The new Windows 11 operating system brings some improvements, such as the possibility to install Android apps. However, there are also functions or layouts that users do not like so much.

For example, Windows 11 introduces grouped icons in the taskbar. This groups all instances of an application, regardless of how many windows you have open, under a single taskbar icon. If you move the mouse pointer over the icon, you can view and select one of the open instances. This is to maintain clarity in the taskbar.

While it was still possible to deactivate this function in Windows 10, this is unfortunately no longer possible in Windows 11. Nevertheless, there is a workaround that deactivates the grouping of icons in the taskbar. We would like to present it to you here:

Windows 11 - Deactivating the grouping of the icons in the taskbar

Windows 11

Note: These instructions may only work with the Windows 11 Preview - comments welcome!

This is an intervention in the registry of the Windows 11 operating system. You can safely use this workaround to deactivate the grouping of icons in Windows 11. However, some icons may no longer be selectable.

You will need the following software to turn off taskbar grouping:

  • Winaero Tweaker
  • Classic Start
  • Winaero Tweaker Installation
  • Install the software and select "Classic Start Menu and Taskbar" on the left side. Check the box to activate the function.

1. Now restart your system. Initially, the Start menu and some other icons in the taskbar will no longer work. You fix this as follows:

2. Press Windows + R on your keyboard and type the following command.

  • %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9} \SystemIcons

3. You will now see a window where you can select the system icons you want to display in your taskbar. At the bottom of the screen, go to "Turn system icons on or off".

4. Now activate the following system icons:

  • Network
  • Power
  • Clock
  • Volume
  • Action Centre
  • Open and use Classic Start

Now the second programme must be activated. To do this, go to the .exe file for "Classic Start" that you downloaded earlier and start it. The start menu button should now work on your system.

You can now deactivate the icon grouping on your PC.

Disable Windows 11 taskbar grouping

1. Open the Start menu and search for PowerShell. 2.

2. go to the application and launch it once it appears in the search results.

3. enter the following command:

  • REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced " /v TaskbarGlomLevel /t REG_DWORD /d 2.
    Restart your PC.

After the restart, the group icons in the taskbar should be disabled.




About the author Manuel

Manuel Spickipedia Team small

Manuel has been involved with technology for more than 15 years, especially with mobile phones, smartphones and PC systems and shares his passion here in this blog. If he can help someone with a technical problem, he is especially happy about it.

Comments

Thomas Higgerson
10 months ago
I sorely regret having donwloaded Windows 11. The icons for the programs that I have open do not show each individual document. In Windows 10 if I had two documents open in Microsoft Word, there was a large, rectangular icon for each document, but this is no longer the case in Windows 11. I have tried your instructions detailed on this page, and it does not seem to work for me. I copied and pasted REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced " /v TaskbarGlomLevel /t REG_DWORD /d 2.
into the window that appeared after I opened PowerShell, and I then hit "Enter". Nothing gave me any indication that I had performed this task correctly, but I restarted the computer, and I see no difference whatsoever, either in the icon for Microsoft Word nor for Google Chrome. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I am legally blind and have great difficulty in using Windows 11 as it is. Please help.
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