Turn Off/On Window Snap

Written by Eric Wyatt (last updated October 19, 2020)

Windows 8 introduced users to Snap, or Snap behavior. Snap allows for your windows to be organized on your screen, via either mouse, keyboard, or the Snap Assist feature, and have them "snap" to certain areas of your screen. This can be and was designed to be a help to users who want to display the content of their screen in a certain way.

While Snap can be helpful, at times it can be a bit annoying, such as when you specifically do not want the window to "snap" to a predefined size or position. This is the case with a Windows user who wrote that they were trying to position some windows and it would automatically snap to full screen because they had moved a window too close to the top edge. (This caused Windows, in an attempt to help, to assume that they wanted to snap the window to that size.) To turn Windows Snap behavior off, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows key and type (without quotes) "multitasking settings", then press Enter. This opens the Multitasking section of the Settings dialog box.
  2. Click on the switch under the "Snap Windows" heading. This turns off the Snap feature. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The Multitasking section of system settings.

  4. Close the Settings dialog box. Your change takes place immediately; no need to restart or anything.

Those simple steps allow you to turn the Snap windows setting on or off. You may find times that you do prefer to have the Snap setting turned on. If you repeat the steps above, in step 2 simply turn the setting back on.

 This tip (13791) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Eric Wyatt

Eric Wyatt is a swell guy (or so his friends tell him). He is a formally trained designer and branding expert, bringing a wide range of skills to his Tips.Net articles. ...

MORE FROM ERIC

Configuring Windows' Secret Start Menu

You can quickly access either Command Prompt or PowerShell by using the Win+X shortcut key command. But which one is ...

Discover More

Available RAM Slots

Upgrading the memory on your Windows 10 computer can be helpful in improving sluggishness. Determining the number of ...

Discover More

Opening Websites from the Taskbar

Launching websites typically require an open web browser. A hidden Windows 10 feature opens websites directly from the ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Specifying a Screen Orientation

The orientation of your screen is not limited to the default orientation when you connect it to your computer. You can ...

Discover More

Changing Sounds Associated with Windows Events

You can customize Windows so that various sounds (or none) are associated with various Windows events. This tip explains ...

Discover More

Sharing Resources on a Network

Business or home networks can make efficient use of resources by sharing them. You can establish a print server and/or a ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is eight minus 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips