How to Enable or Disable Pop-up Descriptions in Windows 11

Windows 11 automatically shows small boxes called “tips” when you hover your mouse over folders or icons. These show info like file size or the date created. Some people find them helpful, while others find them distracting.

Why: You may want to turn these off to make your desktop look cleaner or turn them on to see file details quickly without opening folders.

What happens when done: Your computer will either display or hide these quick info boxes whenever you hover over an item.

Tooltips are used for File Explorer. This feature is turned on by default.

Method 1: Using Folder Options

You can change this setting easily through your file settings.

1. Open the File Explorer Folder Options.
2. Open File Explorer or press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
3. Click the three dots icon in the top menu bar and select Options.

4. In the window that appears, click the View tab.
5. Find the box labeled Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
6. Check the box to turn the feature on, or uncheck it to turn it off.
7. Click OK to save your changes.

Method 2: Using the Registry Editor

Note: This method requires admin privileges. Be careful when editing the registry.

You can also change this setting by editing the system registry.

1. Open the Windows Registry.
2. Navigate to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

3. If you do not see the Advanced folder, right-click the Explorer folder, select New, and create a new key named Advanced.
4. In the right pane, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name this value ShowInfoTip.
6. Double-click ShowInfoTip and set the Value data to 1 to turn it on, or 0 to turn it off.

Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.

Reference: Microsoft.com

Summary

You can control whether Windows 11 shows extra information when you hover over files. You can use the File Explorer settings menu for a simple approach or the Registry Editor for more advanced control. Choose the method that feels most comfortable for you to customize your desktop experience.