Disabling Taskbar Peek/Thumbnails in Windows 11


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replay

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Hi, am I correct that currently there is no way to turn off taskbar peek/thumbnails/previews in Windows 11 - without installing a third party program (i.e. Windhawk)?

All the tutorials, hacks, registry edits I've found online no longer seem to work.
 
Windows Build/Version
25H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
To turn off the Windows 11 taskbar peek (thumbnail previews) and the desktop peek feature, you can uncheck "Enable Peek" in the Performance Options, or set a high delay time via registry editor, as discussed on Reddit. Other options include using the Group Policy Editor or third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
FreeBooter said:
To turn off the Windows 11 taskbar peek (thumbnail previews) and the desktop peek feature, you can uncheck "Enable Peek" in the Performance Options, or set a high delay time via registry editor, as discussed on Reddit. Other options include using the Group Policy Editor or third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher.
Click to expand...
Respectfully, none of these solutions work anymore in 25H2. Which is the point of my post.

From what I can tell, there is literally no way to remove those thumbnail previews in Windows 11 anymore, without a third party program.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
Taskbar peek and taskbar thumbnails previews are 2 different features and no Taskbar Thumbnail Preview can not be disabled.

Taskbar Thumbnail Preview - when you point a mouse on a taskbar icon, it will show Thumbnail Preview of a running app.
Taskbar Peek - when you point a mouse on a thumbnail preview, it will call the app to the front without switching to it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Home26H2Can
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
    Motherboard
    ASROCK B650M-HDV/M.2 (07/24) BIOS 4.21 AGESA ComboAM5 1.3.0.1 (04/26)
    Memory
    2x32GB Kingston FURY DDR5 5600 MHz CL36 @5200 CL36 (07/24)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASROCK Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8G @48FPS (08/24)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus (05/24)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Philips 24M1N3200ZS/00 (05/24)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@165Hz via DP1.4
    Hard Drives
    Kingston KC3000 NVMe 2TB (05/24)
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic Core GM 550 Gold (04/24)
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mini with 3x Noctua NF-P14s/12@555rpm (04/24)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12S with Noctua NF-P12 (04/24)
    Keyboard
    HP Pavilion Wired Keyboard 300 (07/24) + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (01/26)
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge, Brave for YouTube, LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NextDNS blocking 1/3 Traffic
    Other Info
    Phone: Motorola Moto G86 (02/26)
    Backup: Hasleo Backup Suite (PreOS)
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Chair: Huzaro Force 4.4 Grey Mesh (05/24)
    Notifier: Xiaomi Mi Band 9 Milanese (10/24)
    FlexCore USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (M) to LAN (F) (08/25)
TairikuOkami said:
Taskbar peek and taskbar thumbnails previews are 2 different features and no Taskbar Thumbnail Preview can not be disabled.

Taskbar Thumbnail Preview - when you point a mouse on a taskbar icon, it will show Thumbnail Preview of a running app.
Taskbar Peek - when you point a mouse on a thumbnail preview, it will call the app to the front without switching to it.
Click to expand...
Ok yea, I'm talking about thumbnail preview.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Group policy doesn't work.

Have you considered increasing the hover delay as a workaround?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo t480s
    CPU
    i7-8650U
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 620
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
replay said:
Ok yea, I'm talking about thumbnail preview.
Click to expand...
Not trying to be a grammar nazi, but thumbnail preview is considered what you see in explorer instead of icons.
If you want to get a proper help, you better call it Taskbar Thumbnail Preview, I have tried to disable it for years.
dalchina said:
Have you considered increasing the hover delay as a workaround?
Click to expand...
learn.microsoft.com

I want to hide the live thumbnails on the Windows 11 taskbar (I’m using Windows 11 Pro 24H2) - Microsoft Q&A

For example, when I’m working in Excel, if I accidentally move the mouse cursor too close to the taskbar, the live thumbnails pop up and interrupt my work. I’d like to completely disable these thumbnails, so they don’t get in the way. I have already…
learn.microsoft.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Home26H2Can
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
    Motherboard
    ASROCK B650M-HDV/M.2 (07/24) BIOS 4.21 AGESA ComboAM5 1.3.0.1 (04/26)
    Memory
    2x32GB Kingston FURY DDR5 5600 MHz CL36 @5200 CL36 (07/24)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASROCK Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8G @48FPS (08/24)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus (05/24)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Philips 24M1N3200ZS/00 (05/24)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@165Hz via DP1.4
    Hard Drives
    Kingston KC3000 NVMe 2TB (05/24)
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic Core GM 550 Gold (04/24)
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mini with 3x Noctua NF-P14s/12@555rpm (04/24)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12S with Noctua NF-P12 (04/24)
    Keyboard
    HP Pavilion Wired Keyboard 300 (07/24) + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (01/26)
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge, Brave for YouTube, LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NextDNS blocking 1/3 Traffic
    Other Info
    Phone: Motorola Moto G86 (02/26)
    Backup: Hasleo Backup Suite (PreOS)
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Chair: Huzaro Force 4.4 Grey Mesh (05/24)
    Notifier: Xiaomi Mi Band 9 Milanese (10/24)
    FlexCore USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (M) to LAN (F) (08/25)
dalchina said:
Group policy works- just tried it. Not on Home of course.

Have you considered increasing the hover delay as a workaround?
Click to expand...
Can you confirm which group policy you're talking about?

Is it:
  • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Turn off Taskbar Thumbnails
Because that doesn't work for me.

Can you also confirm you're on Windows 11 25H2?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Sorry, checked again. GP doesn't work.
Yes.

Try the workaround I suggested.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo t480s
    CPU
    i7-8650U
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 620
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
dalchina said:
Sorry, checked again. GP doesn't work.
Yes.

Try the workaround I suggested.
Click to expand...
If you're talking about the registry edit "ExtendedUIHoverTime" in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"

That doesn't work anymore either.

If you're talking about a different hack, please tell me what it is. Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
replay said:
Hi, am I correct that currently there is no way to turn off taskbar peek/thumbnails/previews in Windows 11 - without installing a third party program (i.e. Windhawk)?
Click to expand...
Natively? Yes, you are correct.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
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