Change Windows Taskbar Grouping via Registry

This guide explains which Windows Registry value controls taskbar item grouping and how to modify it using Regedit. By editing this specific DWORD value, you can configure Windows to always group similar application windows, combine them only when the taskbar is full, or display each window as a separate button with labels.

The Taskbar Grouping Registry Value

The behavior of application grouping on the Windows Taskbar is controlled by the TaskbarGlomLevel value located within the current user’s profile settings.

• Registry Path:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
• Value Name:
  TaskbarGlomLevel
• Value Type:
  REG_DWORD (32-bit Value)

Available Settings

Set the TaskbarGlomLevel value data to one of the following numbers to achieve the desired taskbar behavior:

• 0 = Always combine, hide labels
  Groups all instances of an application under a single taskbar icon without showing text labels (Default).
• 1 = Combine when taskbar is full
  Displays separate buttons with text labels for each window until the taskbar runs out of space, at which point it automatically groups them.
• 2 = Never combine
  Keeps every application window separate with its text label visible, regardless of how many windows are open.

How to Change the Setting

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. In the right pane, locate the TaskbarGlomLevel entry. If it does not exist, right-click an empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarGlomLevel.
4. Double-click TaskbarGlomLevel, set the Value data to 0, 1, or 2 based on your preference, and click OK.
5. Restart the Windows Explorer process via Task Manager or restart your computer for the changes to take effect.