Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?

CluelessInSeatl · 23 Aug 2020

"How do I turn off the thumbnail that appears when dragging/dropping files in File Explorer in Windows 10?

This thumbnail obscures the destination folder, making the drop zone a hit & miss scenario."*

Also, how to disable the same kind of thumbnails that pop up when I hover the mouse pointer over items in the taskbar?

I have Windows 10 version 1909

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

* I copied this question from a Microsoft forum that was unable to come up with a solution:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-aa9bf8c4b3a6

dalchina · 23 Aug 2020

how do you/can I

disable the same kind of thumbnails that pop up when I hover the mouse pointer over items in the taskbar.

Tutorial:

Change Delay Time to Show Taskbar Thumbnails in Windows 10

If you use a very long delay time (ex: 10000 milliseconds) it will effectively disable taskbar thumbnail previews.

Callender · 23 Aug 2020

Consider this:

Unintentional directory move in Windows Explorer

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-move-file.jpg

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-move-file-2.jpg

Callender · 23 Aug 2020

Also I just managed to make thumbnails on hover transparent. I don't know specifically how I did it.

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-transparent.jpg

W10 Tweaker · 23 Aug 2020

CluelessInSeatl said:

"How do I turn off the thumbnail that appears when dragging/dropping files in File Explorer in Windows 10?

This thumbnail obscures the destination folder, making the drop zone a hit & miss scenario."*

Also, how to disable the same kind of thumbnails that pop up when I hover the mouse pointer over items in the taskbar?

I have Windows 10 version 1909

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

* I copied this question from a Microsoft forum that was unable to come up with a solution:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-aa9bf8c4b3a6

Hi Will, it appears there's a few solutions for your consideration. Here's yet another.

For the Windows Explorer thumbnail you could try un-checking the following box in Visual Effects.

Type "Advanced System settings" into search on the taskbar, select advanced tab, Performance /settings, Visual Effects tab and remove check from "show windows contents while dragging". You may require a restart after removing the check.

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-0823-show-win-contents-while-dragging.jpg

Another possible solution would be to try QTTabBar, a third-party app that adds a few features to Windows Explorer. The preview thumbnail created is large and far to the right and may not interfere with folder selection during drag'n'drop. The large bonus of QTTabBar is it also provides tabs so as instead of multiple Windows Explorer windows opened, you can have just one with multiple tabs instead. See bottom of pic below. There are different options for displaying tabs, this was my preference.

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-0823-tabbed.jpg

QTTabBar Updates

QTTabBar Download (2020 Latest) for Windows 10, 8, 7

The Pool Man · 23 Aug 2020

CluelessInSeatl said:

"How do I turn off the thumbnail that appears when dragging/dropping files in File Explorer in Windows 10? This thumbnail obscures the destination folder, making the drop zone a hit & miss scenario."

There's the cut and paste RIGHT CLICK solution. This is how I typically move things about.

But I'm not sure I understand you. In some circumstances my dragged items are transparent. In this example below, the generic icon isn't so transparent. But by hovering over Desktop icon, an entire area turns grey to indicate I've made a selection.

Disable thumbnails that appear when you drag a file in File Explorer?-inked2020-08-23-18_53_33-downloads_li.jpg

So I can see what I've chosen without the PDF icon covering that actual destination folder... solving your problem?

CluelessInSeatl · 06 Oct 2020

Many thanks to all of you who have posted replies to my query. Up here in Seattle we were inundated by thick smoke from west coast wildfires, and for a while it was reported that we had the worst air quality in the world. I'm afraid my health took a turn for the worse the last month or so and I've had great difficulty sitting up at my PC for more than a few minutes at a time, so I've not been able to devote any time to trying out any of your suggestions for solving this problem.

I'm still not doing all that well, and probably need to see a doctor, but at my age (late seventies), and with my underlying health conditions (heart disease among them), I'm hesitant to risk sitting around in a waiting room filled with sick people. So I've just been waiting and hoping I'll eventually start feeling better.

In the meantime I want you to know I'm grateful for your taking the time to share your expertise with me, and that I'm going to try to push myself to sit up at my PC for a few minutes each day to try to get back to work on my transition to from Windows XP and Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

dalchina · 24 Apr 2021

Hi: I've just experienced this after upgrading from 20H2 and from a thread a few years ago, one cause is using a modified theme - perhaps created with an older build.

Try restoring one of the default Windows themes in Settings. This worked for me.

Hope you're feeling somewhat better - a difficult time indeed. Noted Greta Thunberg's program here recently- a trip to a glacier showed why ice is melting faster than ever- soot deposits from fires. More sunlight absorbed - an unexpected effect. And here in April- already a moorland fire as April has been so exceptionally dry.