How to Enable or Disable Pop-up Tips Description in File Explorer on Windows 11
File Explorer pop-up tips (small info boxes that show file size and dates when you hover your mouse over an item) help you check details without opening files in Windows 11. Turning off these descriptions cleans up your screen as you browse through folders, and you can switch them back on at any time through the Folder Options menu.
To enable or disable pop-up tips in File Explorer , open File Explorer, click the three dots menu, select Options, go to the View tab, and check or uncheck “Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.” Click OK to apply.
Method 1Using Folder Options
Windows 11 pop-up descriptions can be turned off directly through Folder Options inside File Explorer if you want to stop helpful tooltips from appearing when you hover your mouse over files and folders. Opening the main view settings menu lets you uncheck the specific box that controls these display hints without touching advanced system tools.
- Open File Explorer or press the Win+E on your keyboard.
- Click the three dots icon in the top menu bar and select Options.
- In the window that appears, click the View tab.
- Find the box labeled Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
- Check the box to turn the feature on, or uncheck it to turn it off.
- Click OK to save your changes.
Method 2Using the Registry Editor
Windows 11 pop-up descriptions are also controlled through Registry Editor by changing a specific DWORD value in the main user profile keys. This advanced method lets you turn off hover tooltips for files and folders by modifying the underlying system database when standard menu options are not enough.
- Press Win+R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - Navigate to this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- In the right pane, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name this value
ShowInfoTip. - Double-click
ShowInfoTipand set the Value data to1to turn it on, or0to turn it off.
Applying Changes: Restarting Windows Explorer
Windows 11 pop-up descriptions settings require a quick restart of the graphical shell to make your new folder options or registry tweaks take effect right away. Restarting the main interface process forces the system to reload all folder views and tooltips without needing a full computer reboot.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager .
- Find Windows Explorer in the list.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
- Alternatively, run this command in Command Prompt:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe
Advanced Configuration: System Hover Delay
Altering the delay before a pop-up tip appears requires editing a registry value located at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Increasing this value makes tips appear more slowly, reducing visual distractions.
Summary
Controlling whether Windows 11 displays extra information when hovering over files relies on either File Explorer settings or the Registry Editor.
Does disabling pop-ups improve system performance?
Disabling these pop-up descriptions in Windows 11 has a minimal impact on system performance. File Explorer runs fewer background tasks when hovering over items, but the primary benefit remains a tidier interface rather than a major speed increase.
Can I disable tooltips for specific applications only?
No, the setting for these pop-up descriptions in Windows 11 applies everywhere in the system interface. It affects File Explorer and desktop items universally. No native setting exists to disable tooltips for specific individual applications while keeping them enabled elsewhere.
Are these settings synced across Windows devices?
Settings managed through the Registry, like the 'ShowInfoTip' value, save directly on the local computer. They do not sync across multiple Windows devices via a Microsoft account. Applying these changes manually is necessary on every computer requiring custom File Explorer hover behavior.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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