How to Show App Names in Taskbar Icons on Windows 11

Do you want to show labels on Windows 11 taskbar app icons? Luckily, with the recent Windows 11 updates, you can easily show or hide the app’s name. This tutorial will guide you on how to show app names in taskbar icons on Windows 11.

New Windows 11 Taskbar Updates

Meanwhile, in Windows 11, the taskbar is where you see icons like the Start menu, Search, Task View, Widgets, Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store buttons. By default, these icons are centered on the taskbar.

If you have more than one monitor connected to your PC, you can choose to display the taskbar on all monitors, not just the main one.

The main taskbar is the one with the clock and system tray icons, and it appears on your main monitor. Taskbars on other monitors don’t have the system tray icons, though they may have the clock if you have it enabled.

Microsoft introduced a new feature in Windows 11 starting with build 23466 (Dev) and build 25915 (Canary) called “never combined mode.” With this feature, each window of your applications will have its own separate icon on the taskbar, along with its label.

In simple terms, Windows 11 has a taskbar that shows icons in the middle by default. If you have multiple screens, you can display the taskbar on all of them. The main screen has the clock and icons, while others have the clock only. There’s also a new mode that shows each application’s window as a separate icon on the taskbar.

However, the “Show labels on Taskbar app icons” feature lets you decide whether to display labels (names) for all the buttons on the taskbar, including the ones for the items that are open or pinned to the taskbar. You can turn this feature on or off according to your preference.

How to Show App Names in Taskbar Icons on Windows 11

Here are the steps to display app icon names for Windows 11 taskbar:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

Taskbar settings

2. Expand the Taskbar behaviors option.

Taskbar behaviors

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and simply check the box next to Show labels on taskbar app icons.

Show labels on taskbar app icons

After following the instructions, the Taskbar in Windows 11 will start displaying labels for apps based on your chosen settings. This new feature also allows you to control how labels appear on the Taskbar when you have multiple monitors connected to your PC.

Show App Names in Taskbar Icons

That’s all. These were the steps to show app names in taskbar icons in Windows 11.

Read more

• Windows 11 Never Combine Taskbar: How to Enable it?

• How to Make Windows 11 Taskbar Color Black