How to Enable or Disable Show Snap Groups on Task View, Alt+Tab, and Taskbar in Windows 11

If your workflow utilizes several browser tabs or applications simultaneously, you’ve probably used Snap Groups in Windows 11. When enabled, these groups appear in Alt+Tab, Task View, and as thumbnails in the taskbar. These let users manage snapped windows in organized layouts that can be restored together.

Although many users find Snap Groups useful, some organizations may prefer to disable them to reduce visual clutter and maintain a streamlined desktop experience. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for enabling or disabling Snap Groups. Methods include the Settings app, Registry Editor, Group Policy, and Group Policy Preferences.

Ways to enable or disable show Snap Groups Alt+Tab, Task View, and Taskbar in Windows 11

📌 General Prerequisites:

• You need administrator privileges for Registry and Group Policy methods.
• Group Policy Editor is only available on Pro, Enterprise, and Education.
• Your Windows 11 version should be up to date to ensure the Snap Groups feature is available and working well.

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Method 1: Enable or disable Snap Groups via Windows Settings

You can easily get rid of snap groups in the taskbar, Alt+Tab, and task view via the Windows Settings.

📌 Use Cases:

• This method is ideal for personal devices.
• Excellent for non-managed environments where users can control their own settings.

📌 Prerequisite:

• The device should have Snap Windows installed.

Here are the steps to enable or disable Snap Groups via Settings:

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Next, click System > Multitasking.
3. Expand the Snap windows section via a down-facing arrow.
4. Locate the option Show my snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt+Tab. Enable it by selecting the checkbox, or turn it off by clearing it.
5. Close the Settings app. The changes will take effect immediately.

Method 2: Configure Snap Groups in Windows via the Registry Editor

This method lets you enable or disable Snap Groups directly using the Windows Registry.

📌 Use Cases:

• This method is ideal for non-domain-joined computers where Group Policy is unavailable.
• A practical choice for scripting, deploying settings to unmanaged devices, or applying changes per user.

📌 Prerequisite:

• You will need administrator privileges.

Here are the steps to configure Snap Groups on the Windows Registry:

1. Open the Registry Editor. To do so, press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. In the right-hand pane, look for the value named EnableTaskGroups.
4. In case the value does not exist, you can create it via these steps:
   • Right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
   • Name it EnableTaskGroups.
5. Next, set the key’s value (Decimal):
   • 1 = Show Snap Groups
   • 0 = Hide Snap Groups
6. Close the Registry Editor.

⚠️ Warning: Be cautious when editing the registry by ensuring you are making changes to the right key. To be safe, learn how to back up and restore the Windows Registry if something goes wrong.

💡 Notes:

• This method only applies to the current user since it edits the user hive (HKCU).
• Changes may require you to sign out and back in, or restart to take effect.

Method 3: Enable or disable Alt+Tab Snap Group in Windows 11 via Group Policy Editor

This method enables administrators to manage Snap Group visibility in Alt+Tab via Group Policy.

📌 Use Cases:

• This option is best for enterprise and education environments, which require a consistent user experience.
• This method is useful for managing Alt+Tab snap groups on numerous machines via domain policies.

📌 Prerequisite:

• You need to know the profile names and data to view detailed settings.

Here are the steps for disabling Snap Groups in Windows 11 via the Group Policy Editor:

1. Open Group Policy Editor.
   • Use the Win + R shortcut to open the Run dialog.
   • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
3. Locate this setting and double-click: Do not show Snap Groups in Alt-Tab.
4. Next, select the setting you want to implement:
   • Enabled – This hides Snap Groups from Alt+Tab.
   • Disabled or Not Configured – This will normally show Alt+Tab groups.
5. Click OK and close the Group Policy Editor.
6. Refresh Group Policy by opening the Command Prompt (Administrator) and running this command: gpupdate /force. Alternatively, you can also restart your computer.

Method 4: Deploy Snap Group settings via Group Policy Preferences

This method lets you configure the Registry setting that controls Snap Group visibility via Group Policy Preferences.

📌 Use Cases:

• Use these steps to deploy to user profiles in large environments like offices and schools, where per-user registry keys must be configured automatically.
• This method is ideal for environments utilizing Active Directory with multiple Organizational Units.
• It can also be ideal for UI and personalization-related deployments without scripting.

📌 Prerequisites:

• This method requires Windows Server with the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). To learn more, watch our video overview of the GPMC.
• The device must be connected to your Active Directory Domain.
• You need administrator privileges to create and apply Group Policy Objects (GPOs),
• Ensure the Group Policy Client service is running on target machines.

Here are the steps: 

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
   • Use the Win + R shortcut to open Run.
   • Type gpmc.msc, then press Enter.
2. In case the relevant GPO does not exist, create it.
   • Expand your domain in the left pane and right-click the Group Policy Objects folder. and
   • Pick Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here…
   • Name the GPO: ConfigureTaskGroupPreferences. Click OK.
3. Under Group Policy Objects, locate ConfigureTaskGroupPreferences. Right-click and select Edit.
4. Next, navigate to: User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry.
5. In the right-hand pane, right-click and choose New > Registry Item.
6. Next, create and configure the Registry Item with the following settings:
   • Action: Update
   • Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
   • Key Path: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
   • Value Name: EnableTaskGroups
   • Value Type: REG_DWORD
   • Value Data: 1 (enable) or 0 (disable)
7. Click OK to save and close the Registry Item window
8. Apply the GPO to the relevant Organizational Unit (OU).
   • In the GPMC, right-click the OU with the user accounts.
   • Select Link an Existing GPO.
   • Choose your GPO from the list and click OK.

⚠️ Things to look out for

Additional considerations when enabling or disabling Snap Groups in Windows 11

These tweaks only affect the visual presence of Snap Groups

The methods above do not turn off window snapping – they only remove it from Alt+Tab, Task View, and taskbar previews. Users can still use Snap Layouts and Snap Assist features to organize open windows.

Snapping behavior and keyboard shortcuts are unaffected

Keyboard shortcuts for snapping windows, like Win + arrow keys, and other functions like Snap Assist, will continue to function. Only previews and task-switch visuals will be affected.

Be sure to update the user documentation

If Snap Groups are disabled, switching may appear different to users who are used to seeing grouped previews. Be sure to provide internal documentation and notes to communicate these changes.

GPO may override user-level settings

In Active Directory environments, user-level registry policies and Windows Settings tweaks can be overridden by higher-authority GPOs.

Troubleshooting issues related to tweaking Snap Group settings in Windows 11

Snap Groups continue to appear after being disabled

Ensure the EnableTaskGroups DWORD value is located in this Registry path and key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

The value should be set to 0 (Decimal) and applied to the correct user account.

Third-party customization tools may override Snap behavior

Tools like DisplayFusion, FancyZones, and other custom apps that tweak the Windows 11 user interface may interfere with Snap Groups. Uninstall or disable these apps when diagnosing inconsistencies or experiencing errors.

Use gpresult to validate policy enforcement in domain environments

Run gpresult /h gpo-report.html on the Command Prompt to generate a detailed report. It will show which GPOs were applied, which settings are enforced, and any highlights. For Snap Groups, check under the User Configuration Summary to double-check if the EnableTaskGroups registry policy is listed.

Customize Snap Groups in Windows 11 to fit user and enterprise needs

By managing the visibility of Windows 11 Snap Groups, IT teams can fine-tune and make desktop experiences consistent and based on organizational standards. There are many ways to tweak Snap Group settings, including the UI-based Windows Settings, Registry Editor, Group Policy Editor, and Group Policy Preferences. Select any of these methods depending on your use case and immediate needs.

Related topics:

• How to Enable or Disable Snap Assist in Windows 11
• How to Enable or Disable Snap Layouts on Top of Screen in Windows 11
• How to Switch Between Open Windows in Windows 11
• How to Move a Window That Is Off-Screen Back On-Screen in Windows 11
• How to Enable or Disable Snap Windows Without Dragging All the Way to the Screen Edge in Windows 11
• How to Change Number of Tabs in Alt+Tab and Snap Assist on Windows 11