New Update Microsoft might soon let Windows 11 users show labels and ungroup apps on taskbar

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Microsoft has already addressed many of Windows 11's shortcomings. However, the operating system still lacks many features users miss after upgrading from Windows 10, and most of those features are related to the ill-fated taskbar. For example, the ability to ungroup apps and show labels is one of the most upvoted requests on the Feedback Hub. If you prefer the "never combine" feature, good news: Windows 11 might soon give you the much-desired change (if that is not enough, check out hints pointing at the possible option to place the taskbar at the top of the screen).

Enthusiasts spotted the first traces of the "never combine" feature returning to Windows 11 in late 2022, but those were rather vague clues without any specific details. Now we have a smoking gun evidence: code in the recent Dev and Canary builds explicitly mentions the upcoming features. According to @XenoPanther and @PhantomOfEarth, the latest Windows 11 preview contains the following strings:

• DesktopTaskbar_GroupingMode
• DesktopTaskbar_ShowLabels
• SystemSettings_DesktopTaskbar_GroupingMode
• SystemSettings_DesktopTaskbar_ShowLabels
• SystemSettings_DesktopTaskbar_SecondaryMonitorsGroupingMode
• "Options to group similar windows on taskbar"
• "Show labels on taskbar pins"

Although the unearthed details sound exciting, we still do not know when or if Microsoft plans to allow users to disable app grouping. The company recently reminded us that changes in the new Canary build might never reach the public release, so do not get your hopes too high. Microsoft might also reserve them for Windows 12, of which a public release is expected in late 2024.

Whatever the case, it is good to see more evidence of Microsoft giving users back what it took away earlier. Meanwhile, you can fix Windows 11's taskbar problems with third-party apps like Start11 (on the screenshot above), which recently received an update to resolve compatibility issues with the latest Windows 11 release.

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-might-soon-let-windows-11-users-show-labels-and-ungroup-apps-on-taskbar/

 

[oldschool]

What do MT members think about the new spacing of system tray icons?

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

What do MT members think about the new spacing of system tray icons?

Waste of space... but not annoying till you mentioned it

 

[oldschool]

Waste of space... but not annoying till you mentioned it

Yes, it's getting hammered at 11 Forum.

 

[SeriousHoax]

What do MT members think about the new spacing of system tray icons?

I'm conflicted on this. Wasting space is the first thing I immediately noticed but I also like how it looks

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Windows 11 finally gets a 'never combine taskbar buttons' mode

Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 dev build that adds a long-awaited feature allowing users to ensure that all windows are shown as individual items in the taskbar.

The option, known as "never combined mode," is rolling out with the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23466 to the rebooted Dev Channel flighting 23000 series builds.

"We're excited to bring you an early version of one of our most requested features for Windows 11, never combined mode," Microsoft's Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc said.

"In never combined mode, you'll be able to see each window of your applications on the taskbar individually, as well as their corresponding labels."

Redmond says the feature is still in early development, but it will allow users to set the taskbar to display labeled app icons individually.

The new never combined mode is rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, so it might take some time to reach all enrolled devices.

Once available, you can enable the feature by going to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and setting the 'Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels' to "Never."

Microsoft has also introduced a new setting named ‘Combine Taskbar buttons and hide labels on other taskbars’ that lets you configure whether buttons should be combined on other displays.

According to its entry in Microsoft's Feedback Hub, the option to never combine app icons in the taskbar was one of the most requested Windows 11 features, with more than 17,000 upvotes and over 2,100 comments.

Windows 11 finally gets a 'never combine taskbar buttons' mode

Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 dev build that adds a long-awaited feature allowing users to ensure that all windows are shown as individual items in the taskbar.

www.bleepingcomputer.com