How to enable new changes for Snap Layouts flyout on Windows 11

Here are the steps to try an early preview of the new UI improvements for the Snap Layouts flyout on Windows 11.

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@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 new Snap Layouts flyout
Windows 11 new Snap Layouts flyout

On Windows 11 build 25300, you can enable an early preview of the new interface changes for the Snap Layouts flyout, and in this guide, you will learn how.

As part of some experimental changes, Windows 11 is testing a few improvements for the Snap Layouts flyout (via @PhantomOfEarth), including a title that will inform the user to understand the feature, a reduced time when hovering over the maximize button to improve discoverability, and hovering over the flyout, you will now notice an icon for the active window you will snap in the zone. 

If you want to get hands-on with the new interface changes, you can use a third-party tool called “ViveTool,” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub, to enable the option on your computer.

This guide will teach you the steps to turn on this new feature on Windows 11.

Enable new changes for Snap Layouts on Windows 11

To enable the new changes for Snap Layouts on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

  2. Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the new Snap Layout improvements.

  3. Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.

  4. Click the Extract all button.

    Extract ViveTool files

  5. Click the Extract button.

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:

    cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x

    In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the “Snap this window” title in the Snap Layouts flyout and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:40851068

  11. Type the following command to only enable reduced hover time for the flyout and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:40851068 /variant:1

  12. Type the following command to only enable the flyout title and app icon as you choose a snapping zone and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:40851068 /variant:2

  13. Type the following command only to enable the flyout title, app icon, and reduced hover time for Snap Layouts, and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:40851068 /variant:3

  14. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you open an application, when hovering over the maximize button or dragging a window to the top of the screen, the new Snap Layouts flyout will open with the new changes, including time, reduced time on hovering, and the app icon.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step 10, make sure to use the  vivetool /disable /id:40851068 command and then restart the computer.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.