How to Preview a Window Before You Open It

This updated guide examines How to Preview a Window Before You Open It and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 3:

Preview Using Live Taskbar Thumbnails

1. Hover over the icon of the program you want to preview on the taskbar, which will expose a window showing thumbnails of all of the windows open in that program.
2. Hover over the thumbnail of the window you want to preview. The rest of your desktop will fade out, exposing the contents of the window.
3. Return to the window you were working in before. Move your mouse cursor away from the thumbnail window.

Method 2of 3:

Preview Windows Using Windows Switcher

1. Show Windows Switcher. Press and hold theAltkey then tap theTab?key once at the same time to show the Windows Switcher window. Continue holding theAltkey.
2. Preview the window. Using theTab?key on your keyboard, cycle through the Windows Switcher window until the window you want to preview is selected. The rest of your desktop will fade out, exposing the contents of the window.
3. Return to the window you were working in before. Cycle back to the window you were working in before by tappingTab?then release theAltkey.

Method 3of 3:

Preview Using Flip 3D (Applies Only to Windows Vista and 7)

1. Show Flip 3D. Hold the?Winkey and tap theTab?key once at the same time. Continue holding the?Winkey.
2. Preview the window. Tapping theTab?key to advance one window, advance until the window you want to preview is displayed on the screen.
3. Return to the window you were working in before. Use theTab?key to navigate back to the window you were working in before and release the?Winkey.