Multiple Taskbar Icons for Documents

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 16, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

David notes that in his previous versions of Word each open document would show at the bottom of the screen, in the Windows Taskbar, and he could click on it to open it. Now, with Word 2016, all the Word documents appear in a single icon on his Taskbar. This is incredibly inconvenient for him and wastes his time in switching between documents. David wonders how he can get the documents to show as individual items on the Taskbar again.

This is a function of Windows, not Word. (Because of this, I suspect that David updated his version of Windows when he updated to Word 2016.) In Windows 10, you need to perform these steps; if you are using an older version of Windows, the steps are similar.

Right-click an empty space on the Taskbar. (Make sure it is an empty space, and not an icon that may appear on your Taskbar.) Windows displays a Context menu.
Choose the Taskbar Settings option. Windows displays the Taskbar portion of the Settings window. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Taskbar options of the Settings dialog box.

Scroll down a bit in the window until you see the Combine Taskbar Buttons control.
Using the control, choose the Never option.
Close the Settings window.

You should now see individual icons for your documents on the Taskbar.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13584) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Unwanted Cover Pages with Print Jobs

When you print a document, do you get more than you bargained for? If you get extra pages printed either before or within ...

Discover More

Stubborn Highlighting

When you make extensive edits to a document and those edits include changing the formatting of numbered or bulleted ...

Discover More

Swapping Two Strings

Strings are used quite frequently in macros. You may want to swap the contents of two string variables, and you can do so ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Shortcut for Full Screen Reading View

Want to get rid of almost everything on the screen except your document? Here's how to easily maximize what you see.

Discover More

Print Layout Zoom Settings

The zoom setting at which you view a document can sometimes be saved with a document. This tip explains how the zoom ...

Discover More

Cascading Document Windows

Want the various documents you have open to be cascaded on-screen so you can organize them easier? The capability is ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is eight less than 8?

2023-06-02 09:24:34

Andrew

And ... coming soon to Windows 11.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-11-finally-gets-a-never-combine-taskbar-buttons-mode/

2023-06-01 07:09:12

Debbie

Thanks for this, my computer updated windows and having all the Word docs under one button on the taskbar was driving me nuts. Sorted now :)

2022-12-21 14:37:17

Ron S

Please replace the screen capture with one that actually shows the option.

2022-12-21 08:08:28

Lilli Hausenfluck

Mette, When you set up a second monitor, go back to the taskbar settings and a new section appears called Multiple displays. Choose All taskbars and then set it again to say Never or When taskbar is full, which is my preference.

2022-11-03 00:46:52

Not in windows 11

2020-09-02 09:11:15

Paul Stregevsky

Mette,
You probably need to buy a monitor utility, like one of these https://helpdeskgeek.com/free-tools-review/best-dual-monitor-software/ .

2020-09-01 07:00:36

Mette Jacobsen

Hello

How do I make this apply to a secondary screen as well?
It is very frustrating to have two different settings on what is essentially the same taskbar.
I have already tried the typical 'clicking around in hopes it will obey me' but it is not working.

Thank you in advance

Kind regards
Mette Jacobsen

2018-11-12 17:15:13

Allen

Allan,

I deleted the comment in error. Feel free to post again.

-Allen

2018-11-11 16:40:52

Allan

"There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)"

Don't understand. Below is a confirmation that I made a comment.

Site: wordribbon.tips.net
Article: Multiple Taskbar Icons for Documents
Comment left by Allan (Nov 10, 2018 at 17:49:45)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.