How to Enable or Disable Peek at Desktop on Windows 10/11? [MiniTool Tips]

What Is Peek at Desktop?

Peek, which is also known as Aero Peek, is the feature responsible for Peek at desktop and taskbar thumbnail live previews on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.

Peek at desktop is still available on Windows 10, but it has been removed from the Show desktop button on Windows 11. However, you still can press and hold “ Windows + ,” to peek at the desktop. If you release these two keys, you will go back to the previous screen.

What Is Taskbar Thumbnail Live Preview?

When you hover over your mouse pointer on a minimized icon of an open window on the taskbar, you can see a thumbnail preview of that open window. When you hover over the taskbar thumbnail preview, you will be able to see a live preview of that window. This is a taskbar thumbnail live preview.

How to disable and enable peek at desktop on Windows 10? Believe it or not, you still can turn it on or off on Windows 11. In the following parts, we will introduce these two sections:

• How to enable or disable peek at desktop on Windows 10?
• How to enable or disable peek at desktop on Windows 11?

How to Enable or Disable Peek at Desktop on Windows 10?

It is very easy to enable or disable peek at desktop on Windows 10. Here are two ways respectively.

How to Enable Peek at Desktop on Windows 10?

Way 1: From Taskbar Settings

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings .

Step 2: You will see the Taskbar settings interface. Find this option: Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar . Turn on the button next to this option. This will enable the peek feature on Windows 10.

Way 2: From Performance Options

Step 1: Type performance into the search box on the taskbar.

Step 2: Select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows from the search results. This will open the Performance Options interface.

Step 3: Under Visual Effects , select Enable Peek .

Step 4: Click Apply .

Step 5: Click OK .

How to Disable Peek at Desktop on Windows 10?

Way 1: From Taskbar Settings

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings .

Step 2: Turn off the button next to Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar . This will disable the peek feature on Windows 10.

Way 2: From Performance Options

Step 1: Type performance into the search box on the taskbar.

Step 2: Select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows from the search results. This will open the Performance Options interface.

Step 3: Deselect Enable Peek under Visual Effects.

Step 4: Click Apply .

Step 5: Click OK .

How to Enable or Disable Peek at Desktop on Windows 11?

How to Enable Peek at Desktop on Windows 11?

Step 1: Use search to search for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows . Then, select it from the search result to open the Performance Options interface.

Step 2: Check Enable Peek under Visual Effects .

Step 3: Click Apply .

Step 4: Click OK .

How to Disable Peek at Desktop on Windows 11?

Step 1: Use search to search for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows . Then, select it from the search result to open the Performance Options interface.

Step 2: Uncheck Enable Peek under Visual Effects .

Step 3: Click Apply .

Step 4: Click OK .

How to Recover Lost or Deleted Files on Windows 10/11?

If you want to recover your missing files on Windows 10/11 computers, you can use MiniTool Power Data Recovery. This is a free file recovery tool , which can help you recover files from different types of data storage devices under different situations.

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Bottom Line

If you want to enable or disable peek at desktop on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can just try the methods mentioned in this post. You can select a suitable method based on your situation.