Windows 7: Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

   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.

OPTION ONE

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

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.

OPTION TWO

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

1. For how, see: Change Taskbar Thumbnail and List Mode Threshold in Windows 7 and Windows 8

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.

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)

2. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7

A) Select one of the Basic and High Contrast Themes in Personalization. (see screenshot below)

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.

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.