Windows 7 Taskbar tooltips - delay rather than removing?

[adelas]

OH LORD just SHOOT ME NOW with the tooltips. I don't want to see them!

Only... sometimes I do. RARELY.

If I could delay them out to about 4-5 seconds, I would be happiest, but I haven't found any context menus anywhere that will allow me to do that.

If someone finds this thread by asking for how to completely prevent the tooltips from appearing, a post can be found elsewhere on these forums, (Link Removed). I'm kind of afraid to do that. I'm always nervous editing the registry.

Again, rather than remove them entirely, in case I do want to use it sometimes, I would prefer to cause a delay in the tooltip appearing (so I can mouse around without the stupid tooltips popping up, startling me into moving the mouse and then accidentally switching windows by scrolling off the taskbar onto the tooltip).

Any tips?

Also, if you give an answer that includes a walkthrough, a quick explanation of the steps would be much appreciated (ie, you don't have to state very obvious things like "click on XYZ because that opens the program XYZ" but if you're telling me to change a registry setting from 0 to 3 I'd like to know that I'm telling the computer to run something only when clicked instead of upon startup. or whatever.)

Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

To customize the delay for tooltip appearance in Windows, you usually need to modify a registry setting. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can achieve this:

Adjusting Tooltip Delay in Windows:​

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
   []Navigate to the ToolTip Delay Key:
   • Go to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse
   []Modify the MouseHoverTime Value:
   • Look for the MouseHoverTime entry.
   • Double-click on it to modify the value.
   • The default value is 400 (in milliseconds).
   • Increase this value to make the delay longer (for example, set it to 800 for an 8-second delay).
   []Apply Changes:
   • Click OK to save the new value.
   []Restart your computer or log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.

   Explanation:​

   • Modifying the MouseHoverTime value in the registry adjusts the delay for tooltip appearance.
   • Increasing this value means tooltips will take longer to appear when hovering over an item.

   Note:​

   • Editing the registry should be done carefully to avoid unintended changes.
   • Ensure you follow the steps accurately to prevent any issues.
   • Always create a backup or a system restore point before making registry modifications for added safety.
   By following these steps, you can adjust the delay for tooltips in Windows to better suit your preferences. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!