How to Disable or Enable (Turn On or Off) Windows 7 Snap Automatically Maximize and Arrange Window

Among new features of Windows 7 is Snap (or Smart Window Arrangement), where Snap functionality enables end-user to move a window toward the top of the screen to maximize the window to fill the screen automatically, or drag the window to the edges of the screen to resize and expand the window vertically instantly.

Snap is designed as a convenient and smart function to manage and arrange the windows on desktop effectively, including ability to position windows side by side. But sometimes some people may feel the feature is too smart till inconvenient. In this case, it’s possible to disable or turn off Snap from automatically arrange window when it’s moved to the edge of screen.

Disable and Turn Off Windows 7 Snap Smart Window Arrangement

1. Run Register Editor (RegEdit).
2. Navigate to the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

3. In the right-pane, double click (or right click and select Modify) on WindowArrangementActive, and set its REG_SZ value to 0.

   

4. Close Registry Editor.
5. Log off and log on again, or restart computer for the change to take effect.

Alternatively, download the following registry registration file to merge the value directly: Disable-Windows-7-Snap.reg. Simply double click the Disable-Windows-7-Snap.reg to prevent window from snapping.

If you like the Snap to automatically arrange window for you when window is moved to the top, left or right edge of the screen or desktop, but the feature is not working (Snap is enabled by default on Windows 7), or been disabled, use the following steps to enable and turn on the Snap arrange window feature manually.

Enable and Turn On Windows 7 Snap Smart Window Arrangement

1. Run Register Editor (RegEdit).
2. Navigate to the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

3. In the right-pane, double click (or right click and select Modify) on WindowArrangementActive, and set its REG_SZ value to 1.
4. Close Registry Editor.
5. Log off and log on again, or restart computer for the change to take effect.

Alternatively, download the following registry registration file to merge the value directly: Enable-Windows-7-Snap.reg. Simply double click the Enable-Windows-7-Snap.reg to allow Snap to automatically maximize, restore, and arrange window when moved to edge of screen.

It’s also possible to enable or disable Snap Window Arrangement feature through Windows 7 GUI desktop, specifically through the Ease Of Access Center.

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. In “Large Icons” or “Small Icons” view, click on the Ease of Access Center icon. Then, click on either Make the mouse easier to use link.

   In “Category” view, go to East of Access, and then click Change how your mouse works link.

3. Under the “Make it easier to manage windows” section, tick the check box for Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen option to turn off and disable Snap.

   

   To enable and turn on Snap, untick and unselect the check box for Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edged of the screen

4. Click on OK.
5. Close the Ease of Access Center window. The change takes effect immediately without the need to restart or logout.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 am and is filed under Windows 7. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.