What is the taskbar and what is the solution for it not merging
Apr. 10, 2024 / Updated by Seraphina to Windows 11
Win11 Taskbar is a horizontal toolbar located at the bottom of the computer desktop. It displays various system statuses such as time, date, network connectivity, volume, battery level, as well as icons for programs and files opened by the user. The icons on the Win11 Taskbar can be customized according to user preferences, such as their size, position, and arrangement. One common setting is whether to merge the icons on the taskbar, meaning whether the icons of multiple instances of the same program or file are combined into one to save space on the taskbar.
Contents:
1. How to Disable Icon Merging on Win11 Taskbar
Method One: Using the Taskbar Right-click Menu
Method Two: Using the Registry Editor
Method Three: Using Third-party Software
Method Four: Adjusting the Size of the Taskbar
Method Five: Grouping Taskbar Icons
2. The definition of Windows Taskbar Manager
3. Why and how to hide the Windows taskbar
1). The reason to hide the Windows taskbar
2). The steps to hide the Windows taskbar
1. How to Disable Icon Merging on Win11 Taskbar:
There are several methods to disable icon merging on the Win11 Taskbar, here are a few common ones.
Method One: Using the Taskbar Right-click Menu.
Right-click anywhere on the taskbar to open the context menu. Select "Taskbar settings" from the menu to open the Taskbar settings window. In the Taskbar settings window, locate the option for combine taskbar buttons, then click the dropdown menu and select "Never" to set the taskbar to not merge icons. To restore the default merging behavior, select "Always" or "When the taskbar is full".
Method Two: Using the Registry Editor.
Click the Start button in the bottom left corner of the computer, or press "Win+R" on the keyboard to open the Run dialog, then type "regedit" and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor window. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Find the TaskbarGlomLevel entry in the list on the right, double-click it to open the editing window. In the editing window, change the DWORD value data to 0 to disable icon merging on the taskbar. To restore the default merging behavior, change the value data to 1 or 2.
Method Three: Using Third-party Software.
There are third-party software available for download online that are specifically designed to customize the taskbar. These software often provide simple user interfaces for configuring taskbar settings. However, caution should be exercised when using such software to avoid modifying critical system settings.
Method Four: Adjusting the Size of the Taskbar.
If the icons on the taskbar are too numerous or too large, they may occupy too much space and affect the aesthetic and functionality of the taskbar. Therefore, adjusting the size of the taskbar is one way to optimize its use. There are various methods to adjust the size of the taskbar, such as using the taskbar right-click menu to unlock the taskbar, then dragging the edge of the taskbar with the mouse to change its height; or using the Taskbar settings window to find the option for using smaller taskbar buttons and toggling it on or off to change the size of the icons.
Method Five: Grouping Taskbar Icons.
If the icons on the taskbar are too cluttered, it may result in visual and functional clutter. Therefore, grouping taskbar icons is a method to optimize the usability of the taskbar. There are several methods to group taskbar icons, such as using the taskbar right-click menu, selecting the "Show Task View button", clicking on the Task View icon on the left side of the taskbar to open the Task View window, and then clicking the "New desktop" button in the upper left corner of the window to create multiple virtual desktops. By assigning taskbar icons to different virtual desktops based on categories or purposes, you can group the taskbar icons.
2. The definition of Windows Taskbar Manager:
The Windows 11 taskbar is a horizontal toolbar located at the bottom of the computer desktop. It displays various system statuses such as time, date, network, volume, battery, as well as icons for programs and files opened by the user. Icons on the Windows 11 taskbar can be customized according to user preferences, including their size, position, and arrangement. One common setting is whether to merge taskbar icons, meaning whether to combine icons of multiple instances of the same program or file to save space on the taskbar.
3. Why and how to hide the Windows taskbar:
1). The reason to hide the Windows taskbar:
If there are too few or too small icons on the taskbar, it may result in wasted space and affect the efficiency and functionality of the taskbar. Therefore, hiding the taskbar is one way to optimize its use.
2). The steps to hide the Windows taskbar:
Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar to open the context menu.
Select the "Taskbar settings" option.
In the opened window, locate the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option and toggle the switch to the "On" position.
Once this option is turned on, click on any other area of the screen or press the Windows key to apply the changes.
After making this setting, the taskbar will hide at the bottom of the screen, and will only automatically appear when the mouse cursor is moved to the bottom of the screen.
Above are the explanations for what the taskbar is and how to disable icon merging on the taskbar in Win11. I hope this helps everyone. If you encounter driver-related issues such as network cards, graphics cards, Bluetooth, sound cards, printers, etc., you can download "Driver Talent" for detection and repair. Driver Talent supports driver downloads, installations, backups, etc., providing flexible driver management.
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