Windows 11 introduces several significant updates to Task Manager and taskbar behavior, addressing long-standing user requests for more control over how application windows are displayed and managed. These changes directly impact multitasking efficiency, process visibility, and system monitoring, offering users more options to tailor their workflow. Below, you’ll find detailed steps to use and configure new Task Manager features, including app grouping and updated CPU usage reporting, as well as how to adjust taskbar grouping options.

Configure Taskbar App Grouping in Windows 11

Windows 11 now allows users to choose whether application windows are grouped together on the taskbar or shown as separate buttons, a feature that was missing in earlier versions of the OS. This flexibility helps users who work with multiple windows from the same app to quickly switch between them without extra clicks or confusion.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Personalization in the sidebar, then select Taskbar.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on Taskbar behaviors to expand the available options.

Step 4: Find the setting labeled Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels. You’ll see a dropdown menu with options such as Always, When taskbar is full, and Never.

Step 5: Select Never to display each window as a separate button on the taskbar. This change takes effect immediately, allowing you to see and access individual windows without grouping.

This adjustment is especially useful for users who frequently work with several documents or browser windows at once, as it reduces the time spent hovering or clicking through grouped icons to find the right window.

Switch to the Last Active Window with a Single Click

By default, clicking an app icon on the taskbar with multiple open windows prompts a preview, requiring an extra click to choose the desired window. To streamline this, you can enable the Last Active Click feature, which opens the most recently used window of that app with a single click.

Step 1: Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.

Step 3: Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it LastActiveClick.

Step 4: Double-click the new value and set its data to 1. Click OK to save.

Step 5: Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager or reboot your PC to apply the change. Now, clicking an app icon will bring up the last active window directly, skipping the preview step.

This registry tweak is especially helpful for power users who want to accelerate window switching and minimize interruptions in their workflow.

Explore Task Manager’s Updated Interface and Features

Task Manager in Windows 11 has undergone a visual and functional overhaul, aligning with the system’s modern design principles and introducing new features for process management and performance monitoring.

  • Sidebar Navigation: The classic tabbed interface has been replaced with a sidebar, making it easier to access Processes, Performance, App history, Startup apps, Users, Details, and Services.
  • Command Bar: A new command bar at the top of each page provides quick access to common actions, such as ending tasks or enabling Efficiency Mode.
  • Efficiency Mode: This feature lets you limit CPU usage for specific processes, allowing the system to prioritize other tasks. Right-click a process and select Efficiency mode to enable it. Note that you cannot apply this mode to system processes or entire process groups.
  • Dark Mode and Settings: Task Manager now supports dark mode and includes a settings page for customizing update speed and other preferences.

These interface changes improve navigation and reduce the number of clicks needed to manage processes, especially for users monitoring multiple applications or troubleshooting system performance.

Consistent CPU Usage Reporting in Task Manager

Previous versions of Task Manager displayed CPU usage differently across the Processes, Performance, and Users tabs, sometimes showing conflicting numbers. Windows 11 standardizes these metrics, now using industry-standard calculations for CPU workload across all pages.

For users who prefer the legacy calculation method, an optional column named CPU Utility is available in the Details tab. To add it, right-click any column header in the Details tab, choose Select columns, and check CPU Utility. This allows for backward compatibility and comparison with previous Task Manager behavior.

This update simplifies system monitoring by ensuring consistent and reliable CPU usage data, making it easier to diagnose performance issues.

Additional Taskbar and Task Manager Tips

  • App-Specific Grouping: While Windows 11 currently applies grouping settings system-wide, feedback from users indicates a desire for per-app grouping controls. Microsoft continues to refine these features based on user input.
  • Third-Party Utilities: If the built-in options are insufficient, tools like StartAllBack or registry tweaks can restore classic taskbar behaviors or introduce further customization.
  • Accessibility: The new Task Manager design and taskbar options aim to make multitasking more intuitive, particularly for users working with large monitors or complex workflows.

Windows 11’s improvements to Task Manager and taskbar grouping directly address productivity bottlenecks, giving users more control and clarity when managing windows and monitoring system performance.