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...

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What is 5 - 3?

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.

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

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