How to Set Windows 11 Taskbar Icons to Never Combine

Microsoft's latest desktop operating system, Windows 11, brings a long list of hidden features, but the option to set taskbar icons to "never combine" is still missing. Users who have upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are having trouble navigating the new centered taskbar. But you don't have to worry, because we've come up with a nifty way to enable this feature. In this guide, we provide two easy methods for you to set Windows 11 taskbar icons to never combine. It works just like in Windows 10 and 7, and you also have access to some legacy changes from Windows 11. So without further ado,

Set Windows 11 Taskbar Icons to Never Combine (2022)

We have mentioned two different ways to set Windows 11 taskbar icons to never combine. The third-party apps listed below let you further customize the taskbar in Windows 11, so if you're an old-school user, you'll absolutely love them. Now expand the table below and discover the two applications.

Ungroup Windows 11 Taskbar Icons with StartAllBack

StartAllBack is a powerful program that lets you set Windows 11 taskbar icons to “Never Combine”. Apart from that, it brings Windows 10-style Start menu and other cosmetic changes that old-school users will appreciate. It offers a 100-day free trial period. After that, you will need to purchase a license key which costs $4.99 for a single PC. If you like using this software, you should definitely buy it. That said, let's see how it works:

1. First, go ahead and download StartAllBack from the link provided here . Then install the program using the downloaded EXE file.

2. After installing the program, it will move the taskbar to the left. Also, StartAllBack will open automatically, giving you a variety of options to customize the taskbar. If this does not happen, right-click on the taskbar and select “  Properties ” to open the program.

3. Now go to “  Taskbar” on the left sidebar and then click on the drop-down menu next to “Combine taskbar buttons” on your Windows 11 PC. Then choose “Never” from the scrolling menu. And that's all.

4. Now the taskbar icons on your Windows 11 computer will be set to never combine . See the screenshot below to understand how it will look like:

Unlink Windows 11 Taskbar Icons with ExplorerPatcher

If you're unhappy with StartAllBack's 100-day trial period and want a completely free program , ExplorerPatcher is a great option. It allows you to ungroup Windows 11 taskbar icons with one click. Follow the guide below for detailed instructions.

1. Use this link and download Explorer Patcher.

2. Now install the application and it will automatically set the alignment of the taskbar icon to the left. The best part about this app is that the taskbar icons are set to never combine by default so you don't have to do anything.

3. Anyway, to configure the settings, right-click on the taskbar and select “  Properties ”.

4. Under the "  Taskbar" , you can further customize the taskbar in Windows 11 as you like. After making the changes, make sure to click "Restart File Explorer" at the bottom left.

Ungroup Taskbar Buttons in Windows 11

So those are the two easiest ways to ungroup taskbar icons and set them to never combine in Windows 11. I've also tried a few hacks with the registry editor, but the latest version of Windows 11 does not support ungrouping taskbar icons. I would highly recommend StartAllBack because the alternate Start Menu is also fast and brings the smoothness of Windows 7 to Windows 11. Anyway, that's it for this guide. If you want to learn more about upcoming Windows 11 features, browse our comprehensive list. And if you want to learn how to drag and drop files onto the Windows 11 taskbar, we have a handy guide for that too. Finally, if you have any questions,