Ubuntu 18 - how to ungroup apps in dock?

Question

I want to make Ubuntu dock like Windows taskbar

Ubuntu:

Windows:

(as you see Windows has three Explorer icons and Ubuntu has only one Files icon

Is it possible to uncombine/ungroup apps in Ubuntu?

Answer 1

To mimic the Windows taskbar, install the extension "Dash to Panel". It immediately provides a Windows style bar at the bottom of the screen. It has plenty of configuration options, including the option you are after, i.e., ungrouping application buttons. 'Dash to Panel" is an excellent extension.

Answer 2

in Ubuntu 20.04,

Install gnome tweaks and dash to panel extension

sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-dash-to-panel

Then, restart PC/Laptop.

1. Open Tweaks -> go to Extensions
2. Enable Dash to panel
3. In Dash to panel -> click Settings Icon
4. In Behavior tab, enable Ungroup applications
5. In Ungroup applications -> click Settings Icon
6. Set Maximum width -> 0 (zero)

Dash to panel:

Ungroup Applications:

Hide label:

Thanks to @vanadium and @moony

Answer 3

Follow up for previous answers. To install Dash to Panel extension (and others extensions) in Ubuntu 22.04 at first there is a need to install standalone Extension Manager (since installing extensions in Firefox is not working):

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager

source - Install Gnome Shell Extensions 22.04 LTS

After that it is possible to run Extension Manager app and inside it to find and install Dash to Panel extension.

Answer 4

There is a taskbar extension available.

Unfortunately, the development of that extension was halted on 15 december. However, Dash to Panel fully covers the functionality of Taskbar.