Excel Won't Display Different Windows in the Taskbar

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 4, 2018)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Harold runs Excel 2002 on a Windows XP system. He often has several workbooks open at the same time, and he likes to see individual buttons for each workbook on the Taskbar. The problem is that he cannot get the system to display the desired multiple buttons.

There are two things that need to be checked out in order to make sure that you really get multiple buttons on the Taskbar. The first thing is in Excel; follow these steps:

  1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Make sure the View tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The View tab of the Options dialog box.

  3. Select the Windows in Taskbar check box. This ensures that Excel displays individual buttons for each open workbook.
  4. Click OK.

The next thing that needs to be checked is in Windows itself. Follow these steps:

  1. Right-click a blank area of the Taskbar. Windows displays a Context menu.
  2. Choose Properties from the Context menu. Windows displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. The Taskbar tab should be displayed. (See Figure 2.)

    3. Figure 2. The Taskbar tab of the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box.

  3. Make sure the Group Similar Taskbar Buttons check box is cleared.
  4. Click OK.

Your individual workbook buttons should now be displayed, as desired, in Excel.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2905) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Inserting a File Name without an Extension

Sometimes you might like to insert a file name into your document without including the file extension. The FILENAME ...

Discover More

Removing All Bookmarks

Need to get rid of a lot of bookmarks all at once? Word doesn't provide a way to do it, but you can use the short macro ...

Discover More

Creating a Lorem Ipsum Tool

When editing, you may need random placeholder text inserted in your document. Word provides a couple of ways you can do ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Changing Error Checking Rules

Excel can check the data and formulas in your worksheet to see if it detects any errors. The rules used for this checking ...

Discover More

Adding an Equal Sign Tool

Excel used to provide, prior to Excel 2002, an equal-sign tool near the Formula bar. If you miss this tool, you may want ...

Discover More

Embedding Fonts in Excel

Unlike some other programs (like Word), Excel doesn't provide a way for you to embed fonts in a workbook. Here's a ...

Discover More
Subscribe

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

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

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.

What is 5 + 6?

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

This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

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

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.