How to Enable or Disable Snap Assist in Windows 11

Snap Assist is a Windows feature that enhances the standard Snap feature by suggesting snap layouts and automatically resizing adjacent windows when one is snapped. Although it is helpful for productivity and improves user experience, managing it appropriately is necessary to fit specific environments. For example, it might be the norm in office environments but not for kiosk setups, remote sessions, and touchscreen devices.

If you plan to enable or disable Snap Assist in Windows 11, you can use various means, including Windows Settings, the Registry Editor, and Group Policy. This guide contains detailed steps and instructions for each method.

Methods to enable or disable Snap Assist in Windows 11

Before managing your Snap Assist settings, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Windows 11 is installed. You must be running any edition (Home, Pro, or Enterprise) of Windows 11.
• Administrator privileges. To make changes using the Windows Registry or GPO, you must be signed in to a Windows account with administrative privileges.
  
• Restart or sign-out is required. For Windows Registry changes to take effect, you need to restart or sign out.
• System compatibility. Ensure your system build supports Snap Layouts and Snap Assist, which are enabled by default.

Method 1: Enable or disable Windows 11 Snap Assist via Windows Settings

You can tweak Windows 11 Snap Assist via System Settings. This method is ideal for individual computers and local users because it is easy and accessible.

1. First, open Settings (Win + I ), then navigate to System > Multitasking. 
2. Under Snap windows, you can toggle the switch On (enables Snap Assist) or Off (disables Snap Assist).
3. To customize Snap Assist settings further, expand the menu and check or uncheck options according to your preferences.
   • When I snap a window, suggest what I can snap next to it. 
   • Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button.
   • Show snap layouts when I drag a window to the top of my screen. 
   • Show my snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task view, and when I press Alt + Tab. 
   • When I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging all the way to the screen edge.
4. Other options also cover showing tabs from apps, desktop settings, and the title bar window shake.

Method 2: Activating or deactivating Windows 11 Snap Assist via the Registry Editor

This method is best for per-user enforcement and customization, fine-tuning via scripting, or when Group Policy Editor is unavailable (on Windows 11 Home edition).

1. Open the Registry Editor via Run (Win + R), type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Next, navigate to this key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Create or modify the following DWORD (32-bit) values:
   • SnapAssist
     1. 1 = Enable Snap Assist suggestions
     2. 0 = Disable Snap Assist suggestions
   • SnapAssistFlyout
     1. 1 = Enable snap layout popup
     2. 0 = Disable snap layout popup
4. You can sign out and sign in to apply the changes or restart File Explorer via Task Manager. Here’s how:
   • Open the Task Manager using the CTRL + Shift + ESC shortcut.
   • Look for File Explorer in the list, or use the search bar at the top of the window.
   • Next, right-click > Restart.

Method 3: Use PowerShell to configure Snap Assist

Using PowerShell to configure Snap Assist is ideal for scripting, mass deployment, or remote support sessions. It is also suitable for automating changes across machines and user profiles.

To disable Snap Assist using PowerShell, use this code:

Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” -Name “SnapAssist” -Value 0

Meanwhile, to enable Snap Assist, utilize the following command:

Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” -Name “SnapAssist” -Value 1

Finally, you can then restart Windows Explorer using PowerShell.

1. Type or copy and paste: Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force. The desktop will disappear for 1-2 seconds.
2. Once it appears, use Start-Process explorer. 

Note: Do not activate them simultaneously. Enter them one after another so the second line can execute properly.

Method 4: How to control Snap behavior via Group Policy

As of Windows 11 version 22H2, Group Policy settings that directly toggle Snap Assist or Snap Layouts do not exist. However, you can still control its behavior using Group Policy Preferences or Microsoft Intune. Here’s how:

Deploying Snap Assist Registry Keys using Group Policy Preferences

1. Open the Group Policy Editor via Run (Win + R) and type gpedit.msc. Press Enter.
2. Navigate to this key:  User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry
3. Once there, right-click and select New > Registry Item. Next, make the following configurations:
   1. Action: Update
   2. Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER 
   3. Key path: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
   4. Value name: SnapAssist
   5. Value type: REG_DWORD
   6. Value data: 0 (disable) or 1 (enable)
4. Apply and link the policy to the appropriate Organizational Unit (OU).
5. Either sign out or sign in, or use the Command Prompt to run the command gpupdate /force to apply the settings.

Enforce HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) Registry Settings via Microsoft Intune

For systems and environments utilizing Microsoft Intune, you can set Snap Assist settings by implementing registry changes to HKCU.

1. The first step is to create a .ps1 file via Notepad.
   • Copy this code and paste:
     

     # Enable Snap Assist and Snap Layout Flyout New-Item -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” -Force | Out-Null Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” -Name “SnapAssist” -Value 1 Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced” -Name “SnapAssistFlyout” -Value 1

   • Modify -Value to 0 if you want to disable either feature.
   • Next, save the file using the All Files option (not as a text document) and set a relevant file name like SnapAssist.ps1.
2. Second, sign in to the Microsoft Intune Admin Center at https://endpoint.microsoft.com.
3. Then, deploy your script in Intune:
   • Go to Devices > Scripts (under Windows).
   • Click + Add > Windows 10 and later. Then, give your script a relevant name (like “Enable Snap Assist” or “Disable Snap Assist“.
   • Upload your .ps1 script.
4. Next, you need to configure your script settings.
   • Set “Run this script using the logged-on credentials” to Yes.
   • Set “Enforce script signature check” according to your organization’s policy.
   • Set “Run script in 64-bit PowerShell” to Yes.
5. Afterward, assign the script to a user group. Here’s how:
   • In the Assignments section, click Add group under Included groups. 
   • Next, search for and pick the desired user group.
   • Click Select to confirm.
6. Finally, review your configurations, and if everything is correct, click Create to deploy the script.

Additional factors to consider for Snap Assist in Windows 11

• Snap features such as window snapping (activated via Win + Arrow keys) will still work even if you disable Snap Assist.
• In Virtual Desktops, Snap Layouts behave independently. They do not carry over between desktops; each one retains its layout and snapping behavior.
• In Touch Devices, Snap Assist and Snap Layouts may be intrusive on small screens. These include tablets and handheld consoles running on Windows, and they interfere with multitasking. Disabling them can improve user experience.
• When Snap Assist has been disabled, users may need guidance and further training because window resizing and arrangement will have to be executed manually.

Configure Snap Assist for managed environments and improve user experience

Snap Assist is a convenient productivity feature in Windows 11. It lets users work with pre-adjusted Windows and helps them multitask more efficiently. However, disabling it may be appropriate for specific environments, especially kiosk setups and touchscreen-reliant workplaces. Automatic window suggestions may interrupt workflows, clutter the UI, and negatively affect user experience.

There are many ways to adjust Snap Assist, suitable for both individual systems and large-scale environments. These include Windows Settings, tweaking registry values, deploying Intune scripts, and applying policies via Group Policy Preferences. Ultimately, the best method depends on your system needs, scale, and use case.