How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Last Active Click in Windows 7 and Windows 8

By default, when you click/tap on taskbar button for a program that has multiple tabs (ex: IE) or windows open in Windows 7 and 8, you will see thumbnail previews of them to then be able to select one to make active.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable taskbar last active click to be able to switch to the last active program window by clicking on the taskbar button in Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable taskbar last active click to be able to switch to the last active program window by clicking on the taskbar button in Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.

When you have taskbar buttons set to Always combine, hide labels and enable last active click, you will have the actions below available.
When you have taskbar buttons set to Never combine and enable last active click, you will have the actions below available.
- Click/tap on a program's taskbar button will make the last active window or tab for the program active again.
- Continued clicking or tapping on a program's taskbar button will cycle through the open windows or tabs making them active.
- Hovering the pointer over a program's taskbar button will still show it's taskbar thumbnail previews.
When you have taskbar buttons set to Never combine and enable last active click, you will have the actions below available.
- Click/tap on a program's taskbar button will minimize and restore the last active window or tab for the program as active again.
- Hovering the pointer over a program's taskbar button will still show it's taskbar thumbnail previews.
EXAMPLE: Taskbar Button and Thumbnail Previews of Program's Windows

Here's How:

The .bat files below will add and modify the DOWRD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
LastActiveClick DWORD
0 = Disable
1 = Enable
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
LastActiveClick DWORD
0 = Disable
1 = Enable
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Disable Taskbar Last Active Click
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_LastActiveClick.bat
3. To Enable Taskbar Last Active Click
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_LastActiveClick.bat
4. Save the .bat file to your desktop.
5. Unblock the .bat file, and run it.
6. You will now notice your screen flash as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Combine or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in a Group in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows 7
- How to Open All Windows Cascaded from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Show Windows Stacked or Side by Side from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Restore All Windows from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Close All Windows from a grouped Taskbar button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Change Taskbar Thumbnail Previews Delay Time to Display in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Use "Switcher" to Switch Between Opened Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
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