Never combine taskbar buttons in Windows 11

#Windows 11's own setting

Microsoft added the “never combined” mode to Windows 11 in September 2023: “In this mode, you can view application windows and their labels on the taskbar separately,” with “a separate setting for turning this on for other taskbars when you use multiple monitors” (Microsoft).

1. Open the taskbar settings

   Right-click an empty part of the taskbar › Taskbar settings, and open Taskbar behaviors.

2. Choose Never

   Set Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never. Set the option below it for other taskbars too if you use several monitors.

Windows still shows the buttons in its Windows 11 style, centred by default, with the program icon and a shortened title.

#RetroBar: one button per window, always

RetroBar works like the taskbar of Windows 95 to XP by default: one rectangular button per window, left-aligned, with the icon and the window title. There is nothing to switch on, and no combining option in 1.22.122.

To fit more buttons with readable titles, give the taskbar two or more rows. Hover over a button to see a title that is cut off, and drag buttons to change their order.

#Side by side

#Questions

Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us at hello@retrobar.dev and we will fix it.