disconnected from its user base and how they use their OS. Since Windows 7, MS has introduced more clicks and such to get the same thing done, especially when it comes to the taskbar.

    They are not improving work flows, they are adding to them.

    With high resolution screens (2k/4k), I do not need to "group" my items. Quicker work for me is seeing say several Visio tabs showing along my task bar and being able to click on the ones I know I need, vs hovering over a single icon, wait for a window to pop up then find the one I need.

    New or not, this was the same as them removing folder previews for pictures...(now adding it back after massive community complaints)

    It is someone with in MS trying to dictate to its users how best to use their OS, with little insight into how different people actually use the OS.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-28T21:19:49+00:00

    Its looking that way,I have sent feedback. I'm still pissed off with the File Explorer bug where you expand a folder then just as you are about the click the folder you want it scrolls out of sight and you hit the wrong folder - its been around for at least a decade. They are too focused on profit and not customers - I installed Linux Kubuntu yesterday and am quite impressed, it took me all day to get my head around the terminal but installation took a few minutes, installing Thunderbird email 30 secs. Its got a lot going for it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-28T19:34:31+00:00

    I wouldn't count on a fix anytime soon. They have been saying MS is working on this since people were complaining almost a year ago, and yet... here we are and still nothing.

    Such a basic thing, yet they don't seem interested in listening to the users. Nothing like making things more inefficient and calling it a design feature.

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