How to display windows instead of program icons in the Windows 11's taskbar?
Solution 1:
Windows 11 used to have a compatibility registry setting for using
the Windows 10 Start menu, but Microsoft has now removed it.
This setting was called Start_ShowClassicMode and used to live in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
If you see it mentioned on the internet, know that it doesn't work any more.
You need a third-party product to make it work:
User @patkim mentioned ExplorerPatcher. In general I try to avoid patching Microsoft software, as such actions are dangerous and usually short-term. I have not tested it.
A commercial product is StartAllBack ($4.99 with trial).
This product allows to reset Windows to versions 11/8/7 as regarding: Start Menu, Taskbar and Explorer.
Here is how my taskbar looks like when it's set to the "Plain8" setting:
