Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

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    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

    How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       Information
    The usual method used in Vista to disable the taskbar thumbnail previews does not work in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the thumbnail previews of open items on the taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

       Warning
    In Windows 7, you will need to have a Aero Theme selected and not one of the Basic and High Contrast Themes for taskbar thumbnail previews to display.

    Aero Requirements to be Enabled in Windows 7

    NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then taskbar thumbnail previews will not display even when enabled.

    • 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
    • 1 GB of system memory
    • Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
    • You must be have True Color (32 bit) set instead of High Color (16 bit).
    • The desktop composition and Animate controls and elements inside windows options need to be enabled in Visual Effects.
    • The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services need to be set as Started and Automatic.
    • Refresh or update your WEI score. You will need an WEI score minimum of 2.0 in both Graphics & Gaming graphics in order for Aero to be activated.
    • Activate Windows 7.

    EXAMPLE: Taskbar Thumbnail Preview
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-example.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews using "7+ Taskbar Tweaker"


    NOTE: This will allow you to enable or disable the taskbar thumbnail previews and list mode using a free program called 7+ Taskbar Tweaker. It is a standalone EXE file, so there is nothing to install. You just run the exe file. The download for it is in a RAR file, so you will also need a program like 7-Zip to open the RAR file and extract the EXE file since Windows 7 does not support opening RAR files by default.
    1. Download the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker RAR file for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8.

    2. Extract and run the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker exe file.

    3. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7/8
    A) Under Hovering in the Taskbar items section, select (dot) the Nothing option. (see screenshot below step 5)
    4. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7/8
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    A) Under Hovering in the Taskbar items section, select (dot) the Show thumbnail preview option. (see screenshot below step 5)
    5. Close 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-7-taskbar-tweaker.png



    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews by Changing Taskbar Thumbnail and List Mode Threshold


    NOTE: Changing the threshold (NumThumbnails value) to 0 will disable taskbar thumbnails, and allow you to still use a Aero theme with a list (list mode) of open windows.



    OPTION THREE

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews by Changing Theme in Windows 7



       Note

    PRO: Taskbar thumbnail previews disabled, and you have a list of opened windows for the taskbar item instead.
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-basic_theme.jpg
    CON: No Aero theme.

    1. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7
    NOTE: If you still want to use a Aero theme and have taskbar thumbnails previews disabled, then see OPTION TWO or OPTION FOUR instead. This is the default setting.
    A) Select an Aero Theme in Personalization. (see screenshot below)
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-aero_theme.jpg
    2. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7
    A) Select one of the Basic and High Contrast Themes in Personalization. (see screenshot below)
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-themes.jpg



    OPTION FOUR

    Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews by Changing Thumbnail Display Delay Time


       Note
    This is more of a workaround instead by setting the taskbar thumbnail preview display time to a long delay time that would effectively be the same as disabling them.

    PRO: Taskbar thumbnail previews disabled, and you can have a Aero theme.

    CON: You will not even have a list of opened windows for the taskbar items.
    Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-long_delay_time.jpg

    1. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7/8
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
    Default_Taskbar_Thumbnail_Delay_Time.reg
    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7/8
    NOTE: This sets the delay time to 100000 ms (1000 milliseconds = 1 second) to effectively disable them.
    A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
    100000ms_Taskbar_Thumbnail_Delay_Time.reg
    3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    5. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files if you like.
    That's it,
    Shawn








  1. Posts : 385
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #1

    Thank you. A great Option, many of us and myself have been waiting :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're welcome Venths. :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #3

    Thank you Shawn, This has been needed quite a bit lately.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're welcome Derek. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,360
    win7 ultimate / virtual box
       #5

    This can also be done in GPedit :

    • Click on Start button and type GPEdit.msc in Search text box, then hit Enter.
      Navigate to User Config -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar in left pane of Local Group Policy Editor.
      Scroll down to and double click on Turn off taskbar thumbnails in right pane of Local Group Policy editor.
      pick enabled button and click OK to make the change effective.
      Logoff and logon again or restart computer if needed.
      To re-enable Taskbar preview feature in Windows 7, just set the value to Disabled or Not Configured.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    ickymay said:
    This can also be done in GPedit :

    • Click on Start button and type GPEdit.msc in Search text box, then hit Enter.
      Navigate to User Config -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar in left pane of Local Group Policy Editor.
      Scroll down to and double click on Turn off taskbar thumbnails in right pane of Local Group Policy editor.
      pick enabled button and click OK to make the change effective.
      Logoff and logon again or restart computer if needed.
      To re-enable Taskbar preview feature in Windows 7, just set the value to Disabled or Not Configured.
    Hello Ickymay,

    Sorry, but this option in gpedit.msc no longer works in Windows 7 even though it is still there.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,360
    win7 ultimate / virtual box
       #7

    Brink said:
    ickymay said:
    This can also be done in GPedit :

    • Click on Start button and type GPEdit.msc in Search text box, then hit Enter.
      Navigate to User Config -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar in left pane of Local Group Policy Editor.
      Scroll down to and double click on Turn off taskbar thumbnails in right pane of Local Group Policy editor.
      pick enabled button and click OK to make the change effective.
      Logoff and logon again or restart computer if needed.
      To re-enable Taskbar preview feature in Windows 7, just set the value to Disabled or Not Configured.
    Hello Ickymay,

    Sorry, but this option in gpedit.msc no longer works in Windows 7 even though it is still there.
    oops yes kinda obvious really when it says "supported in Vista only" in the configuration window ! DOH

    Oh well there goes my moment of glory
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    LOL, no problem.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 14
    Win 7 32Bit
       #9

    Didn't seem to work for me. By default, when i hover my cursor over the items in my taskbar, I see the full name of that window with an X beside it to close it. I do not get the thumbnail preview. I downloaded and merged the reg file, restarted, nothing changed. I also checked in the registry location, and the ExtendedUIHoverTime key was not added. Could this be because my onboard gfx doesn't support Aero?

    ~Des
      My Computer


 
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