How to Change the Behavior of Taskbar Grouping (281628)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q281628
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the behavior of taskbar grouping in Microsoft Windows XP.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

By default, when you enable the Group similar taskbar buttons option in Taskbar properties, items are grouped only when the taskbar buttons begin to get too small, and then the item that you opened first, is grouped first.

To change this behavior, create a "TaskbarGroupSize" DWORD entry in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

The values for this key are:

0 - (Default) Group by age (oldest group first)
1 - Group by size (largest group first)
2 - Group any group of size 2 or more
3 - Group any group of size 3 or more

Log off and then back on for this change to take effect.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/27/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbhowto KB281628
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