How can I keep all the open tabs on taskbar on one side and unopened apps (pinned ones) on the other?

Managing Your Taskbar: Keeping Open Tabs and Pinned Apps Organized

In an era of multitasking and heavy workflows, a cluttered taskbar can quickly become a challenging landscape. If you’re like many users, you may find it essential to differentiate between your pinned applications and your open windows. You might want all your open tabs on one side of the taskbar, while keeping your pinned apps neatly organized on the other. This article explores methods to achieve this organizational harmony on your taskbar.

Understanding the Taskbar Layout

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to comprehend the default functioning of your taskbar. The taskbar typically displays all open applications in the middle, alongside any pinned programs you’ve chosen to keep accessible. As more applications open, they tend to compete for space, leading to confusion and potential productivity loss.

Manual Organization Techniques

While there isn’t a built-in feature in most operating systems to strictly separate pinned apps from open tabs, a few manual techniques can help you achieve a semblance of separation:

1. Using Grouping: You can group similar applications. For example, keeping all your browser windows together can help identify them quickly amongst other apps. While you can’t move tabs, having all browsers open clustered can reduce clutter.
2. Pinning Wisely: Maintain a sensible number of pinned applications—just your most frequently used programs. Reducing the number of pinned apps minimizes overlap with open programs, lessening the visual chaos.
3. Keyboard Shortcuts: Familiarizing yourself with keyboard shortcuts for switching between applications can also help alleviate the need to constantly locate and click open tabs in a busy taskbar.

Utilizing Third-Party Tools

If the built-in options still leave you yearning for a better organization, there are several third-party tools and software that can create a more tailored taskbar experience:

1. Taskbar Tweaker: This application allows users to customize their taskbar by moving open window groups and managing their behavior for better organization. You can specify rules for managing taskbar buttons to provide a more organized view.
2. 7+ Taskbar Tweaker: Designed specifically for Windows, this tool extends the capabilities of your taskbar. You can modify how taskbar buttons stack and even define behavior for multiple instances of the same application.
3. Groupy: This software allows you to create tabbed groups of applications. Opened windows from the same program can be grouped together, while keeping pinned apps separate. This method ensures that while switching between tasks, you can maintain focus without losing sight of your pinned apps.

Conclusion

While there is no built-in feature to strictly enforce a separation between open tabs and pinned applications on your taskbar, adopting manual strategies and utilizing third-party applications can profoundly streamline your workspace. By keeping only the programs you need pinned and leveraging grouping techniques or external tools, you can craft a more organized and efficient experience that enhances your productivity. In a world driven by efficiency, a well-organized taskbar can be the difference between chaos and clarity.