Starting Windows 7, Microsoft included the Aero Peek feature, allowing you to view the desktop temporarily without minimizing all the open windows. Just move the mouse cursor to the far right end of the taskbar, and all the open windows will go transparent, and you can view the desktop. When you move the mouse cursor away, all opened windows will be visible again.
The Show Desktop button is very narrow and hard to see, so you need to make sure to move your mouse cursor to the extreme right side of the Taskbar; Aero Peek will work.
In this gearupwindows article, we will guide you on enabling and disabling Aero Peek in Windows 10. There are several ways to turn on or off Aero Peek in Windows 10; we will review all of them.
How to Turn On or Off Aero Peek via Right-clicking the “Show desktop” Button?
This is the easiest way to enable or disable Aero Peek in Windows 10. To turn on or off the Aero Peek, first move your mouse cursor over the “Show desktop” button, which is available as a small rectangle present in the right corner of the taskbar. Right-click on the Show desktop button and select Peek at desktop in the popup menu.
You will see a checkmark before the “Peek at desktop” option when the Aero Peek is turned on.
To disable the Aero Peek, move your mouse cursor over the “Show desktop” button. Right-click on the Show desktop button and deselect Peek at desktop in the popup menu. This action will turn off Aero Peek in Windows 10.
How to Enable or Disable Aero Peek using Windows 10 Settings?
Microsoft has also provided an option in Windows 10 Settings to enable or disable Aero Peek.
To turn on or off Aero Peek using Settings in Windows 10, do the following:-
Step 1. First, open Settings.
Step 2. Then, click on Personalization.
Step 3. Under Personalization, select Taskbar.
Step 4. On the right side of “Taskbar,” turn on the toggle switch “Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar.”
If you want to turn off the Aero Peek, turn off the toggle switch “Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar” in the above steps 4.
How to Enable Aero Peek if the Option is Greyed Out?
If Aero Peek is off and you want to enable it, but you find that the option is grayed out, that means Aero Peek is disabled in the System Properties.
To turn on or off Aero Peek via System Properties, do the following:-
Step 1. Press the Windows + R keyboard combination to open the Run dialog.
Step 2. Then, type sysdm.cpl and hit Enter key on the keyboard.
Step 3. When the System Properties dialog opens, switch to the Advanced tab.
Step 4. Then, click the Settings button under the Performance section.
Step 5. On the “Performance Options” dialog, click on the Visual Effects tab.
Step 6. Now, check or uncheck the Enable Peek option to turn the Aero Peek feature on or off.
Step 7. Click Apply.
Step 8. Click OK.
Step 9. Click OK.
How to Turn On or Off Aero Peek via Registry Editor?
If you want to enable or disable Aero Peek via Registry Editor, do these steps:-
Step 1. First, launch the Registry Editor.
Step 2. Then, navigate to the following key in the left sidebar of Registry Editor:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Step 3. On the opposite of the Advanced folder, double-click on the DisablePreviewDesktop REG_DWORD and set the following in the “Value data” field:-
- 0: To enable Aero Peek.
- 1: To disable Aero Peek.
Step 4. Click OK.
Step 5. At last, reboot your computer to apply the changes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Aero Peek is a convenient feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows 7, allowing users to view the desktop temporarily without minimizing all open windows. In this gearupwindows article, we have discussed several ways to enable or disable Aero Peek in Windows 10, including right-clicking the “Show desktop” button, using Windows 10 Settings, modifying System Properties, and editing the Registry Editor. By following these steps, users can easily turn on or off Aero Peek based on their preferences. It is worth noting that enabling or disabling Aero Peek can also impact the performance of the system, so users should consider their hardware specifications before making any changes.
