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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

66 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-20T23:11:13+00:00

    Seems like Windows 11 is catering to people who use a PC to only check their email or other single instance apps. Heaven forbid I have 2 spreadsheets open. Gross. Nobody wants to see all those icons.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-02-20T16:53:55+00:00

    I also want to add the to the ungrouping feature gone missing.

    This is a terrible idea and it bothers me cause i`m stuck on win11 due to company policy.

    BAD BAD BAD !

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-02-18T14:25:24+00:00

    I have filed a report on the feedback hub and noted that many others had done the same - also noted people commenting that Microsoft had given no satisfactory response and that the total number of users shown as reporting the issue on the hub had gone down considerably, indicating either a data loss or that Microsoft had "fiddled the figures" as users were sending a message it didn't want to hear.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-02-18T11:18:08+00:00

    I started this thread months ago and there is clearly a strong and widespread need for Ungrouping of taskbar item - goodness knows how much time the grouping feature has cost companies and individuals since it was forced on us.

    However, posting on this thread is clearly not getting back to Microsoft so I ask everyone who has posted on this thread to do the following - it takes literally a minute :

    Report the issue directly to microsoft as a "Report a Problem" in the Feedback Hub - Just click the windows key and search for "feedback", this opens the hub.

    Use "Report a Problem" to briefly tell them why not being able to ungroup task bar items is an issue.

    Its a very quick and easy process.

    Finally, please ask everyone who feels the same way to also file a report - perhaps companies can make this option known to staff so that each can file a report if they wish to do so.

    Lets get some pressure going on Microsoft. Get this going viral, if you are on social media let everyone know how to use the feedback hub and send in a complaint.

    Was this answer helpful?

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments