Ever find yourself trying to move a window, only to have it snap into a spot you didn’t intend? It’s one of those little annoyances caused by Windows "Snap to Grid" or Snap Layouts, a feature designed to make multitasking easier by automatically organizing your windows.
If you're tired of window snapping in Windows and want a more flexible desktop, don't worry—this guide will show you exactly how to turn off Snap Layouts and give you back the freedom to arrange your windows however you like.
How Snap Layouts Work
Snap Layouts simplify window management by allowing you to drag windows to the edges of your screen, where they automatically resize and align. This feature creates an organized workspace, reducing clutter.
Alternatively, when hovering over the maximize button, you’ll see a grid of layout options. Simply click on one to snap the window into the desired position, perfect for multitasking or comparing multiple windows side by side.
Benefits of Snap Layouts
- Organized workspaces: Windows automatically arrange into neat grids, keeping your screen tidy.
- Easy side-by-side viewing: Compare multiple apps or documents effortlessly.
- Improved productivity: Streamlines multitasking by quickly switching between apps.
- Reduced manual resizing: No need to adjust window sizes manually, saving time.
Terminology Clarification
- Snap Assist: The original name for the window-snapping feature in Windows.
- Snap to Grid: An older term referring to the grid-based snapping feature in previous Windows versions.
- Snap Layouts: The current term that refers to the feature, highlighting its layout options for window arrangement.
Method 1: Turning Off Snap Layouts via Windows Settings (The Recommended Approach)
For Windows 11:
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Open the Settings app: Click the Start menu and select Settings or press Windows + I to open it directly.
Related Options (Optional): In the Multitasking settings, you’ll find additional options, such as:
- Show snapped windows next to each other: Enables automatic alignment of snapped windows next to one another. Disabling Snap Layouts turns off this feature.
- When I snap a window, show what I can snap next: Displays suggested windows to snap next to your current one. Turning off Snap Layouts disables this suggestion.
By turning off Snap Layouts, these related features will also be disabled, giving you full control over window placement.
For Windows 10:
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Open the Settings app: Press Windows + I or click the Start menu and select Settings.
- Go to System > Multitasking: In the Settings window, choose System, then click Multitasking.
- Disable Snap Assist: Look for the Snap windows toggle and switch it Off to turn off Snap Assist.
Related Options (Optional): Just like in Windows 11, Windows 10 also offers options such as:
- Automatically arrange windows when I snap them: When disabled, the snapping feature will be turned off.
- Show suggestions for snapping windows: This will not display suggested windows once Snap Assist is off.
By disabling Snap Assist in Windows 10, you’ll regain control over window management without the automatic snapping behavior.
Verifying That Snap Layouts is Disabled
Testing Window Dragging
To confirm that Snap Layouts is disabled, try dragging a window to the edges or corners of your screen.
If the feature is off, the window should not automatically resize or snap into place. You should be able to freely move the window without it snapping into any predefined position.
Checking the Maximize Button Hover:
Next, hover over the maximize button (the square button in the top-right corner of any window). If Snap Layouts is disabled, you will no longer see the grid of layout options appear.
The maximize button should only show the option to maximize the window, with no additional snap options.
Troubleshooting (If Necessary):
If Snap Layouts is still active after following the steps, make sure you’ve properly turned off the Snap windows toggle in your settings.
Restarting your computer can also help apply the changes. If the issue persists, double-check that your version of Windows is up to date.
Re-enabling Snap Layouts (If You Change Your Mind)
- Using the Settings App: To enable Snap Layouts Windows again, go to Settings > System > Multitasking and toggle Snap windows to On. This will restore the snap functionality and layout options.
- Using Group Policy Editor: Open the Group Policy Editor, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop, and set the Snap Windows policy to Not Configured or Enabled. This will turn on window snapping.
- Using Registry Editor: Open the Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Find the WindowArrangementActive value and change it to 1, or delete the value to re-enable snapping.
Conclusion
In this post, we explored how to disable Snap Layouts on Windows 11 and Windows 10 using the Settings app. This simple method allows you to turn off the automatic window snapping feature and gain more control over your workspace.
Windows provides flexibility in how you manage your desktop, ensuring you can tailor your workspace to fit your workflow. Whether you prefer Snap Layouts for easy multitasking or want a more manual approach, the choice is entirely up to you.
Take the time to customize window management settings to suit your preferences and enjoy a more efficient and personalized desktop experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I turn off snap layout in Windows?
Go to Settings > System > Multitasking, then toggle off Snap windows to disable Snap Layouts in Windows.
How do I turn off the grid on my PC?
Disable Snap windows in Settings > System > Multitasking to stop windows from snapping to the grid.
Does Windows 10 have Snap Layout?
Windows 10 has Snap Assist, but it lacks the advanced Snap Layouts feature found in Windows 11. It offers basic window snapping to edges.
What is the shortcut key for snap in Windows 10?
Press Windows + Left Arrow or Windows + Right Arrow to snap windows to the left or right of the screen in Windows 10.