How to Ungroup Taskbar Icons in Windows 11

Windows 11 brought a modern and simplified taskbar, but not all of its changes were welcomed by everyone. One of the most common complaints from users is the grouped taskbar icons — where multiple windows of the same app (like File Explorer or Chrome) are combined into a single icon.

While this looks cleaner, it can slow down multitasking for users who prefer to see separate icons for each open window. Thankfully, Microsoft listened and introduced a way to ungroup taskbar icons in newer builds of Windows 11.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to ungroup or separate taskbar icons in Windows 11 using both the official settings (available in version 23H2 or later) and third-party tools for older versions.

1. Check Your Windows Version

Before you start, make sure your Windows 11 version supports this feature. The ungroup taskbar icons option was officially added in the Windows 11 23H2 update.

To check your version:

1. Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter.
2. A window will appear showing your Windows version and build number.
3. If you see Version 23H2 or higher, you can use the built-in method below.

If you’re using an older version, skip to the section on third-party tools.

2. Ungroup Taskbar Icons via Settings (Windows 11 23H2 and Later)

Microsoft finally made it easy to separate taskbar icons without using any external software. Here’s how:

1. Right-click an empty area on your taskbar.
2. Click Taskbar settings.
3. Scroll down and click Taskbar behaviors to expand the section.
4. Under Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels, open the dropdown menu.
5. Choose one of the following options:
   • Never – Keeps all taskbar icons separate with visible labels.
   • When taskbar is full – Only groups icons when space runs out.

Your taskbar icons will instantly ungroup, showing each open window separately along with its name.

3. Ungroup Taskbar Icons Using the Registry Editor (For Older Versions)

If your PC hasn’t received the 23H2 update yet, you can still ungroup icons using a Registry tweak. This works on Windows 11 22H2 and earlier versions, though it may not be officially supported by Microsoft.

Note: Always back up your registry before making changes.

To ungroup taskbar icons using the Registry Editor:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. In the right pane, right-click and select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it TaskbarGlomLevel.
5. Double-click the new entry and set the Value data to 2.
6. Click OK, then close the Registry Editor.
7. Restart your PC or restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes.

To restart Explorer without rebooting:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Under the Processes tab, right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.

Once done, your taskbar icons will appear separately.

4. Ungroup Icons Using Third-Party Tools (For Windows 11 21H2 or 22H2)

If you’re running an older build of Windows 11 that doesn’t support native ungrouping, you can use third-party utilities to restore this feature. The two most popular and reliable tools are StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher.

Option 1: StartAllBack

StartAllBack brings back the classic Windows 10-style taskbar and Start menu customization.

1. Download it from the official StartAllBack website.
2. Install and launch the app.
3. Go to the Taskbar section.
4. Under Combine taskbar buttons, select Never combine, show labels.

Your icons will now appear ungrouped, similar to how they did on Windows 10.

Option 2: ExplorerPatcher

ExplorerPatcher is a free and open-source tool that customizes the Windows 11 UI extensively.

1. Download it from GitHub – ExplorerPatcher.
2. Install and right-click your taskbar.
3. Choose Properties → Taskbar.
4. Under Combine taskbar icons, select Never combine.
5. Restart Explorer for changes to take effect.

Both tools offer extensive customization options, but StartAllBack provides a more user-friendly interface, while ExplorerPatcher is free and lightweight.

5. Reset Taskbar Settings (If Icons Still Appear Grouped)

If you enabled the ungrouping option but your taskbar icons still appear combined, resetting taskbar settings can help.

1. Right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
2. Scroll down and click Taskbar behaviors.
3. Change Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to a different option, then switch it back to your preferred one.
4. Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager.

If this doesn’t work, sign out and sign back in to your account.

6. Update Windows 11

If you’re unable to find the ungroup option, your Windows version might not include it yet. Microsoft began rolling it out gradually starting from build 22621.2361 (23H2).

To update:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Download and install any available updates, then restart your PC.

After updating, return to Taskbar Settings → Taskbar behaviors to find the ungrouping option.

Wrapping Up

Windows 11’s grouped taskbar icons might make the interface look sleek, but they’re not ideal for users who prefer quick window switching and better multitasking visibility. Thankfully, with the 23H2 update, Microsoft finally brought back the “Never Combine” option natively — no registry hacks or third-party tools required.

If you’re still on an older version, you can achieve the same result using StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, or a simple registry tweak. Once enabled, your taskbar will display every window separately, just like in Windows 10 — giving you a cleaner and more productive workflow.