Although Windows 11 shows icons in an Overflow menu on the Taskbar, it is possible to stack or unstack icons on the Taskbar using this tutorial. You can do that with the help of the Registry Editor.
By default, Windows 11 has a Taskbar Overflow menu, which appears on the right side of the Taskbar. It contains all the icons that were supposed to be visible on the Taskbar. However, instead of showing an Overflow menu or one icon in one row, you can create multiple rows and columns on the Taskbar to display all the app icons. It is possible to do that with the help of the Registry Editor.
As you are about to change values in the Registry Editor, don’t forget to backup all Registry files and create a System Restore point.
How to stack or unstack Icons on Taskbar in Windows 11
You can group or ungroup icons on the Taskbar using Registry Editor. To stack or unstack icons on Taskbar in Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type regedit and press the Enter button.
- Click on the Yes button.
- Navigate to StuckRects3in the HKCU.
- Double-click on the Settings REG_BINARY value.
- Find out the FE column and 28 row.
- Edit the value data from 01 to 02 or 03.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the Windows Explorer process using the Task Manager.
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
At first, you need to open the Run prompt on your computer by pressing the Win+R key. Then, type regedit, and press the Enter button. If the UAC prompt appears, you need to click on the Yes button.
After opening the Registry Editor, you need to navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3
In the StuckRects3 key, you can find a REG_BINARY value named Settings. Double-click on the Settings REG_BINARY value.
Here you can find some rows and columns. You need to narrow it down to FE column and 28 row. By default, it is set as 01. However, you need to edit it to 02 or 03.
If you add 02, you can show 2×2 icons, and if you choose 03, you can display 3×3 icons on the Taskbar.
Once done, click the OK button.
Next, you need to open the Task Manager and restart the Windows Explorer process. Once done, you can select any icon and place it on the Taskbar like a 2×2 or 3×3 block.
In case you want to revert the change or ungroup icons on the Taskbar, you need to open the Registry Editor, navigate to the same path, open the same REG_BINARY value, and set the Value data as 01 instead of 02 or 03.
Then, you need to restart the Windows Explorer process using the Task Manager.
How do I make my Taskbar icons stack?
To make the Taskbar icons stack on Windows 11, you need to use the Registry Editor. To get started, open the Registry Editor on your computer, and navigate to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3. Then, double-click on the Settings REG_BINARY value on the right-hand side. Find out the value in the FE column and 28 row. If it is set as 01, you need to edit it to 02 or 03. Click the OK button. At last, open the Task Manager and restart the Windows Explorer process.
Where is the Never combine Taskbar buttons in Windows 11?
Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t come with the Never combine Taskbar buttons option in the Windows Settings panel. As the position or Start Menu and Taskbar icons have changed in Windows 11, it doesn’t allow users to combine or ungroup opened programs’ buttons on the Taskbar. However, you can still use third-party apps that can enable the option to combine them.
That’s all! Hope this guide helped you stack or unstack icons on the Taskbar in Windows 11.
Read: How to Show or Hide Icons in Taskbar Corner Overflow on Windows 11.
