How to Turn off Automatic Window Resizing in Windows 10

Explore the most efficient ways of using this option

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Key notes

  • Users can turn off automatic window resizing in Windows 10 to ensure they can’t activate the Snap Assist feature.
  • You can disable automatic window resizing by turning off a Snap option in Settings.
  • Or you can prevent windows from being automatically arranged via the Control Panel.

Windows 10 has a Snap Assist feature for resizing windows. This feature automatically resizes windows when you move them to the sides or edges of the screen.

However, not all users appreciate windows automatically resizing when they move them. You can disable automatic window resizing with any of the methods below.

What’s the point of Snap Assist?

Microsoft introduced the Aero Snap feature in Windows 7 to assist users in arranging windows better with a mouse and keyboard. That feature was refined and renamed Snap Assist in Windows 10.

Snap Assist automatically halves, quarters, or expands a window full-size when you drag it to a desktop corner or side. In addition, you’ll see a faint outline showing how it will resize a window when you release the mouse button.

However, Snap Assist isn’t ideal for users with dual monitors. It’s easy to accidentally trigger that feature’s automatic window resizing when moving a window across monitors.

Users can accidentally trigger Snap Assist on single monitors by moving a restored window close to a desktop corner or side. So, some users might prefer to have that feature disabled.

How can I turn off automatic window resizing (Snap Assist) in Windows 10?

1. Disable automatic window resizing in Settings

  1. Click Start and the Settings button on the left of the menu.
    Settings app button turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  2. Select the System category inside Settings.
    System category turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  3. Click Multitasking to access a Snap windows option.
    Snap windows option turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  4. Turn off the Snap windows option.

2. Turn off automatic window resizing in the Control Panel

  1. Press Windows 10’s Type here to search the taskbar button.
  2. Then enter the keyword Control Panel to find a matching app.
  3. Select Control Panel from the search tool.
    Control Panel search result turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  4. Click Ease of Access to view more navigation options.
    Ease of Access center turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  5. Select Ease of Access Center to view that applet.
    Ease of Access option turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  6. Next, click the Make the mouse easier to use option.
    Make the mouse easier to use option turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  7. Select the Prevent windows from being automatically arranged checkbox.
    The Prevent windows from being automatically arranged checkbox turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  8. Click the applet’s Apply button.
  9. Select OK to exit the mouse settings.

The exact checkbox exists in other parts of the Ease of Access Center applet. Click the Make the keyboard easier to use and Make it easier to focus on tasks navigation options to reach them.

You’ll see the same Prevent windows from being automatically arranged checkbox in both those applet sections. Select both those checkboxes to disable the automatic resizing of windows further.

3. Disable automatic window resizing by editing the registry

  1. Bring up Windows 10’s Type here to search the text box.
  2. Enter the search phrase Registry Editor inside the box.
  3. Select the matching Registry Editor search result.
    Registry Editor search result turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  4. Next, input this path inside the registry address (location) bar and press Enter: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
  5. Select the Desktop key, and scroll down to its WindowArrangementActive string.
    The WindowArrangementActive string turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  6. Double-click the WindowArrangementActive string.
  7. Delete 1 in the data box, and replace it with a 0 value.
    Edit String window turn off automatic window resizing windows 10
  8. Select OK to save the new WindowArrangementActive string value.
  9. Then close the window for the Registry Editor.

All of the above methods will disable automatic window resizing in Windows 10. Then you can move your windows all around the edges of the desktop without Snap Assist kicking in.

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