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Remove the Windows 7 “Auto Maximize” feature

Post image for Remove the Windows 7 “Auto Maximize” feature

by Steve Wiseman on March 4, 2011 · 9 comments

in Microsoft,Network Administrator,Network Administrator Updates,Windows 7


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If you are using Windows 7, then you must have run into the “Auto Maximize” feature. Microsoft calls it “Smart Window Arrangement”

Here is a short youtube clip that shows you what I am talking about:

Essentially if you move your window around and touch the corner, it will automatically maximize the window. After a while it can get quite annoying.

So how do you turn it off?

It is one registry key change.

Drill down to

HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop

Auto Maximize Registry Windows 7

Look for the value named “WindowArrangementActive” and set it to 0.

You will need to log off, and log on to make it active. After that, windows will no longer automatically maximize.

If you don’t like plunking around in the registry, we have added it as a plugin to Network Administrator:

Auto Maximize Blocker Plugin

It is a free download if you want to use it on 3 computers or less.

You can download it from here:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/NetworkAdministrator.exe

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Ron Brown March 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm

This will also turn off the side by side zooming i believe (move window to the side of the screen), which I use extensively. can’t keep one without the other.

2 David March 4, 2011 at 4:35 pm

You can also turn it off and on in 7’s “God Mode” and it takes effect immediately without logging off.

3 Steve Wiseman March 5, 2011 at 2:16 pm

I did not know that. Thanks for the tip.

Steve

4 Jared July 13, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Thanks this worked great! Although i needed to opposite! it fixed our problem. The window would resize and mess up our present resolution.

5 skm January 15, 2013 at 10:06 am

Thanks! I also want to disable the clicking on the titlebar maximizing the window (I have a maximize button if I want it).
I want to disable maximizing by either clicking or double clicking the titlebar.

Do you know how?

6 Janis Rough May 23, 2013 at 1:14 pm

I am a web master and used to MAC. I am working on a corporate site on a pc. This “feature” was driving me crazy. Nice user interface tool.

7 George Pitts June 20, 2013 at 4:13 pm

windows automatic maximizing with mouse clicks is annoying enough to make one buy a mac. After all there is a maximize button on top right. I would LOVE to turn off maximizing with mouse clicks. Using Remote desktop the server connection protocol is not so good that it very often misinterprets how many mouse clicks. This MS feature is a time waster, not a time saver.

8 Shakespeare July 31, 2013 at 5:01 am

I found the following response at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/how-to-disable-the-absolutely-horrible-window-auto/ded4da8e-019c-4b92-8ef5-f8e65ccae49c
useful.

This involves no registry change.

Reproduced here:
We can do this to enable the keyboard actions and disable the mouse actions:
1. Please go to “Control Panel – Ease of Access Center”.
2. Go to “Make the mouse easier to use” and check the item “Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen.”.
3. Then go to “Make the keyboard easier to use” and uncheck the item “Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen.”.
After applying the settings, if you drag the window to the edge of the screen, it will not be “auto-maximize”; and you can use the function with the hotkeys (Win+Up, Win+Left Win+Right,etc.).
Hope this helps. “

9 dave February 13, 2014 at 1:29 pm

Shakespeare you are a lifesaver. thanks so much. that “auto maximize” feature was driving me insane.

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