How to Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10


When you press ALT+TAB or CTRL+ALT+TAB to switch between open windows in Windows 10, the desktop background will not be dimmed by default.

This tutorial will show you how to adjust the ALT+TAB desktop background dimming percentage you want for your account in Windows 10.


Contents

  • Option One: To Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming using a REG file
  • Option Two: To Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming in Registry Editor



EXAMPLE: ALT+TAB desktop background dimming percentage levels
Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10-default_alt-tab.jpg Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10-semi_dimming_alt-tab.jpg
Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10-full_dimming_alt-tab.jpg






OPTION ONE

To Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MultitaskingView\AltTabViewHost

BackgroundDimmingLayer_percent DWORD

(delete) = Default (fully transparent)
50 (decimal) = Semi dimming (semi transparent)
100 (decimal) = Full dimming (full opaque)


1 Do step 2 (default), step 3 (semi dimming), or step 4 (full dimming) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Use Default ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Default_Alt+Tab_desktop_background_dimming.reg

Download


3 To Use Semi Transparent ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Semi_transparent_Alt+Tab_desktop_background_dimming.reg

Download


4 To Use Full Opaque ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Full_opaque_Alt+Tab_desktop_background_dimming.reg

Download


5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

9 You may also wish to adjust the ALT+TAB grid background transparency.






OPTION TWO

To Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming in Registry Editor


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

3 In Registry Editor, browse to the key at the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MultitaskingView\AltTabViewHost

If you do not have a MultitaskingView key (not there by default), then right click on the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type MultitaskingView, and press Enter.

If you do not have a AltTabViewHost key (not there by default), then right click on the MultitaskingView key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type AltTabViewHost, and press Enter.

Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10-alt-tab_desktop_background_dimming_regedit-1.png

4 In the right pane of the AltTabViewHost key, double click/tap on the BackgroundDimmingLayer_percent DWORD value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

If you do not have a BackgroundDimmingLayer_percent DWORD (not there by default), then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the AltTabViewHost key, click/tap on New, click/tap on DWORD (32-bit) Value, type BackgroundDimmingLayer_percent, and press Enter.

To restore the default ALT+TAB desktop background dimming percentage level, you would just need to delete the BackgroundDimmingLayer_percent DWORD.


5 Select (dot) Decimal, enter a number between 0 to 100 for the dimming percentage level you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

0 = No dimming

100 = Full dimming

Adjust ALT+TAB Desktop Background Dimming Percent in Windows 10-alt-tab_desktop_background_dimming_regedit-2.png

6 Press ALT+TAB or CTRL+ALT+TAB to see how you like this percentage level, and adjust until you have the percentage you want.

7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.

8 You may also wish to adjust the ALT+TAB grid background transparency.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


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