How do you disable miniature pop-up windows when hovering over icons in taskbar?

Anonymous
2009-11-17T20:57:10+00:00

Attempting to disable "small windows" that pop up when you mouse over icons in taskbar. Annoying me. They could be disabled in vista, but can't figure out how in W7. afraid i'm stuck with them. when i personalise and chose windows basic screen, "windows" become picture of icon. better, but still not good.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-11-03T07:27:06+00:00

Method 1: is not available in Windows 7 Home Premium , only in the Pro version. And I could not find any registry value that would match the gpedit.msc corresponding option.

Method 2: works on my system. Without "ExtendedUIHoverTime" registry entry:

With "ExtendedUIHoverTime" registry entry:

So it prevents (for the number of milliseconds specified) the pop up of the taskbar thumbnail, but does not remove the additional (!) pop up (text box black on white) I guess known as "taskbar icon name".

After hours of investigation on the Internet, the only efficient solution I could find is indeed this light program that also brings lots of additional functionalities. It works also on Windows 8.1, does not change anything to the regular registry (quoting FAQ -> "The only registry keys the tweaker modifies are it’s own settings. There are no registry keys for the options it provides. The tweaker does that by injecting a DLL to explorer, hooking/subclassing/some other methods of the dark side.")

http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker

I now use it, no more registry manual manipulations ("ExtendedUIHoverTime" registry entry removed),  I love it.

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

51 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-16T09:20:09+00:00

    I think you are the ONLY person to malign Windows XP ever.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-31T20:38:32+00:00

    QU

    quantumsingularity      could you tell me how to disable those popups in w vista

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-15T14:51:27+00:00

    The easiest method I have found is to:

    1. Launch "Control Panel"
    2. Click "Appearance and Personalization"
    3. Under "Personalization" click "Change the theme"
    4. Scroll down to "Basic and High Contrast Themes"
    5. Select "Windows Classic"
    6. Close the window and enjoy no more thumbnails when you hover over open items on your taskbar.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-16T05:00:19+00:00

    I have been searching for a cure for this, off and on, FOR MONTHS.  How did Microsoft developers NOT conceive that more and more people are using LAPTOPS and so screens are SMALLER and so these popups that obscure visibility are anything BUT welcome?  In fact, they are probably one of the more stupid things Microsoft has ever come out with as a "solution" (to a problem that did not exist). 

    Anyway I am very, very delighted to find through this search Gokul's solution (#2).   After trying many solutions offered online, Gokul's worked for me.  And I am the farthest thing from computer savvy, to have ever come to the registry by any other way but this step-by-step guidance. 

    I agree with other commentators on this thread that it is truly remarkable how often people want to DISABLE this productivity-disrupting feature, and wonder why anybody would have ever thought it a good idea. 

    Thanks Gokul and Magnaman52!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments