Skip to main content

How to ungroup Taskbar icons in Windows 11

Windows 11 brings has a number of exciting new features when compared to Windows 10. Yet it also lacks some of Windows 10's better features. One of those is the ability to ungroup the icons in the Taskbar. So, you might be wondering: Is it possible to bring it back?

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Access to the internet

  • Credit or debit card

The good news is that with Start11, a third-party program from the folks at Stardock, you can add this feature back to Windows 11. Just be warned, though, that you'll need to pay for it, but the benefit might outweigh that final cost for you. A 30-day free trial is also available.

A webpage featuring the Start11 purchase options.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pay for Start11 or try the free trial

To get started with ungrouping the taskbar icons in Windows 11, you need to pay for Start11. Again, the feature isn't yet in Windows 11, so you'll have to add this third-party program to bring it back. Start 11 is a paid piece of software, available for $6. You also can try it out for 30-days if you prefer.

Step 1: Visit the Stardock website and click the Software link at the top of the page. Choose Start11 from the list. Click the icon in the top right (it looks like a person) and create a Stardock account. Make sure you're logged in.

Step 2: Go back to the Start11 product page, click the Green Get it now button and choose the edition you want. We suggest the basic $6 version, as it works with one Windows 11 installation. If you want multiple installs, try the $15 version, which works on five different devices.

Step 3: Enter your credit card information, and check out. You'll also be prompted to create a Stardock account if you didn't already

Step 4: Once you paid, continue to the next steps.

The Start 11 download page.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Install Start11

Once you paid for Start11 or have the free trial, you'll need to switch over and download the Beta version of the app. Currently, the ability to ungroup the Taskbar icons is included in the version 1.2 beta, but it will be rolling to to the standard version of Start11 as a free update soon.

Step 1: Go back to your Stardock account page and choose My downloads.

Step 2: Choose the Beta download option, and click the download link. Launch the downloaded file, and install the app to your PC.

Start11 menu shows grouping options for the Windows 11 taskbar.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Configure Start11 to ungroup Taskbar icons

Once you have Start11 installed, launch the app. Go to the Start Menu, scroll down to the Stardock folder, and then choose Start11.

Step 1: From the Start11 app, click in the sidebar where it says Taskbar. Make sure the toggle switch for Let Start11 enhance the taskbar is chosen.

Ungrouped icons on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Choose Never under the option Taskbar buttons should be combined. You should then see that your Taskbar icons for any open apps are now bigger and no longer grouped!

Keep in mind, though, that when this feature is enabled, you can't have your Start Menu at the center of the screen. In these beta versions, you'll be forced to move it to the left by default.

Start11 is a truly powerful piece of software, so regrouping taskbar icons isn't the only thing it will let you do. You also can use Start 11 to bring back the Windows 10-style Start Menu, or make your Taskbar more transparent. The sky is the limit when it comes to the app, so be sure to play around and use it to tweak Windows to the way you want!

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: finally time to upgrade?
The screen of the Surface Pro 9.

Windows 11 is the newest version of Windows, and it's one of the best Windows versions released. At launch, the operating system was very similar to Windows 10, but it has morphed a lot over the past several years. Now, Windows 11 has several key differences compared to Windows 10.

If you've been holding out on upgrading, we have everything you need to know about Windows 11 and how it's different than Windows 10 in this article. We'll detail the differences, as well as show you the areas where Windows 11 is growing faster than Windows 10.
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: what's new

Read more
I hope Microsoft adds this rumored AI feature to Windows 11
A Windows 11 device sits on a table.

From smart speakers to ChatGPT and Bing Chat, AI has slowly crept into our lives, but not all instances of AI are as prominent as those three examples. Sometimes, the effect is subtle, but still pretty nice. It appears that Microsoft is working on one such instance of AI-enhanced tech that could make using Windows 11 just a little more pleasant. We're talking about AI-powered live wallpapers, and they might be coming soon.

First spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft is readying an AI-powered desktop that could make the whole user experience feel a lot more interactive. The idea is to adjust depth perception and make some backgrounds appear more "alive" when moving your cursor or the entire device. The wallpaper might move or shift, depending on what you're doing on the desktop.

Read more
I review PCs for a living — here are the apps I install on every device
A bird's eye view of a person working on a laptop.

Since I started reviewing laptops here at Digital Trends, I've worked on over 240 devices. That means I always have a device or two to use, but the machines themselves aren't so important. It's what I can do with them that counts. That's why I install a core group of applications on every laptop I set up.

Going through the process of setting up a new laptop several times a month means I have a list of applications I reach for. If you're setting up a new PC for the first time, here's what you should download.
The basics

Read more