[Post-Install] Can't add to panel can only pin

[Rich Oliver]

I think this actually started in Kubuntu 24.10, but I can only pin applications to the panel, I can't add them any more. This is pretty crucial to my work flow as I like to be able to open new windows for firefox, dolphin and terminal. I work on 3 screens so I have plenty of screen space to use and I find it much easier to use windows rather than application tabs, then I can see everything I've got open at the bottom of the screen. I've been installing the latest Kubuntus, but going back to my 24.04 install, where I can still easily use my own workflow.

Is there anyway to get this feature back with the latest plasmas?

[claydoh]

I can only pin applications to the panel, I can't add them any more

If you want to add application icons to a panel instead of pinning them to the task manager widget:
Just drag an application to the panel, somewhere outside the Task Manager -- you should see a space slide open to drop it:

Now, if you want to have the rectangular task manager items, with text beside the icon, you just have to switch the Task Manager widget from Icons Only to Icons-and-Text:

Right-click on the panel somewhere, and select "Show Panel Configuration". Then, hover over the Task Manager widget, click “show alternatives”, and select icon-and-text option.



Now, one thing I did when I used this format was to go into the widget's settings and un-check the option to combine into a single button. This would have an icon, but this would disappear when a window was open. You can open a new window of an open application with a middle lick on a task manager entry.

I liked this for a cleaner look, as I usually have most or all of the few pinned apps open. This middle-click action is a normal option for the task manager widgets.
Here is a quick example: