Last Updated on May 17, 2026
If you have been using Windows 11 for a while, you have probably noticed how limited it is compared to Windows 10 when it comes to customizing things such as the taskbar or start menu for example. To get around these limitations, we are forced to do things such as registry hacks or install third party software to customize Windows the way we want.
It wasn’t until recently that Microsoft added the customize taskbar buttons and hide labels option to Windows 11 so we could change how our open apps on the taskbar appeared. But now that its back, many people do not like the preview feature when you hover your mouse over the open program. In this article, we will be showing you how to change or disable the Windows taskbar app thumbnail hover over options.
As you can see in the image below, we have the customize taskbar buttons and hide labels option set to always so that multiple instances of the same program appear combined into one icon. When we hover our mouse over that icon, we are shown a preview of the open windows for that app. You will also see this when you have the customize taskbar buttons option set to never.
1. Download the Free Windhawk Software
In order to change this setting so we do not see the thumbnails or change it to a list view, we will be using the free Windhawk software. Windhawk works by installing what they call mods directly within the app itself. These specific mods are used to change how Windows works or add completely new features that are not natively available from Microsoft. You can download the software directly from their official website to get started.
2. Search for the Taskbar Mod
Once you have Windhawk installed on your computer, simply open the application and go to the Explore section. Do a quick search for Disable Taskbar Thumbnails using the search box at the top of the window. Once you find the correct mod in the search results, click on the Details button to view its specific page.
3. Install the Custom Modification
The details page provides a full breakdown of exactly what the modification changes inside your operating system. You can then click on the blue Install button to have the mod added directly to Windhawk. The installation process takes only a few seconds to complete in the background.
4. Accept the Security Warning
Every time you install a new mod into Windhawk, you will see a prominent warning message telling you to proceed with care. This is completely normal behavior. The software requires deep system access to modify your native taskbar interface. You will need to click the button that says Accept Risk and Install to continue the deployment.
5. Navigate to the Mod Settings
Now you can go into the Disable Taskbar Thumbnails mod directly from the Home section of the app. This main dashboard allows you to view the active settings or completely remove the mod if needed. From here, you will need to go to the Settings tab to configure the specific options for your taskbar behavior.
6. Configure the Hover Behavior
Scroll down until you see the area of the settings listed under Preview on hover. You have three distinct options that can be configured for this mod. Setting it to Disabled will make it so absolutely nothing is shown when you hover over the app on the taskbar. Choosing the List option forces Windows to show a clean text list view rather than a bulky thumbnail preview. Selecting Thumbnails simply restores the default Windows 11 visual behavior that you saw before.
7. Save Your Configuration Changes
You must lock in your choices for the operating system to recognize them. Be sure to click the Save settings button every single time you make a change in this menu. The image below shows exactly how the hover over preview will look when using the clean List setting.
8. Keep Windhawk Running
Windhawk makes it incredibly easy to change or disable the Windows taskbar app thumbnail hover over options. Windhawk will need to be running actively in your system tray in order for your custom mods to function properly. Check the system tray to see if Windhawk has closed unexpectedly if your taskbar previews suddenly revert back to normal thumbnails. The application should automatically set itself to start with Windows when you initially install it.
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