Published by

**Brink** · 12 Jan 2009

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.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File 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 file below.

30ms_Mouse_Hover_Time.zip

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 file below.

Default_Mouse_Hover_Time.zip

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 on the extracted .reg file and click on Merge.

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

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

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

OPTION TWO

Manually in Registry Editor

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, navigate to the location below.

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. Log off and log on, 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

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**KWMN** · 30 Jan 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** · 30 Jan 2009

You're welcome Karen.

Shawn

**cahoszerox** · 01 Mar 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** · 01 Mar 2009

Hello Cahoserox,

Restarting the computer is best to apply the changes.

I like the free Auslogics Disk Defrag program.

**cahoszerox** · 10 Mar 2009

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** · 29 Mar 2009

Didn't work for me either

**Brink** · 29 Mar 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** · 02 Apr 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** · 02 Apr 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

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Cannot change tooltip hover time	OldGrantonian	General Discussion	3	06 Feb 2009
Mouse Hover Activate	Dick	Vista General	22	12 Jan 2009
Mouse Hover-can not turn off	Karl Snooks	General Discussion	0	12 Oct 2008
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