Windows users may find many features that are meant to make our lives easier can sometimes become a royal pain. One of Windows OS’s common “shortcut” mishaps is the accidental triggering of its Aero Shake feature. Learn how to disable this annoyance with these steps.
Aero Shake/Shake to Minimize
First introduced in Windows 7, Aero Shake is a feature that lets you minimize every other window except the one that is open. This is particularly useful when trying to focus. If a notification pops up and you want to close everything except that notification, just give it a shake!
It works simply. Click on the windows tab you wish to remain open, then shake the device horizontally. All opened windows and tabs will automatically minimize except the one tab you hold.
How to Disable Shake to Minimize
Oftentimes, though, you just wanted to move the open window. Accidentally shaking it if you hold it in the right spot accidentally closes all your other tabs, making you lose work and time. It’d be better left disabled. There are three ways you can do this.
Method 1. Multitasking Option
- Click on the Windows button in the bottom left corner.
- Type “Multitasking Settings” and choose the top-most result.
- Click “Arrange windows automatically by dragging them to the sides or corner of the screen.”
- Toggle the slider to its “off” position.
Method 2. Local Group Policy Editor
- Press Windows + R.
- Type “gpedit.msc,” then hit Enter.
- Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop.
- On the right-side tab, right-click on “Turn off Aero Shake window minimizing mouse gesture,” then click Edit.
- Set it to Disabled, then press OK.
Method 3. Editing Registry
Editing registry is risky, but it will always work because the registry is a deep-rooted feature within Windows OS. There is a better chance of this method working between Windows OS versions. I strongly suggest backing up your registry first by following these steps below.
Backing Up Registry
- Press Windows + R.
- Type “Regedit” then press Enter.
- Click on File in the top left corner, then click Export.
- Choose the directory and press Enter.
This way, in case you do something wrong, you can locate the registry you just saved, double click it, and restore it back to normal.
Disabling Aero Shake
- Press Windows + R.
- Type “Regedit” then press Enter.
- On the address bar, type “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced,” then press Enter.
- Scroll down until you find the “DisallowShaking” registry. If it doesn’t exist, click on Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and set the name to “DisallowShaking.”
- Double click on “DisallowShaking” and make sure the base is set to hexadecimal. Then change the value data to 1. Press OK.
Okay, now grab a tab and shake it around — no more closing!
Bonus Multitasking Tips
Even if you’ve disabled Aero Shake, you’ll still need a way to manage your windows and tabs. Here are some tips to help you be more efficient in your work.
Windows Button + D
This shortcut minimizes all open windows, showing only your desktop. It’s useful when you keep essential apps on your desktop and want to open them quickly. Sure, you can also click the bottom right corner of the taskbar, but let’s admit it, pressing these two buttons feels much cooler.
Windows Button + Left/Right Arrow
This shortcut lets you set a window on the right side (or left side, depending which arrow you press) of your monitor. You can then put another window on the opposite side, perfectly square, with no wasted space. It’s useful when you want to compare things side-by-side.
Windows Button + Up/Down Arrow
Windows button + Up will upscale your window to fullscreen in an instant. Windows button + Down will restore your window to its original size. If you press the Windows button + Down again, it will minimize the window.
Conclusion
Aero Shake may have been made for efficiency, but it can sometimes contribute to inefficiency! Take control of multitasking by turning off Aero Shake to prevent the accidental tab minimizing.
Ken says
Reinstalled Win10 and was having to put up with this shake nonsense.
Thank you for still having this tip available!
taco says
BAD DATA IN METHOD 2, NEED CORRECTION BOOOOOOO
Matt says
MEthod 2 does work – even if I choose enabled – does it require a restart? if so the article and commenters haven’t mentioned this.
meow says
I’ve put up with this “feature” for years and had no idea you could disable it. Thanks, you’ve changed my life
kplatt says
Open powershell as admin
paste and run
$RegistryPath = ‘HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced’
$Name = ‘DisallowShaking’
$Value = ‘1’
$PropetyType = ‘DWORD’
If (-NOT (Test-Path $RegistryPath)) {
New-Item -Path $RegistryPath -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -Path $RegistryPath -Name $Name -Value $Value -PropertyType $PropetyType -Force
Maurice Brandman says
In method 2, it should be set to enabled NOT disabled
Anika Co says
I always seem to shake the window when thinking about where I want to move it, and it has caused nothing but stress trying to find and reopen all my windows..
I love using the snap function, so I used your 3rd method to disable the Aero Shake, and it worked!
Thank you so much, this has been a genuine life saver!
John says
ENABLED not disabled.
Tod says
Option 2 worked like a charm, but you need to edit your article…. We have to choose “ENABLE”, not “disable”.
Denis says
Google with Chrome highlighted Method 2 on my search of “win10 stop minimize all windows when dragging”. As Thimo mentionned here on November 10, 2020 at 6:26 am,, you should change the Disabled for Enabled (I hate double negative) to avoid misleading those that comes here like me.
Jiiimbooh says
In the regedit fix, change HKEY_CURRENT_USER to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE if you want to disable the shake function for all users on the computer.
People like me who only open the regedit about once a year will follow such instructions very literally. It took me a couple of seconds to realize why it didn’t appear to work for me. It’s because I was logged into Windows as a regular user and had to open regedit as admin to edit it. This means I disabled the shake for the admin, and not the user I was logged in as. 🤦♂️
thanks says
Lifesaver!!!! Thank you
Disabling Aero Shake
Press Windows + R.
Type “Regedit” then press Enter.
On the address bar, type “ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced,” then press Enter.
Scroll down until you find the “DisallowShaking” registry. If it doesn’t exist, click on Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and set the name to “DisallowShaking.”
Double click on “DisallowShaking” and make sure the base is set to hexadecimal. Then change the value data to 1. Press OK.
BotenPan says
Quote: “Editing registry … will always work”
👍
Greg says
Option 3 worked great, thanks!
Dave says
I used option 2. It’s worth noting, though, the regkey should be ENABLED rather than disabled
Bobbie E Ray says
Thank you!!! Used Method 3, created the registry entry and it worked like a charm. This “feature” has driven me crazy at times and I’m glad that I finally got rid of it.
Thimo says
ethod 2. Local Group Policy Editor
Press Windows + R.
Type “gpedit.msc,” then hit Enter.
Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop.
On the right-side tab, right-click on “Turn off Aero Shake window minimizing mouse gesture,” then click Edit.
Set it to Disabled, then press OK.
You have to set it to Enabled not disabled for it to work
Phil McGeehan says
I used Method 3 – But the registry key didn’t exist already. Easy enough to add. And it worked instantly!
David Winfield says
I had to use option 3 to change the registry. My admin has the policy editor locked down (but strangely not the registry editor).
This window shake to minimize is a dumb feature, especially when you have multiple monitors–there have been several times when I accidently minimized everything when I was just trying to reposition one window. If I wanted to minimize everything I would click “show desktop” by right clicking on the task bar.
It’s ridiculous that this isn’t just a setting you can click in the control panel. Windows keeps removing/hiding functionality and dumbing down their OS. Like they are turning windows into a chrome book or something.
I’ve moved my personal laptop over to Linux mint. Works great, The old laptop would run too slow on windows 10, but it runs as fast as a new computer with Linux. I wish I could just run Linux on everything now. I used to like windows when it was XP and Windows 7 but I am liking less and less.
Fokke says
Paul is right. You are in fact “enabling” the disabling of the minimize on shake, when using “Method 2. Local Group Policy Editor”. This particular feature was drinving me crazy, so I’m happy to confirm method 2 works like a charm.
I’d advise everybody to use Method 2, as Method 1 disables even more functionality (which you may in fact use) and Method 3 just takes a bit more time and is less intuitive.
Paul says
Thanks for the tip – in particular the Local Group Policy technique, which I didn’t find elsewhere. But I think you mean to set it to “enabled” (because the policy itself is to “turn off” the shake feature). I set mine to “enabled” and it seems to have worked.