This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off saving screenshots of sites you visit in Microsoft Edge to show an image on hover in history for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Microsoft Edge web browser included in Windows 11 is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy and security features.
You can turn on or off to show image of site on hover in the History hub (Ctrl+H).
- When turned on, Microsoft Edge collects and saves images (thumbnails) for the sites you visit. This makes it easier to identify sites when you hover over your history results.
- When turned off, existing images (thumbnails) are deleted on a per user basis, and the feature no longer collects or saves images when a site is visited.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Show Site Thumbnails in History for Current User in Microsoft Edge History Hub
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Show Site Thumbnails in History for Current User in Microsoft Edge Settings
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Show Site Thumbnails in History for All Users in Microsoft Edge
EXAMPLE: "Save screenshots of site for History" turned on and off
Turn On or Off Show Site Thumbnails in History for Current User in Microsoft Edge History Hub
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the History (Ctrl+H) button on the toolbar to open the History hub. (see screenshots below)
3 Click/tap on the Turn on image on hover or Turn off image on hover (default) button for what you want.
Turn On or Off Show Site Thumbnails in History for Current User in Microsoft Edge Settings
This option is currently only available in Microsoft Edge Canary and Dev builds.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) 3 dots menu icon, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Privacy, search, and services in the left pane. (see screenshot below step 4)
4 Under Services, turn On or Off (default) Save screenshots of site for History for what you want. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close the Settings tab in Microsoft Edge if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option uses the ShowHistoryThumbnails policy for Microsoft Edge.
1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you want.
2 Always Enable Show Site Thumbnails in Microsoft Edge History for All Users
This will override and prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Always_enable_show_site_thumbnails_in_Microsoft_Edge_History_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ShowHistoryThumbnails"=dword:000000013 Disable Show Site Thumbnails in Microsoft Edge History for All Users
This will override and prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_show_site_thumbnails_in_Microsoft_Edge_History_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ShowHistoryThumbnails"=dword:000000004 Default User Choice Show Site Thumbnails in Microsoft Edge History
This is the default setting to allow using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Default_user-choice_show_site_thumbnails_in_Microsoft_Edge_History_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ShowHistoryThumbnails"=-5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Attachments
Last edited:
