Vista - Mouse Hover Time - Change

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Change the Mouse Hover Time before Pop-up Displays in Vista

Information

This will show you how to change the delay time, in milliseconds, that the mouse pointer has to stay hovered on a item before tooltip popups display in Vista.

RELATED LINKS:

METHOD ONE:
Through a Download

1. To Have a Fast Mouse Hover Time -
NOTE: This changes the mouse hover delay time to 30 milliseconds.
A) Click on the download button below to download the 30ms_Mouse_Hover_Time.zip file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore the Default Mouse Hover Time -
NOTE: This changes the mouse hover delay time back to 400 milliseconds.
A) Click on the download button below to download the Default_Mouse_Hover_Time.zip file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the Desktop.

4. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the Desktop.

5. Right click the .reg file and click on Merge.

6. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

7. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

9. When done, you can delete the .zip and .reg files on the Desktop if you like.

METHOD TWO:
The Manual Way

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted, click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse

5. In the right pane, right click MouseHoverTime and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

6. Type in a number (400 is default, I use 30) for how many milliseconds, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The lower the number, the faster the response time. Do not use 0.

7. Close regedit.

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
NOTE: As a test, hover the mouse pointer over a open window taskbar button and see how much faster the taskbar thumbnail opens.

That's it,
Shawn

KWMN · 01-30-2009

Thanks so much for this post, this feature was making me completely crazy... I wish I could disable it completely somehow... but, for now, I have set the hover time to 500,000 and that usually enables me to move the mouse where I want, and click on what I want to open, without Vista deciding to open stuff that doesn't interest me!
- Karen

**Brink** · 01-30-2009

You're welcome Karen.

Shawn

**cahoszerox** · 03-01-2009

I liked your guide, but it didn't seem to do what I was looking for..

When you hover your mouse over the time in the taskbar, it takes too long for me to show the popup showing the date, and any extra clocks

PS: I did NOT restart after I used your reg edit files, might that make a difference?

On an unrelated note: What do you think is the best alternative to the windows Vista defragger (MUST HAVE AN OPTION TO DEFRAG DAILY)

BTW man, your awesome =D

EDIT: never mind, I was wrong

**Brink** · 03-01-2009

Hello Cahoserox,

Restarting the computer is best to apply the changes.

I like the free Auslogics Disk Defrag program.

**cahoszerox** · 03-10-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Cahoserox,

Restarting the computer is best to apply the changes.

I like the free Auslogics Disk Defrag program.

Thanks for your response =D
The fact that it is freeware is very important to me! (open source FTW!), I'll try it and see if I can get back to you about if I like the app, too busy now.
I have a lot of programs I *HAVE* to run at startup (such as RocketDock, xfire,etc.) and restarting can be a pain sometimes =P sorry for my laziness!

EDIT:
I restarted and it did NOT seem to make a difference...I check the registry and it did change it...just did not make a difference =/

"over the time in the taskbar, it takes too long for me to show the popup showing the date, and any extra clocks"

**leif2** · 03-29-2009

Didn't work for me either

**Brink** · 03-29-2009

Hello Leif2,

I added the warning box at the top of the tutorial to compensate for this. Please try with that option unchecked to see if that allows it work for you afterwards.

Shawn

**leif2** · 04-02-2009

I don't have Animations in the taskbar and Start Menu option in my visual effects. This tweak doesn't work for me. Even after I manually apply the 30 value in regedit.
When I highlight a file in a folder I'm supposed to get fast information display such as size, type and date modified info with this tweak right?

**Airbot** · 04-02-2009

Hi leif2,

This tutorial is only for the preview windows that you see on the taskbar, and you would have to log on and off or reboot to apply the changes. You might be referring to this tutorial instead.

Menu Show Delay Time

01-30-2009
KWMN vista home premium 32bit 3 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change Thanks so much for this post, this feature was making me completely crazy... I wish I could disable it completely somehow... but, for now, I have set the hover time to 500,000 and that usually enables me to move the mouse where I want, and click on what I want to open, without Vista deciding to open stuff that doesn't interest me! - Karen
My System Specs

01-30-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change You're welcome Karen. Shawn
My System Specs

03-01-2009
cahoszerox Vista SP1 Home Premium 64-bit 5 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change I liked your guide, but it didn't seem to do what I was looking for.. When you hover your mouse over the time in the taskbar, it takes too long for me to show the popup showing the date, and any extra clocks PS: I did NOT restart after I used your reg edit files, might that make a difference? On an unrelated note: What do you think is the best alternative to the windows Vista defragger (MUST HAVE AN OPTION TO DEFRAG DAILY) BTW man, your awesome =D EDIT: never mind, I was wrong Last edited by cahoszerox; 04-13-2009 at 12:20 PM..
My System Specs

03-01-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change Hello Cahoserox, Restarting the computer is best to apply the changes. I like the free Auslogics Disk Defrag program.
My System Specs

03-10-2009
cahoszerox Vista SP1 Home Premium 64-bit 5 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Hello Cahoserox, Restarting the computer is best to apply the changes. I like the free Auslogics Disk Defrag program. Thanks for your response =D The fact that it is freeware is very important to me! (open source FTW!), I'll try it and see if I can get back to you about if I like the app, too busy now. I have a lot of programs I HAVE to run at startup (such as RocketDock, xfire,etc.) and restarting can be a pain sometimes =P sorry for my laziness! EDIT: I restarted and it did NOT seem to make a difference...I check the registry and it did change it...just did not make a difference =/ "over the time in the taskbar, it takes too long for me to show the popup showing the date, and any extra clocks" Last edited by cahoszerox; 03-10-2009 at 05:21 PM..
My System Specs

03-29-2009
leif2 Vista Home Premium x64 12 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change Didn't work for me either
My System Specs

04-02-2009
leif2 Vista Home Premium x64 12 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change I don't have Animations in the taskbar and Start Menu option in my visual effects. This tweak doesn't work for me. Even after I manually apply the 30 value in regedit. When I highlight a file in a folder I'm supposed to get fast information display such as size, type and date modified info with this tweak right?
My System Specs

04-02-2009
Airbot Vista Ultimate SP2 x64 Windows 7 Ultimate x64 TECHNET 1,649 posts	Re: Mouse Hover Time - Change Hi leif2, This tutorial is only for the preview windows that you see on the taskbar, and you would have to log on and off or reboot to apply the changes. You might be referring to this tutorial instead. Menu Show Delay Time
My System Specs

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