Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable

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    Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable

    Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable

    How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows 7

       Information
    A taskbar button represents an open window on the desktop. These buttons appear on the taskbar as a horizontal bar or icon button.

    This tutorial will show you how to have similar open window buttons to group to one button or separate buttons in Windows 7.

       Note
    When you have more than one similar window open, say Notepad windows, you could set the taskbar to group the same Notepad taskbar buttons to just one button instead of multiple buttons. This can help organize the taskbar and save space when you have multiple windows open.

       Tip
    Microsoft has made available a hotfix that will resolve a problem where the taskbar customizations are lost and reset to defaults when automatic logon is enabled in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

    More details are available at FIX: The Taskbar is reset to the default settings when you use the "Automatically Log On" feature in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2.


    EXAMPLE: Taskbar Buttons Grouped


    EXAMPLE: Taskbar Buttons Not Grouped



    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties


    1. Right click on an empty area of the taskbar, and click/tap on Properties. (See screenshot below)
    2. Click on the drop down arrow menu to the right of Taskbar buttons, and do step 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: If this option is grayed out, then see this tutorial to "Allow" it: Taskbar Button Grouping - Allow or Prevent
    Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable-properties-6956.jpg Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable-windows-8.jpg
    3. To Always Group Taskbar Buttons
    NOTE: Taskbar buttons for the same opened program or window will always be grouped to one icon button.
    A) Click/tap on Always combine, hide labels to select it, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 3)
    4. To Only Group Taskbar Buttons when the Taskbar is Full
    NOTE: Taskbar bar buttons for the same opened program or window will be grouped to one icon button when the taskbar runs out space for the buttons.
    A) Click/tap on Combine when taskbar is full to select it, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 3)
    5. To Never Group Taskbar Buttons
    NOTE: Open windows will remain as separate bar buttons on the taskbar and not be grouped together.
    A) Click/tap on Never combine to select it, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 3)
    6. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)



    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Button Grouping using a BAT File


    1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like your taskbar buttons set to do.

    2. To Always Group Taskbar Buttons
    NOTE: Taskbar buttons for the same opened program or window will always be grouped to one icon button.
    A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
    Always_combine_hide_labels.bat


    Download

    3. To Only Group Taskbar Buttons when the Taskbar is Full
    NOTE: Taskbar bar buttons for the same opened program or window will be grouped to one icon button when the taskbar runs out space for the buttons.
    A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
    Combine_when_taskbar_is_full.bat
    4. To Never Group Taskbar Buttons
    NOTE: Open windows will remain as separate bar buttons on the taskbar and not be grouped together.
    A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
    Never_combine.bat


    Download

    5. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

    6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .bat file to run it.

    7. If prompted, click/tap on Run.
    NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

    8. You will now notice your screen quckly flash as explorer is restarted.
    That's it,
    Shawn







    Related Tutorials




  2. skunksmash
    Posts : 2,588
    SEVEN x64
       New #1

    just what i was looking for, thanks again Shawn........Great work!!

    :)SK
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  4. garysgold
    Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       New #2

    Nice. Thanks Shawn.

    Gary
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  5. Brink
    Posts : 72,893
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    You're welcome Mitch and Gary.
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  6. igorstaro
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       New #4

    Nice one thanks
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  7. Brink
    Posts : 72,893
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    You're welcome Igorstaro. :)
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  8. fquist
    Posts : 5
    Windows XP
       New #6

    How do I keep Windows 7 from positioning all the Firefox buttons together? When I open a new Firefox window, I would like to button to appear at the right end of the taskbar. However, Win7 positions it with the other Firefox buttons and will not let me move an individual button; they all move as a group. Under Vista and XP I used a utility called Taskbar Shuffle that let me put each button where I wanted it. Win7 is almost there, but not quite. (Note: this doesn't just apply to Firefox, it will occur with all applications that allow multiple instances).
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  10. Brink
    Posts : 72,893
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Hello Fquist, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    I'm afraid that the individual buttons will move together when not grouped, or as one when group by default and cannot be changed.

    Sorry,
    Shawn
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  11. Tews
    Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       New #8

    Thanks for the tip Brink!!
    Now if you could just tell me how to change the taksbar to that nice dark grey I'd be set!!
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  12. Brink
    Posts : 72,893
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    You're welcome Tews,

    These are the color settings that I used for the taskbar. :)

    Taskbar Button Grouping - Enable or Disable-personalize_windows_color.jpg
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