What happened to the good old "Look, if similar threads are there and other people had the same problem?" before posting the same thing over and over?

Stardock-Search

This doesn't help.  Tried with both not removing settings on uninstall and removing settings (this cleared my start menu pins).

If I were to take a guess I'd say you have a 2 in 1 laptop?

It has been a while since I used a 2 in 1 laptop but I remember a setting in taskbar settings (Windows OS) along the lines of "optimise for tablet" or "touch" if you disable that it should restore the taskbar

I am glad you found it. It looks like MS made it harder to turn it off in their latest build? 

In any case it looks like you found the source of the bug.

Thanks romracer70555 for that link and info!  I have a 2 in 1, Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11, Bluetooth keyboard, no detachable Microsoft keyboard (that may make a difference). 

Like you, Option 1 was not available.  I went to "Option 2  Turn Off Tablet-optimized Taskbar" but the file wasn't available for download.  Went to "Option 3 DisableTablet-Optimized Taskbar", downloaded the file and ran it (after saving a copy of the Registry).  That didn't help, no change with the taskbar.

Then back to "Option 2  Turn Off Tablet-optimized Taskbar" and it showed the Registry path for making the change with the Registry Editor.  I made that change and it worked, fixed the problem with the taskbar!!!  Finally!  Then I undid the change made by Option 3 to see if that made a difference and it didn't, Option 2 only fixes the problem.  Here's what it looks like in Registry Editor:

Bottom line, that addition to the registry fixed my problem with Start11 not displaying the taskbar correctly.

Agree, ungrouping icons was my reason for getting Start11.  After installing Start11, I found that taking control of the Start menu was also quite useful.

I see no difference using the Surface Pro as a tablet or laptop, but I don't have the Microsoft Surface Pro keyboard and that may make a difference.  I use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on the desktop and mostly pen when laid down as a tablet.  When traveling, I either take the small Bluetooth keyboard with me or just use the on-screen keyboard, depending on needs.  When teaching math, I use only the Surface Pro and pen.

Microsoft should be fixing this, ungrouping icons (available in Windows 10) on the taskbar is one of the most asked for features but Microsoft seems to ignore it and give us other useless stuff.  Thankfully we have Start11, one of my most useful apps.