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Windows 11: Enable Never Combine Taskbar Buttons

Windows 11: Enable Never Combine Taskbar Buttons

October 29, 2021 by Madalina Dinita 11 Comments

Microsoft has completely revamped Windows 11’s UI adopting a minimalistic look. The first thing you’ll notice about the OS is the new taskbar design. While you can customize the taskbar settings and change its size, position, and color, certain options are no longer available.

For example, the Never Combine option is no longer supported on Windows 11. Instead, the OS relies on icon grouping to keep things as simple and clutter-free as possible. If you want to bring the Never Combine feature back, you’ll need to use other methods to get the job done.

How to Enable Never Combine Taskbar Buttons on Windows 11

Install the Explorer Patcher for Windows 11

To restore the Never Combine taskbar feature on Windows 11, install the Explorer Patcher app. You can download Explorer Patcher from GitHub.

To enable this option, go to the Releases section on GitHub, and download the dxgi dll. Then simply put the dxgi dll into the Windows folder (C:\Windows), and restart your device. Check if you can tweak your taskbar settings and enable Never Combine.

If the option is not available, launch Command Prompt with admin rights and run the following command: taskkill /f /im explorer.exe. Wait until your computer downloads the symbol files from Microsoft, and check if the classic taskbar is available now.

To customize your settings, launch the Explorer Patcher app, and click on the Taskbar menu. Then select the option that says Enable missing system tray icons.

Explorer-Patcher-app-Enable-missing-system-tray-icons

As the app developer explains, Explorer Patcher restores dormant Windows 10 functionalities that are no longer available in the latest OS releases. The app lets you restore the Always Combine, Combine when full, and Never Combine feature in the main and secondary taskbars on Windows 11.

Of course, if you think all that is too complicated, you can always downgrade to Windows 10.

Conclusion

If you want to restore the Never Combine taskbar option on Windows 11, download the Explorer Patcher app from GitHub. This app lets you restore and tweak dormant Windows 10 functionalities on Windows 11, including taskbar grouping options.

Did you manage to bring back the Never Combine option and prevent taskbar buttons from grouping? Let us know in the comments below.

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Filed Under: Windows

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marion says

    February 8, 2022 at 6:10 am

    First solution I tried to ungroup the icons on my taskbar and works like a charm! Just had to download and run the program. I’m currently testing the options available in the taskbar properties and I must say I am amazed by them!

  2. jarod says

    February 4, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    The latest releases that you install makes life so simple. You don’t need to copy the dll or anything like the instructions in this articles says. Instead, just install it and voila! Windows 10 style and you can even use classic shell on top!

  3. David says

    January 26, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    Yes! Just installed the latest patch under “Releases” on the right. (had a hard time finding it) and as soon as I ran it, my taskbar apps were no longer grouped!

  4. Elaine says

    January 16, 2022 at 10:34 am

    Thank you! Explorer Patcher App worked.

  5. JDog says

    December 30, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    Didn’t work for me. When I right clicked the taskbar it had the regular “taskbar settings” box. Clicking on the start button didn’t open up the start menu. I tried uninstalling it and start button is still not working even though file and explorerpatcher folder are deleted. Maybe I will just go back to windows 10. The taskbar seems like a pretty important feature to me and is driving me up the wall.

  6. Cook says

    December 28, 2021 at 12:55 am

    Great!!

  7. Chien Le Sy says

    November 29, 2021 at 3:14 am

    This is what I am looking for. Thank you very much!

  8. David Wood says

    November 28, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Just run the ep_setup.exe file now to install and works perfectly.

  9. Michael says

    November 13, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    uninstall:
    move the main panel down if you have moved it up or sideways (so it can render properly)
    rename the DLL from dxgi.dll to dxgio.dll
    restart your computer and remove dxgio.dll
    remove the %appdata%\ExplorerPatcher directory

  10. Stu says

    November 6, 2021 at 8:41 am

    This didn’t work for me. The dxgi dll file did remove some of the icons from my taskbar, but that’s all it did. How do I delete the dxgi dll file from the windows folder? When I try, it says it’s being used by windows explorer. I tried ending the task in the task manager, but it continues to say it’s being used by windows explorer.

  11. Thom says

    November 4, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    hi, ok, and how to remove the dll file ?

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