Windows 11 update will fix the taskbar but it’s still not good enough

Soon you’ll be able to finally ungroup those apps

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Theredesigned taskbarinWindows 11has seen a bunch of improvements since it first debuted in October 2021, and now an upcoming update looks set to give you the option to ungroup apps and expand the area that displays the time, so seconds are shown as well.

The firstmajor update to Windows 11tweaked the taskbar, but there were still complaints from users that it remained too restricted in features compared to the taskbar inWindows 10.

Analysis: Refinement is the aim here

Windows 11 is going to get a “Never Combine” taskbar item setting after all. It no longer features window titles like in Windows 10 & older releases, but retains the icon per window mechanic which some might still find useful. New in build 25246, hidden behind feature 29785186 ✨ pic.twitter.com/IyW5t2CZWQNovember 16, 2022

The feedback onWindows 11’s taskbar has been more divisive than evenMicrosoftmight have predicted when redesigning it, and that could be down to how major the change has been for some.

Instead of a Start icon at the left of the taskbar, it’s at the center, with features, such as grouping apps and enabling Task Manger being absent since its debut.

Thanks to the firstmajor updatethat debuted in September 2022, there’s a new way to manage anoverflow of appson the taskbar, alongside being able to changehow many apps are displayedon the Start menu, which makes both seem less cluttered, and should be an answer to some of the complaints Microsoft has been receiving.

With major improvements continuing to come to the taskbar, it’s clear that Microsoft is nowhere near done when it comes to listening to feedback and refining the feature further. Will it be enough to make people love the Windows 11 taskbar? I’m not too sure, but even small tweaks like this will be welcome.

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Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

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