How to Enable Never Combined Taskbar Buttons in Windows 11

If you want to enable ungrouped or never combined Taskbar buttons with full text labels in Windows 11, this article will help you. You’ll be able to show separate program buttons with their names on the Taskbar in your Windows 11 device.

Following image shows difference between grouped and never combined Taskbar buttons with text labels visible or hidden:

Ever since Windows 11 operating system was released to public, it never allowed users to show full program buttons with text labels in Taskbar. Windows 11 shows iconized and grouped program buttons in the Taskbar. When the user opens any app or program, only the program icon is displayed on its shortcut button in the Taskbar without any text label. Also if a user opens more than one instance of same program, Windows 11 automatically combines or groups all similar windows in a single Taskbar button.

In previous Windows versions such as Windows 7/8/10, Microsoft provided built-in options to enable or disable full Taskbar buttons with labels. Users could disable the automatic grouping of program buttons and show full labels on the Taskbar buttons.

On the other hand, Microsoft didn’t provide any such option in Windows 11 and users were forced to use grouped or combined Taskbar buttons without any text label.

Windows 11 Newer Versions Now Allow Users to Enable Never Combined Taskbar Mode

Here is a good news for all Windows 11 users! The recently released feature update for Windows 11 comes with a built-in setting to always show full ungrouped and uncombined Taskbar buttons with text labels. After receiving so many requests and feedback from users, finally Microsoft has added the much awaited functionality to Windows 11 operating system.

If you also want to enable never combined program buttons mode in Windows 11 Taskbar, first of all make sure to download and install the latest updates available for your Windows 11 device. You’ll need to enable “Get the Latest Updates as Soon as They’re Available” toggle option on Settings -> Windows Update page to receive the latest Windows 11 update right now.

How to Enable Never Combined Taskbar Buttons in Windows 11 (Newer Versions)

Once you install the latest updates in your Windows 11 device, you can disable the grouped program buttons and force Windows 11 to always show full program buttons with text labels using following steps:

STEP 1: Right-click on the empty area in Taskbar and select “Taskbar Settings” option. It’ll open Taskbar settings page.

Alternatively, you can open the same page using Settings app from Start Menu or by pressing WIN+I keys together and then go to “Personalization -> Taskbar” section.

STEP 2: On Taskbar settings page, look for “Taskbar Behaviors” section and click on the drop-down arrow button given next to the section name to expand the options list.

Scroll down to bottom and you’ll see a new option “Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels” which is set to Always by default which means Windows 11 will automatically group Taskbar buttons and hide their labels.

STEP 3: To enable never combined mode, click on the drop-down box given next to the option and select Never or When taskbar is full option based upon your requirements.

If you are using multiple monitors/desktops, you can also modify the second option “Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels on other taskbars” to apply the same changes to other desktops.

That’s it. Windows 11 will immediately start showing full program buttons with text labels separately on the Taskbar.

In future, if you decide to restore default grouped and combined Taskbar buttons, restore the above mentioned options to Always using Taskbar Settings page.

BONUS TIP: You can also move the Start button and Start Menu to left side on the Taskbar and remove all unnecessary buttons from the Taskbar to bring more free space and take full advantage of never combined mode. Following articles will help you in moving the Taskbar and removing extra buttons:

[Tip] Move Start Button, Start Menu and Taskbar to Left in Windows 11

Disable or Remove Extra Icons and Buttons from Windows 11 Taskbar

Enable Never Combined Taskbar Buttons in Windows 11 (Older Versions)

The above mentioned option will only appear in newer versions of Windows 11. If you can’t find the option on Taskbar Settings page, it means you are using an older version of Windows 11 in your device.

If you don’t want to upgrade your Windows 11 to newer version, you can still enable the never combined Taskbar buttons with text labels by restoring classic Windows 10 Taskbar in your Windows 11 device.

You’ll need to take help of a 3rd party software to restore classic Taskbar. Once you enable the classic Taskbar, it’ll automatically enable full program buttons with text labels in never combined mode as shown in following image:

Following exclusive article will help you in restoring classic Taskbar in Windows 11 operating system:

How to Restore or Enable Classic Taskbar in Windows 11 (All Versions)