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How to turn on taskbar thumbnail previews in Windows 11
Rest the pointer on an open app’s taskbar icon to see thumbnail previews in Windows 11. For live previews on a replacement dock, turn on Show window previews in Glassline Settings, under Dock.
Use the Windows taskbar
- Open an app. Leave a window open so you have something to preview.
- Rest the pointer on its taskbar icon. Hold it still over the icon to see the window preview.
These previews appear on the Windows taskbar. Glassline gives you live pictures on its replacement dock, with controls for how long they wait and how they open.
Turn on dock previews
- Install Glassline from the Microsoft Store. Open it to replace the Windows taskbar with a dock at the bottom and a menu bar at the top.
- Open Glassline Settings. Right-click the menu bar and choose Glassline Settings.
- Choose Dock. Find Window previews and turn on Show window previews. This makes an open app’s windows available as pictures when you hover over its dock icon.
- Rest the pointer on an open app. Keep it over that app’s icon in the dock. Small live pictures of its windows appear.
Try an app with two windows already open. You can see the windows together before choosing which one to bring forward. The previews belong to Glassline’s dock, which takes the place of the Windows taskbar while Glassline runs.
Choose the wait and effect
- Find Wait before previews show. In Glassline Settings, under Dock, drag left to make the pictures appear sooner. The wait is shown in Seconds.
- Test the wait. Return to an open app’s dock icon and rest the pointer there. Adjust the wait again until it feels comfortable.
- Choose Genie effect on window previews. Turn it on to have the pictures pour out of the app’s icon. With it off, they simply appear.
- Adjust Opening speed. Drag right for a faster opening. Closing speed controls how fast the previews go back into the icon.
Pick or close a window
- Click a preview. That window comes to the front, ready to use.
- Click the cross on a preview. That window closes. You can also middle-click the preview to close it.
For everyday switching, leave previews on and settle on a wait you like. Each time you rest the pointer on an open app in the dock, its windows are there to choose from.
