How to Turn On or Off Scroll Inactive Windows in Windows 11
Scroll inactive windows in Windows 11 lets you hover your mouse over a background app and scroll through it without clicking on it first. This built-in feature saves time when you work with two or more open windows on your screen at the same time.
Turning this setting on takes less than 30 seconds inside the Windows 11 Settings app . You can switch the feature on or off at any time.
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.
You can turn on scroll inactive windows Windows 11 through the main Settings app by going to your mouse preferences. This feature lets you scroll through background windows and documents just by hovering your mouse pointer over them, even if the window is not currently active or selected on your screen.
- 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.
You can turn on or off scroll inactive windows Windows 11 using the command line if you prefer using Windows Terminal or PowerShell instead of the graphical settings menu. Running a quick command lets you change this preference instantly without having to dig through your mouse settings.
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V MouseWheelRouting /T REG_DWORD /d 2 /F
To Turn Off:
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V MouseWheelRouting /T REG_DWORD /d 0 /F
Modifications take effect right away across active user sessions.
Summary
Knowing how to control scrolling inactive windows in Windows 11 gives you greater flexibility when managing multiple open applications.
How do I scroll inactive windows in 🪟 Windows 11?
Search for "Settings" on the Windows 11 Taskbar search bar. Enable the "Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them" toggle button. Click on the app 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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About the Author
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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