Causes of the Bouncing Taskbar Icons Issue

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 7 views

Introduction

Are you tired of the annoying bouncing or shrink-expanding Taskbar icons in Windows 11? This issue can be particularly frustrating when you have multiple instances of the same application open, such as multiple cmd.exe windows. In this article, we will explore the causes of this problem and provide step-by-step solutions to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons inferno in Windows 11.

Understanding the Issue

The bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11 is often caused by the way the operating system handles multiple instances of the same application. When you open multiple instances of an application, Windows 11 creates a separate Taskbar icon for each instance. However, if the application is not designed to handle multiple instances properly, the Taskbar icons can become stuck in a loop, bouncing or shrinking and expanding repeatedly.

Causes of the Bouncing Taskbar Icons Issue

There are several reasons why the bouncing Taskbar icons issue may occur in Windows 11:

Multiple instances of the same application: As mentioned earlier, opening multiple instances of the same application can cause the Taskbar icons to bounce or shrink and expand repeatedly.
Application design: Some applications may not be designed to handle multiple instances properly, leading to the bouncing Taskbar icons issue.
Windows 11 settings: Certain Windows 11 settings, such as the Taskbar settings, may contribute to the bouncing Taskbar icons issue.

Solutions to Prevent the Bouncing Taskbar Icons Issue

Fortunately, there are several solutions to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11:

1. Close Unnecessary Instances

One of the simplest ways to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue is to close unnecessary instances of the application. If you have multiple instances of the same application open, try closing the ones you don't need. This will help reduce the number of Taskbar icons and prevent the bouncing issue.

2. Use the Taskbar Settings

Windows 11 provides a range of Taskbar settings that can help prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue. To access these settings, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty area of the Taskbar.
Select "Taskbar settings."
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle off the "Show task view button" option.
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle off the "Show window preview" option.

By disabling these options, you can prevent the Taskbar icons from bouncing or shrinking and expanding repeatedly.

3. Use the Grouping Feature

Windows 11 provides a feature called "Grouping" that allows you to group multiple Taskbar icons together. This can help prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue by reducing the number of icons on the Taskbar. To use the Grouping feature, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty area of the Taskbar.
Select "Taskbar settings."
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle on the "Grouped taskbar" option.
Under the "Taskbar" section, select the "Group size" option and choose the number of icons you want to group together.

By grouping multiple Taskbar icons together, you can prevent the bouncing issue and make it easier to manage your open applications.

4. Use a Third-Party Taskbar Manager

If the above solutions don't work, you can try using a third-party Taskbar manager to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue. There are several Taskbar managers available for Windows 11, including:

Taskbar Tweaker: A free Taskbar manager that provides a range of customization options, including the ability to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue.
Taskbar Manager: A free Taskbar manager that provides a range of features, including the ability to group Taskbar icons and prevent the bouncing issue.

By using a third-party Taskbar manager, you can customize the behavior of the Taskbar and prevent the bouncing issue.

Conclusion

Q: What causes the bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11?

A: The bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11 is often caused by the way the operating system handles multiple instances of the same application. When you open multiple instances of an application, Windows 11 creates a separate Taskbar icon for each instance. However, if the application is not designed to handle multiple instances properly, the Taskbar icons can become stuck in a loop, bouncing or shrinking and expanding repeatedly.

Q: How can I prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11?

A: There are several ways to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11, including:

Closing unnecessary instances of the application
Using the Taskbar settings to disable the "Show task view button" and "Show window preview" options
Using the Grouping feature to group multiple Taskbar icons together
Using a third-party Taskbar manager to customize the behavior of the Taskbar

Q: Why do I need to close unnecessary instances of the application?

A: Closing unnecessary instances of the application can help reduce the number of Taskbar icons and prevent the bouncing issue. If you have multiple instances of the same application open, try closing the ones you don't need.

Q: How do I use the Taskbar settings to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue?

A: To use the Taskbar settings to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty area of the Taskbar.
Select "Taskbar settings."
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle off the "Show task view button" option.
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle off the "Show window preview" option.

Q: What is the Grouping feature and how do I use it?

A: The Grouping feature is a feature in Windows 11 that allows you to group multiple Taskbar icons together. To use the Grouping feature, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty area of the Taskbar.
Select "Taskbar settings."
Under the "Taskbar" section, toggle on the "Grouped taskbar" option.
Under the "Taskbar" section, select the "Group size" option and choose the number of icons you want to group together.

Q: What are some third-party Taskbar managers that can help prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue?

A: Some popular third-party Taskbar managers that can help prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue include:

Taskbar Tweaker: A free Taskbar manager that provides a range of customization options, including the ability to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue.
Taskbar Manager: A free Taskbar manager that provides a range of features, including the ability to group Taskbar icons and prevent the bouncing issue.

Q: Are there any other solutions to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue?

A: Yes, there are several other solutions to prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue, including:

Using a registry tweak to disable the Taskbar icons from bouncing
Using a third-party application to customize the behavior of the Taskbar
Disabling the Taskbar icons altogether

Q: How can I troubleshoot the bouncing Taskbar icons issue?

A: To troubleshoot the bouncing Taskbar icons issue, try the following steps:

Close all instances of the application and restart the computer
Check for any software updates for the application
Try disabling any third-party applications that may be interfering with the Taskbar
Try resetting the Taskbar settings to their default values

Conclusion

The bouncing Taskbar icons issue in Windows 11 can be frustrating, but there are several solutions available to prevent it. By closing unnecessary instances of the application, using the Taskbar settings, using the Grouping feature, and using a third-party Taskbar manager, you can prevent the bouncing Taskbar icons issue and make it easier to manage your open applications.