Taskbar Buttons - Combine or Never Combine in Group in Windows 8

How to Combine or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in a Group in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
A taskbar button represents an open window (ex: app) on the desktop.

This will show you how to set your taskbar buttons to be grouped together or not when there's more than one window open in Windows 8 and 8.1.

If you have more than on display (monitor), then you will be able to set taskbar grouping separately for your main display and for on other displays.

Note   Note
Options for Taskbar Button Grouping

  • Always combine, hide labels - This is the default setting. Each app appears as a single, unlabeled button, even when multiple windows for that app are open. The buttons appear as icons with this option.

  • Combine when taskbar is full - This setting shows each open window as an individual, labeled button. When the taskbar becomes crowded, apps with multiple open windows collapse into a single app button. Clicking the button displays a list of the windows that are open.

  • Never combine - This setting shows each window as an individual, labeled button, and never combines them, no matter how many windows are open. As more apps and windows open, buttons get smaller, and eventually the buttons will scroll.


EXAMPLE: Taskbar in Windows 8
NOTE: Taskbars on displays other than your main display will not have the notification area (system icons) on them.

Always combine, hide labels

Always_Combine.jpg

Combine when taskbar is full

Combine_when_Full-1.jpg

Combine_when_Full-2.jpg


Never combine

Never_Combine.jpg







OPTION ONE

To Set Taskbar Button Grouping in Taskbar Properties


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open Taskbar Properties.​
2. On your desktop, right click or press and hold on the taskbar, click/tap on Properties, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
Taskbar-1.jpg

3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Taskbar icon, and go to step 4 below.​
4. Do step 5 and/or 6 below for what you would like to do.​
5. To Set Main Taskbar Button Grouping
NOTE: This step is for setting how you want the taskbar buttons combined or not combined as a group only on the main display no matter if you have one or more displays.​
A) In the Taskbar tab to the right of Taskbar buttons, select how you want buttons to be combined or not, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshots below)​
Main-2.jpg

6. To Set Other Taskbars Button Grouping on Multiple Displays
NOTE: This step is for when you have more than one display. It allows you to set if you want the taskbar buttons combined or not combined as a group on all multiple displays except on your main display.
A) If you have not already, you will need to have Show taskbar on all displays checked. (see screenshot below)​
Taskbar-on-1.jpg

B) Under Multiple displays, select how you want buttons to be combined or not, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
Taskbar-on-3.jpg


7. When finished, click/tap on OK.​





OPTION TWO

To Set Main Taskbar Button Grouping using a BAT File



Note   Note
The .bat files below are for the registry key and values below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

TaskbarGlomLevel DWORD

0 = Always combine, hide labels
1 = Combine when taskbar is full
2 = Never combine


1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like your taskbar buttons set to do.​
2. To Set Main Taskbar Buttons to Always Combine, Hide Labels
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Main_Taskbar_Always_combine_hide_labels.bat
download

3. To Set Main Taskbar Buttons to Combine when Taskbar is Full
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Main_Taskbar_Combine_when_taskbar_is_full.bat
download

4. To Set Main Taskbar Buttons to Never Combine
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Main_Taskbar_Never_combine.bat
download

5. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.​
6. Unblock the .bat file, and double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.​
7. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted to apply the settings.​






OPTION THREE

To Set Other Taskbars Button Grouping using a BAT File



Note   Note
The .bat files below are for the registry key and values below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

MMTaskbarEnabled DWORD

1 = Show taskbar on multiple displays

MMTaskbarGlomLevel DWORD

0 = Always combine, hide labels
1 = Combine when taskbar is full
2 = Never combine


1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like your taskbar buttons set to do.​
2. To Set Other Taskbars Buttons to Always Combine, Hide Labels
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Other_Taskbars_Always_combine_hide_labels.bat
download

3. To Set Other Taskbars Buttons to Combine when Taskbar is Full
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Other_Taskbars_Combine_when_taskbar_is_full.bat
download

4. To Set Other Taskbars Buttons to Never Combine
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​
Other_Taskbars_Never_combine.bat
download

5. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.​
6. Unblock the .bat file, and double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.​
7. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted to apply the settings.​




That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Main_Taskbar_Always_combine_hide_labels.bat
    354 bytes · Views: 755
  • Main_Taskbar_Combine_when_taskbar_is_full.bat
    354 bytes · Views: 742
  • Main_Taskbar_Never_combine.bat
    354 bytes · Views: 829
  • Other_Taskbars_Always_combine_hide_labels.bat
    457 bytes · Views: 594
  • Other_Taskbars_Combine_when_taskbar_is_full.bat
    457 bytes · Views: 849
  • Other_Taskbars_Never_combine.bat
    457 bytes · Views: 850
  • Taskbar.png
    Taskbar.png
    3.3 KB · Views: 314
Last edited by a moderator:
Tutorial updated to add OPTION TWO and OPTION THREE. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
The problem I am having is since changing file explorer icon to open This PC instead of Libraries the button no longer groups, it always opens a separate instance of the folder. Is there anyway to correct this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 / Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    8 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE Force 5200
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2009M x's 2
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900 x's 2
    Hard Drives
    One internal Western Digital HD 650 GB
    Three external Western Digital HD's - 1 TB each
The problem I am having is since changing file explorer icon to open This PC instead of Libraries the button no longer groups, it always opens a separate instance of the folder. Is there anyway to correct this?

Hello Ed,

I'm afraid that the only way that I know of is to restore the default target of the File Explorer icon on the taskbar. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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