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


   Information
This will show you how to enable or disable having taskbar thumbnail previews saved to a cache in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

This feature is not available in the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions since they do not include the Aero feature.




OPTION ONE

Through Visual Effects Settings



   Note
By default Save taskbar thumbnail previews is turned off when Adjust for best performance and usually Let Windows choose what's best for my computer is selected in Visual Effects, meaning images aren't cached when seeking a better performing system.

Save taskbar thumbnail previews is turned on and cached when you have Adjust for best appearance selected in Visual Effects though.
1. Open the Visual Effects settings window in Performance Options.

2. To Enable "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Check the Save taskbar thumbnail previews box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Save-visual_effects.jpg
3. To Not "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Uncheck the Save taskbar thumbnail previews box, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)



OPTION TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Save_Taskbar_Thumbnail_Previews.reg
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Disable "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Save_Taskbar_Thumbnail_Previews.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 file if you like.



OPTION THREE

Manually Through Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM

Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Save-reg-1.jpg
4. In the right pane, double click on AlwaysHibernateThumbnails. (see screenshot above)

5. To Enable "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Type in 1, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This is the default setting.
Taskbar Thumbnail Previews - Save-reg-2.jpg
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Disable "Save taskbar thumbnail previews"
A) Type in 0, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
That's it,
Shawn