Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows  

    Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows

    Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows

    How to Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows
    Published by Category: General Tips
    26 Oct 2019
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows


    By default in Windows, you need to click/tap on a window to make it active and bring it into focus.

    If you turn on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse, you can activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse pointer for a half second (500 ms) by default.

    If you like, you can change the default time for how long you need to hover over a window before it activates to what you want instead.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the default time to activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse pointer for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.



    Here's How:

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

    2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

    Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows-active_window_by_hovering_over_with_mouse_timeout-1.png

    3 In the right pane of the Desktop key, double click/tap on the ActiveWndTrkTimeout DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    If you do not see the ActiveWndTrkTimeout DWORD, then verify you have turned on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse, refresh (F5) Registry Editor, and check again.


    4 Select (dot) Decimal, type in a number for how many milliseconds (ms) for the time you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    The default time is 500 ms. 1000 ms equals 1 second.

    Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows-active_window_by_hovering_over_with_mouse_timeout-2.png

    5 Close Registry Editor.

    6 Sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 96
    windows 10 64 bit home version 1903
       #1

    Still need help


    I'm looking at your registry editor screenshot. I only show one right-column (activewindtracktimeout) entry. I do not see your second entry(activewidtrktimeout) ????? My version of windows is 64 bit Home 1908 update. Can i go ahead and edit my one entry?
    Is there a simple utility that does all this for us? it's making me nervous.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,888
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Nubiewithatwist said:
    I'm looking at your registry editor screenshot. I only show one right-column (activewindtracktimeout) entry. I do not see your second entry(activewidtrktimeout) ????? My version of windows is 64 bit Home 1908 update. Can i go ahead and edit my one entry?
    Is there a simple utility that does all this for us? it's making me nervous.

    Hello,

    You may not have turned on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse. The ActiveWndTrkTimeout DWORD will not be available until after this has been turned on for the first time.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 96
    windows 10 64 bit home version 1903
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello,

    You may not have turned on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse. The ActiveWndTrkTimeout DWORD will not be available until after this has been turned on for the first time.
    I get it. wish me luck. i created a restore point just in case.thanks

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thanks i see now. I changed the decimal value from 500 to 5000 and restarted the computer. The value is still at 5000 but the task preview still persists. aargh
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,888
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Nubiewithatwist said:
    Thanks i see now. I changed the decimal value from 500 to 5000 and restarted the computer. The value is still at 5000 but the task preview still persists. aargh

    What task preview do you mean?

    This will only apply to activate opened windows when hovering over them with the pointer.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 96
    windows 10 64 bit home version 1903
       #5

    Brink said:
    What task preview do you mean?

    This will only apply to activate opened windows when hovering over them with the pointer.
    Change Time to Activate Window by Hovering Over with Mouse in Windows-maxresdefault.jpg

    are we on the same page?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,888
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Nubiewithatwist said:
    are we on the same page?
    Ah, ok. That would be for the tutorial below instead. Setting the ExtendedUIHoverTime DWORD below to 10000 will effectively disable it.

    Change Delay Time to Show Taskbar Thumbnails in Windows 10
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 96
    windows 10 64 bit home version 1903
       #7

    Brink said:
    Ah, ok. That would be for the tutorial below instead. Setting the ExtendedUIHoverTime DWORD below to 10000 will effectively disable it.

    Change Delay Time to Show Taskbar Thumbnails in Windows 10
    Oh, okay. i'm headed there now. thanks for clearing that up.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Done and done; thank you very much; one less annoyance :)
    Now if you have a link to a procedure that effectively keeps the Magnifier in the background while i watch youtube in full screen mode, i'd be ecstatic
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,888
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're most welcome.

    It would be best to post off topic questions in a new post.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 96
    windows 10 64 bit home version 1903
       #9

    Brink said:
    You're most welcome.

    It would be best to post off topic questions in a new post.
    Will do; thank you much
      My Computer


 

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