How to Turn On or Off Scroll Inactive Windows in Windows 11
Scroll inactive windows in Windows 11 lets you hover your mouse over an open app in the background and scroll through it without clicking on it first. This helpful setting saves time when you work with multiple open windows on your screen at once.
Turning this feature on takes less than 30 seconds inside the Windows 11 Settings app . You can switch it on or off whenever you want.
Open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Mouse. Find “Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them” and toggle it On or Off. This setting lets you scroll background windows without clicking them.
Turn On or Off Scroll Inactive Windows in Settings
- Open Settings by pressing Win+I on your keyboard.
- Click Bluetooth & devices on the left side.
- Click Mouse on the right side.
Press Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings . Select Bluetooth & devices on the left menu, then click Mouse on the right. From there, users toggle the scroll inactive windows setting.
- Find the option Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them.
- Turn it On (this is the default) or Off based on what you want.
- Close Settings when you’re done.
Option Two
Turn On or Off Scroll Inactive Windows Using Command Line
- Open Windows Terminal.
- Select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
- Copy and paste one of the commands below and press Enter.
Turning scroll inactive windows on or off in Windows 11 is also possible via the command line. Open Windows Terminal (a command-line interface) and choose either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt. Copy and paste one of the following commands, then press Enter.
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V MouseWheelRouting /T REG_DWORD /d 2 /FTo Turn Off:
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V MouseWheelRouting /T REG_DWORD /d 0 /FModifications take effect right away across active user sessions.
Summary
Knowing how to control scrolling inactive windows in Windows 11 gives users greater flexibility when managing multiple open applications.
How do I scroll inactive windows in 🪟 Windows 11?
Search for "Settings" on the Windows 11 Taskbar's search bar. Enable the "Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them" toggle button. Click on the app's window and scroll the content within the app (sometimes called a ListView).
How do I turn off scroll inactive windows?
Press Windows + I or find Settings using the Start menu search bar. On the left pane, select Bluetooth & devices. On the right pane, click Mouse. Under the Scrolling section, find the Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them option.
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Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
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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