How to Allow or Prevent Window Animations in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent window animations such as restoring, minimizing, and maximizing windows for all or specific users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: Animations in Visual Effects Settings
NOTE: This is an example of the animations that will be affected no matter how it is set in the Visual Effect settings.

OPTION ONE

To Allow or Prevent Windows Animations using a REG File

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Allow Window Animations
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Allow_Window_Animations.reg

Download

3. To Prevent Window Animations

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Prevent_Window_Animations.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

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

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you would like.

OPTION TWO

To Allow or Prevent Windows Animations Group Policy

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click/tap on the arrow to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, then click/tap on Desktop Window Manager. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane of Desktop Window Manager, double click/tap on Do not allow window animations to edit it, and do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot above)

4. To Allow Window Animations

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

5. To Prevent Window Animations

A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below step 2)

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

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to "Turn off all unnecessary animations" in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to "Turn off all unnecessary animations" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Visual Effects Settings in Windows 7
• How to "Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Turn On or Off "Animate controls and elements inside windows"