How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnails Preview in Windows 7

By Sandip Dedhia on January 15, 2009
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Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Previews

Windows 7 Taskbar is completely different from Windows Vista and XP. Windows 7 taskbar also know as super bar has bigger icons, no more title text of windows, thumbnail preview, jump list, pinning option etc. Some of these features are fascinating but some do annoys users like Thumbnail Previews which displays small thumbnail preview of opened window.

Since most of the windows 7 users are not comfortable with taskbar thumbnail previews feature why not disable taskbar thumbnail preview. Here is small guide on how to enable and disable taskbar thumbnail preview.

Taskbar Thumbnail Preview

Taskbar with Thumbnail Preview

How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Preview in Windows 7

1. Click on start and type on search bar gpedit.msc and press enter

2. Now navigate to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar in left pan of Group Policy Editor

Turn Off Taskbar Thumbnail Preview

3. Locate “Turn off Taskbar Thumbnails” in right pan of Group policy editor and double click on it.

4. Select Disable click apply and Press ok

Disable-Turn Off Taskbar Thumbnails

5. Now check your Taskbar, it shouldn’t show Thumbnails Preview .

Please Note: Taskbar Thumbnail Preview only works when you have Enabled Aero in Windwos 7.

Posted in , , | Tagged , , , | 37 Responses
Sandip Dedhia

Sandip Dedhia

Sandip Dedhia is the founder of Blogsdna.com, he loves to write on technology, gadgets & web services. At Blogsdna you can read his Windows & freeware software related articles. He is on twitter too @sandipnd View author profile

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  • fahd

    how to enable windows START menu bar

    my start menu is not opening when i press on it???????

  • salnet

    It seems that this setting isn’t working any more in build 7068.

  • Moffasin

    Im using 7077, doesnt work for me either :(

  • no name

    build 7100, doesn’t work.

  • lylewaggoner

    Yeah doesn’t appear to work in build 7100 (RC). The gpedit fix does nothing whether enabled or disabled, and in fact lists the entry as “vista only”.

    Additionally, was Desktop Preview ever different from Aero Peek? On this build at least, they do completely different things and the only checkbox there pertains to actually “previewing the desktop” – it has nothing to do with the taskbar thumbnails.

    I guess it must have been a design choice, given it looks like it was working in earlier builds, a bit annoying on the part of Microsoft to remove the choice for users. Maybe it’ll return later.

  • DeCe

    doesnt work in built 7100

  • Mark

    Build 7100, not working. Unless it requires a reboot or restart of aero..

  • Simon

    Hmm, doesnt work for me either im using 7057

  • http://www.planchersgsm.com nicolas

    Hi this is not working for build 7127 neither

    The only way I found out to disable the taskbar preview in windows 7 is on this web site : http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/2096

    Enjoy!!

    Please visit my website at: http://www.danielforand.com

    thanks,

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  • Bart

    Works perfect in build 7100!

  • imgreen

    thank you!!!!

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  • Hax0r Anonymous

    you might want to read what your own settings say mine says if i ENABLE this it will NOT show thumbnails this tutorial says to disable it

  • Dino

    right click on computer > advanced system settings > advanced tab > performance settings > uncheck/check ‘enable desktop composition’

    This will disable/enable preview of windows on the taskbar.

    PS. none of the aero peek settings or registry edits work.

  • Hissffsfbandsep123

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

    IT REALLY WORKS

    DISABLE ENABLE PREVIEW OF WINDOWS ON TASKBAR

    right click on computer > advanced system settings > advanced tab > performance settings > uncheck/check ‘enable desktop composition’
    [ TO FIND ADVANCE SYSTEM SETTINGS - go to control panel and search for "advanced system settings".. you will get the lik ]

    This will disable/enable preview of windows on the taskbar.

    PS. none of the aero peek settings or registry edits work.

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

  • correct

    This WORKS for me:
    Taskbar-Thumbnail-Tweaker – 88kb
    on win7 ultimate

  • awesome

    works great

  • Insane_kid909

    Ddnt work, dont have the mpe file i tried searching it..

  • John

    It’s pretty said that we need a third party .EXE to turn this off.

  • John

    I mean SAD

  • Amy

    Right click on the desktop. Then personalization. Then chose theme classic or simple.

  • mj

    My friend was over and used my computer and when she left I know have google and msn showing up on my task bar. I have icons on my desk top to do that. I rather see what windows that are opened on my talk bar not pressing on internet explorer on talk bar to show me. Any suggestions? I’m not a computer geek so be specific please. Thanks any info would be appreciated.

    Oh one more question my talk bar went to the top of my screen the other night and I got it back but now all my icons are visible on my task bar and hide icons isn’t working. There use to be a little box that had it all there in the upper right hand corner now it’s gone. How do I get this re-arranged back to the original way it was set up. I’m a person who once they get use to something and it’s easy I don’t mess with it. So now I find myself in a mess one like the google talk bar I didn’t create and the icons appearing after I accidently did by putting the talk bar at the top but don’t even know how that happened. LOL

  • MJ

    Sorry should have read this before posting. I meant to say task bar not talk bar I didn’t catch it because I didn’t read over it. LOL I wasn’t paying attention where my fingers were on the key board. Wow I must be tired and glad I reread this or there would be errors even in the apology. LOL LOL

  • carsten888

    there is no gpedit.msc on my win 7.

  • orangmiskin.net

    work to me

  • zenmind-beginnersmind

    finally fixed this for me – it was driving me mad – had to mouse over each of my thumbnails for the windows explorer directories for 5 seconds to read the label

  • Patriot

    In this caption it says “Supported on: At Least Windows Vista”, mine says “Supported on: Windows Vista only”.  From what I’ve heard, this does not work for Win 7.

  • Anonymous

    There is no such bloody thing as gpedit.msc

  • Anonymous

    Home Premium

  • Guest

    Why insisting in this bloody fake solution. It DOESN’T work.

  • Maarten

    Does not work for me.. ‘enable desktop composition’ only removes the thumbnail view, but still showing me a popup window. Just want nothing to happen when I hover over the task bar..

  • Noreply

    just choose a theme that is in AERO category

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