When Microsoft launched Windows 11, they completely rebuilt the taskbar from scratch. In the process, they removed the beloved “Never combine taskbar buttons” feature, forcing every single instance of an app (like five different Word documents) to collapse into one single icon. After years of relentless user feedback, Microsoft finally restored this functionality in the 23H2 update, allowing you to ungroup your icons and see window labels once again.
How to Ungroup Your Taskbar Icons
To enable this, ensure your PC is fully updated, then head into the Settings app.
- Right-click on an empty space on your Taskbar.
- Select Taskbar settings from the small context menu.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings page and click on Taskbar behaviours to expand the section.
- Look for the dropdown menu labelled Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels.
- By default, this is set to “Always.” Click the dropdown and change it to Never.
The change is instantaneous. Your taskbar will immediately expand, separating your grouped icons into individual, wide buttons that display the actual text title of the window, just like the classic Windows 10 and Windows 7 experience.