ExplorerPatcher vs Taskbar Groups

ExplorerPatcher is a free Windows program for adjusting parts of the desktop working environment. It lets users configure taskbar styling, including a Windows 10 taskbar, and offers controls for taskbar positioning, sizing, app grouping, and multiple monitors. A Windows 10 Start menu style is available, although release notes say it was removed on some newer builds that lack required system components. The program can also configure the Windows 10 Alt+Tab switcher. Separate setup programs are provided for Intel or AMD processors and Snapdragon processors. Built-in updates can be configured, checked, and installed from the Properties interface. The project is distributed under a GPL-2.0 license. Its GitHub repository is identified as the only official distribution channel. Compatibility varies by Windows build, and some features may be unavailable on some versions. The listed plan price is free.

Taskbar Groups is a free Windows utility for organizing shortcuts into groups on the taskbar. Groups can contain .exe and .lnk shortcuts, folders, Windows Store apps, and Steam games or software. Users can choose group colors and opacity, pick an icon, edit shortcut names, and set how many shortcuts appear on each row. Optional launch settings include working directories and arguments; Ctrl+Enter can launch all shortcuts in a group, while number keys 1–0 launch shortcuts in positions one through ten. The utility stores group and shortcut icons in each group’s local configuration folder and can regenerate the cache when the group is saved again. A release note lists support for multiple monitors, vertical and top taskbars, and hidden taskbars. Setup involves downloading the latest release ZIP, unpacking it, and running TaskbarGroups.exe. The project is MIT-licensed. Group names are limited to 49 characters and cannot contain special characters; shortcut entry names are limited to 27 characters. A moved shortcut may stop launching until the group is edited again.