Organize Windows 11 Taskbar: Group Shortcuts, Pins, and Active Windows Separately

How to Group Shortcuts, Pinned Items, and Active Windows on the Windows 11 Taskbar

Windows 11 brings a sleek taskbar, but its default behavior groups all open windows for each app into a single icon. If you prefer to see shortcuts, pinned apps, and active windows in distinct sections, you can customize the taskbar to suit your workflow. Follow these steps to configure Windows 11 so that your taskbar neatly separates shortcuts, pinned items, and running windows.

Enable Separate Sections for Pinned and Active Apps

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
2. Go to Personalization → Taskbar.
3. Scroll down and click Taskbar behaviors.
4. Under Combine taskbar buttons, choose Never.
   • This setting prevents Windows from grouping multiple windows under one icon.
   • Each open window appears as its own button, making it easy to see and switch between tasks.

Pin Your Favorite Apps

1. Open the app you want to pin.
2. Right-click its icon on the taskbar.
3. Select Pin to taskbar.
   • Pinned apps appear as shortcuts on the left side of the taskbar.
   • You can drag icons left or right to reorder them.

Create Custom Shortcut Groupings

To organize related apps into groups:

1. Create or locate a folder on your PC where you’ll store shortcuts (for example, C:\TaskbarGroups\Office Suite).
2. Right-click the desktop and choose New → Shortcut.
3. Browse to the app’s executable or enter its path, then click Next.
4. Name the shortcut and click Finish.
5. Repeat for each app in the group.
6. Pin the entire folder by right-clicking its shortcut, then choosing Pin to taskbar.
   • Windows treats the folder as a single icon.
   • Clicking it shows a jump list with all included shortcuts.

Use Toolbars for Advanced Grouping

Windows offers hidden “Toolbars” that can act like sections on your taskbar:

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar.
2. Choose Toolbars → New toolbar…
3. Navigate to a folder containing shortcuts (for example, C:\TaskbarGroups\Design Tools).
4. Click Select Folder.
5. A new toolbar appears on the right side of your taskbar.
   • Click the “>>” to expand and access each shortcut.
   • You can add multiple toolbars to separate categories like “Office,” “Graphics,” or “System Utilities.”

Separate Active Windows from Pinned Shortcuts

By combining the above settings:

• Leftmost Icons: Pinned apps and custom toolbars remain static.
• Middle Section: Each running window shows as an individual button, since combining is disabled.
• Notification Area: System tray and clock stay on the far right.

This layout ensures your pinned shortcuts and grouped toolbars stay organized, while active windows dynamically populate the middle area.

Tips for a Clean Taskbar

• Keep only your most-used apps pinned; use toolbars for secondary groups.
• Name folders and toolbars clearly (e.g., “Dev Tools,” “Media Apps”) for easy navigation.
• Periodically review and remove unused shortcuts to maintain quick access.
• Use Win + number shortcuts (Win + 1, Win + 2, etc.) to launch or switch to taskbar apps instantly.

With these steps, you’ll transform your Windows 11 taskbar into a well-structured workspace that clearly separates your pinned shortcuts, grouped toolbars, and active windows for faster, more intuitive navigation.