4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10

Window auto resize snapWindow auto resize snap

Windows 10 comes with a nifty feature for arranging open windows by snapping into the corners of the screen. This is a great feature as the users can arrange windows on the screen such that all windows are visible on screen.

This feature is designed for user convenience. But for some users, it can be annoying especially when the laptop screen is small. The users can unintentionally drag the window to any corner of the screen and the window will snap to the corner automatically.

If you want to disable this window auto-resizing feature in Windows 10, please check our four ways to disable the automatic resizing feature.

Disable window Auto-resizing using the Settings App

This is a basic way to disable the auto-resizing of the windows. In Windows 10, open up the Start Menu and click the Settings icon.

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From there, click System and navigate to the Multitasking tab on the left-hand menu. Here, you will find a Snap Windows toggle button which can be turned off to disable the automatic window resizing.

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Disable the window resize feature from Control Panel

Another method to disable the auto-resizing of the windows is via the Control Panel.

In this scenario, open up the Control Panel and navigate to the following destination:

Ease of Access –> Ease of Access Center –> Make the Mouse Easier to Use.

At the bottom of the screen, check Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen.

By checking this box, the auto-resizing of the windows will cease when dragged to either of the edges.

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Disable window resize using Command Prompt

With the aid of the below shown commands, we will be disabling the Snap Window slider, but without having to navigate to the Multitasking window itself.

This can be achieved by running the following commands on Command Prompt. To open the Command Prompt, press the Windows Key simultaneously with R, and then type cmd and press enter.

This method requires us to run four individual commands; three for each check box under the toggle button in Windows Settings app, and one for the toggle button itself.

  1. We shall begin by disabling When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space with the following command:
    reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "SnapFill" /T REG_DWORD /D "0" /F
  2. Disable When I snap a windows, show what I can snap next to it with the following command:
    reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "SnapAssist" /T REG_DWORD /D "0" /F
  3. Disable When I resize a snapped window and simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window with the following command:
    reg add “HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” /V “JointResize” /T REG_DWORD /D “0” /F
  4. Now we shall disable the Snap Windows toggle button with the following commands:
    reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V "WindowArrangementActive" /D "0" /F

This method might not be the most convenient one, as we are performing the same task as Method 1 with commands, instead of the conventional Graphical User Interface. This can be useful for sysadmins and power users and for automating the task by using group policies across the network.

Disable auto-resize using Windows Registry

This method involves modification of the Windows Registry, which completely disables automatic window resizing.

Similar to Method 3, this method also addresses the four features individually. The .bat files below can be downloaded and used as described to disable the auto-resizing of windows:

  1. For disabling When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_Off_Snap_Fill.reg (604 bytes, 865 hits)


  2. To disable When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_Off_Snap_Assist.reg (608 bytes, 798 hits)


  3. To disable When I resize a snapped window, simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_Off_Snap_Auto_Resize.reg (610 bytes, 792 hits)


  4. To disable Snap Windows:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_Off_Aero_Snap.reg (536 bytes, 820 hits)

Similarly, the following .bat files can be used to enable the respective features that will reverse the effects of the disabling .bat files:

  1. To enable When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_On_Snap_Fill.reg (756 bytes, 724 hits)


  2. To enable When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_On_Snap_Assist.reg (760 bytes, 690 hits)


  3. To enable When I resize a snapped window, simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_On_Snap_Auto_Resize.reg (762 bytes, 747 hits)


  4. To enable Snap Windows:

    4 Ways to Disable Automatic window Resize Feature in Windows 10 9  Turn_On_Aero_Snap.reg (540 bytes, 705 hits)

It is always recommended to backup the system and the Windows Registry when you make changes to the registry.

Do you like the auto-resize feature of Windows 10?

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Subhan Zafar is an established IT professional with interests in Windows and Server infrastructure testing and research, and is currently working with Itechtics as a research consultant. He has studied Electrical Engineering and is also certified by Huawei (HCNA & HCNP Routing and Switching).

6 comments

  • Tony

    I am running windows 10 (Version 21H2 OS Build 19044.2130).
    It would appear after a recent update that I CANNOT disable Snap Assist.
    I have tried everything in the Multitasking Settings and in the Registry and it just won’t go away!
    I’m on a laptop and do use another monitor as my primary screen.
    Please assist
    Thanks

  • Micha Hofri
    Micha Hofri

    Windows 10 (build 19041.746 resizes windows over night, sometimes so much they cannot be found (I never snap windows). How can this be disabled?

    • Usman Khurshid
      A
      Usman Khurshid

      Do you have multiple monitors connected to your computer?

      • Micha

        Yes… I use two, one in landscape mode, and one in portrait; I suspect this is what causes much of the problem, but if I could get rid of the system insisting on reducing the size which are out of sight (but no, not out of mind), there should be no problem. Just to mention, I do not “snap” windows.

        Any idea what could cause that?

        Thanks…………………..Micha

        • Usman Khurshid
          A
          Usman Khurshid

          This usually happens when there are two screens connected and they don’t have similar resolutions. The quickest way I can think of to bring back the window is to make it active using Alt + Tab and then pressing Alt + Space + X to maximize the window or Alt + Space + M to move the window to a visible area.

  • Pradip Shah
    Pradip Shah

    You are right about annoying and extremely irritating. Very often I am need to read some matter from one window and fill in some form or mail. The stupid thing would suddenly change the window size and hide the part that I need to read.

    Have made the changes through settings. Just hop it works for me. It would have saved me so much heart burn if I had found this earlier.

    THSNK YOU VERY MUCH !!!

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