# \[Workaround\] Windows Taskbar grouping

**URL:** <https://forum.defold.com/t/workaround-windows-taskbar-grouping/82213>\
**Category:** The Defoldmine\
**Created:** [January 12, 2026, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/workaround-windows-taskbar-grouping/82213 "2026-01-12T09:16:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Emprxss](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/emprxss/32/41458_2.png) [@Emprxss](https://forum.defold.com/u/Emprxss)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/workaround-windows-taskbar-grouping/82213/1 "2026-01-12T09:16:03Z")

</div>

Since quite a while it’s been bugging me, that Defold does not properly group into the (Windows) Taskbar 😅

Opening Defold just launches another process which gets spawned at the end of your taskbar, pinning the running (Editor) process is also not doable by default. I’ve found no information regarding this on the web, an old Forum post already mentioned this - but no solution was found at the time 🫣

One _quick little workaround_ approach would be simply editing a Registry Key to achieve “normal” grouping behavior for Defold! Step by step instructions below:  
_(Please do not make any random changes to your system, verify first what something does!)_

## Editing the Registry

**Registry Path:**

```luae
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileAssociation

```

Open “ **regedit** ” & navigate to the path in the registry. Open the Key named “ **HostApps** ”, remove “ **JAVA.EXE;** ” & “ **JAVAW.EXE;** ” mentions from it, _keep everything else as it is! (Also make sure to catch the semi-colon, no double or missings!_

 ![Step 1 - regedit](https://forum-defold-uploads.b-cdn.net/original/3X/a/2/a23d471d884705dd94522b4e887a0f4ec98ca5f6.png)  
Re-log into your Userprofile to finish up! _**(IMPORTANT)**_ 🥳 Making a backup of the Key and/or setting the location as a favorite in regedit for future redoing is/could be advised! 🤗

**Pinning Defold:**  
Try opening up Defold, it should now spawn a seperate process which you can pin - it might look a little off from the beginning, but we’ll get to that! 😊 Simply right click, pin & you’re almost done! ✨  
All new instances of Defold will open into this pinned shortcut! 👀

 ![Step 2 - pinning icon](https://forum-defold-uploads.b-cdn.net/original/3X/1/2/1290c7944ad095cb2025670fc9606cb1637f1e43.png)

## Customizing your new Icon

**Taskbar Pinned Apps Path:**

```luae
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

```

Copy the path & paste it either into your **run** prompt by pressing _ **Win+R** _ or straight into your explorer.

 ![Step 3 - open taskbar shortcuts](https://forum-defold-uploads.b-cdn.net/original/3X/1/d/1dcfc68b947b1b1d56617ce18b35bdf72702e445.png)  
All your pinned items should be displayed here, find the OpenJDK, right click it - change its icon & name!  
_(Defold.exe is a viable icon source!)_  
 ![Step 4 - Customizing your Icon](https://forum-defold-uploads.b-cdn.net/original/3X/d/1/d1d62f74718a6e3c46e27c64e2d9a68372dc0b42.png)  
Re-log into your Userprofile after making changes, restarting explorer may (will) also help (I guess/hope) 🤭  
If it’s not updating your icon, name or whatever, simply try (un)pinning again 🙈  
Maybe it creates a new icon or accepts your one? 🤷‍♀️😂  
_BUT THINK OF RE-LOGGING (RESTARTING EXPLORER)!!_  
 ![Step Profit :3](https://forum-defold-uploads.b-cdn.net/original/3X/5/2/52136db6e5880751ed5c34504ac34851bf6ecf4f.png)  
Customize it to your liking! ✨  
You now have a working Launcher & grouping Editor in your Taskbar!  
I’ve tested this (in addition to my main install) on a newly installed VM, with & without Java installed! 💖