Solved Compact vs. Expanded Icons: What Gives?

Ed Tittel · Apr 19, 2022

On my clean-installed Dev Channel PC, by default I get expanded icons in the Taskbar that look like this:

On my upgraded Dev Channel PCs (both of them), by default I get compact icons in the Taskbar that look like this (for ease of comparison the same applications are open in this screencap also -- namely Chrome and Settings)

I don't know the proper terminology to describe the two forms shown above, so I'm trying to be descriptive rather than precise. Can somebody tell me what the proper terminology might be for these two different forms, please? More importantly, can somebody tell me how to switch between those forms? I can't find anything in Taskbar personalization that lets me show compact form on the machine with expanded icons, or vice-versa. Please help!
Thanks!
--Ed--
@Brink; @Edwin; @Bree

kgarrett67 · Apr 19, 2022

Ed Tittel said:
On my clean-installed Dev Channel PC, by default I get expanded icons in the Taskbar that look like this:
View attachment 27233
On my upgraded Dev Channel PCs (both of them), by default I get compact icons in the Taskbar that look like this (for ease of comparison the same applications are open in this screencap also -- namely Chrome and Settings)
View attachment 27234
I don't know the proper terminology to describe the two forms shown above, so I'm trying to be descriptive rather than precise. Can somebody tell me what the proper terminology might be for these two different forms, please? More importantly, can somebody tell me how to switch between those forms? I can't find anything in Taskbar personalization that lets me show compact form on the machine with expanded icons, or vice-versa. Please help!
Thanks!
--Ed--
@Brink; @Edwin; @Bree

It appears that when you had Windows 10, maybe the taskbar icon and label was turned on in settings. However, I can find that option in Windows 11 Pro. I'm still looking though.

The-Hive · Apr 19, 2022

EP calls them combined icons and uncombined icons

Bree · Apr 19, 2022

Ed Tittel said:
don't know the proper terminology to describe the two forms shown above....

In Windows 10, the option to never, always, or sometimes combine taskbar labels was user-selectable in the Taskbar Settings.

Always, Sometimes, or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in Windows 10

How to Always, Sometimes, or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

In Windows 11 these options were removed, much to the annoyance of many.

How to let windows 11 "never combine taskbar buttons"?

techcommunity.microsoft.com

So I'm surprised to see you have those labels back. Perhaps MS may be A/B testing their potential return in the latest Dev build?

As part of this ongoing evolution, Insiders will see us lean more heavily on the Dev Channel as a place to incubate new ideas, work on long lead items, and control the states of individual features. This allows us to experiment in a few ways by rolling features in stages to monitor quality and your feedback (which we’ve been doing a lot of already) and testing variations of features (often referred to as “A/B testing”).

What is coming for Windows Insider Program in 2022 for Windows 11

Building off the Windows 11 momentum Panos shared last week, we want to take a moment and share a little bit on what’s coming for the Windows Insider Program in 2022. It has truly been incredible to see the interest in the program grow since announcing Windows 11 last June. We have more people...

www.elevenforum.com

Edwin · Apr 19, 2022

Bree said:
In Windows 11 these options were removed, much to the annoyance of many.

Wha..., what the heck !?

johnlgalt · Apr 19, 2022

Yeah, I made 3 new VMs yesterday, Stable to Insiders Preview upgrade, Steable to Beta Channel upgrade, and Clean install Dev build, and I don't see those either on the clean Dev channel install. So, I suspect it is some sort of A/B testing.

Ed Tittel · Apr 19, 2022

ROFL: I usually whine and complain because I don't get the A option in A/B testing on Windows. This time, I get it, but I don't want it. Why I'm laughing . . . at myself! Many thanks to all who responded. Always fascinating to see Windows going through its changes.
--Ed--

PS: Marking thread solved, too. Thanks again!

Ed Tittel · Apr 19, 2022

Turns out it was Start11 working behind the scenes that caused this issue. I also had the combined terminology completely backwards: combined means no accompanying text, never combined means always accompanying text. Here's the setting I changed in Start11 to fix my issue:

Once I selected "Always" for combined, I got the streamlined compact icons I was looking for. My profound thanks to Shawn Keene, fellow WIMVP, who pointed me in exactly the right direction. Fixed!

=Ed=

johnlgalt · Apr 19, 2022

I'm not a big fan of customization apps like Start11 etc. - but if it allows the "combine only when full" than I'm installing it post haste - I prefer being able to read text on my larger monitors now, and have been missing that for 6+ months lol.

Thanks for the heads up, Ed.

Ed Tittel · Apr 19, 2022

@johnlgalt: yes, my motivation was exactly the same. Only difference: I was the one who made it show up in the first place. So it's more of an "Oops Report -- and Fix" than a "heads-up." Had to laugh, though...
Thanks,
=Ed=

johnlgalt · Apr 19, 2022

Been there, burned the T-shirt.

At least you had a mood lightening moment, though! Those are getting harder and harder to come by these days :lmao:

Ed Tittel · Apr 20, 2022

@johnlgalt: Too true, my brother, too true. Laughter may be the best medicine but is indeed seeming scarce in today's environment. I keep hoping for the best (and planning for the worst). Best wishes,
=Ed=