How to Restore Classic Window Arrangement Behavior After 25H2 on Windows 11

After upgrading to Windows 11 version 25H2, many business users find that the way windows snap, tile, and arrange on the screen has changed unexpectedly. The new update introduces a redesigned Snap Layouts engine that modifies default behavior for dragging windows to screen edges and corners. This article explains exactly which settings changed in 25H2 and how to restore the classic window arrangement behavior you relied on in earlier versions.

You will learn the specific registry and Settings app adjustments needed to bring back the old snapping and tiling logic. We cover the root cause of the behavioral shift, step-by-step restoration methods, and common pitfalls to avoid. By the end, you can make Windows 11 arrange windows exactly as it did before the 25H2 feature update.

Why Windows 11 25H2 Changed Window Arrangement Behavior

Windows 11 version 25H2 introduced an updated Snap Layouts engine that modifies how windows respond when dragged to screen edges, corners, or the top center. The new engine prioritizes a flyout menu that shows layout grids (2×2, 3-column, etc.) when you drag a window to the top of the screen. This replaces the older behavior where dragging to a corner immediately resized the window to fill one quarter of the screen, and dragging to the left or right edge snapped the window to half the screen.

The technical root cause is a change in the underlying Explorer shell component that handles window positioning. In 25H2, Microsoft shifted from the legacy “drag-and-snap” logic to a new “Snap Layouts” service that intercepts mouse drag events before the classic snapping routine runs. This service adds a 300-millisecond delay before snapping occurs, which breaks muscle memory for users who expect instant tiling.

Additionally, the new Snap Layouts flyout occupies the top 20 percent of the screen when triggered, preventing the window from snapping to the top half or top quarter until you manually select a layout zone. This change affects workflows that rely on rapid corner snapping for side-by-side document comparison or code editing.

Steps to Restore Classic Snap and Tiling Behavior in Windows 11 25H2

Follow these steps in order to disable the new Snap Layouts features and restore the classic window arrangement behavior. You can apply these settings per user or per machine using Group Policy.

Method 1: Disable Snap Layouts and Snap Assist via Settings

1. Open Windows Settings
   Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard. Alternatively, click the Start button and select Settings from the pinned apps list.
2. Navigate to Multitasking settings
   In the Settings window, click System in the left sidebar. Then click Multitasking from the list of system options. This page controls all Snap and window arrangement behaviors.
3. Turn off Snap windows
   Under the Snap windows section, toggle the switch to Off. This disables all Snap Layouts, Snap Assist, and automatic window tiling. After turning this off, dragging a window to any screen edge or corner will not snap it. This restores the classic behavior where windows move freely without snapping.
4. Re-enable only classic snapping
   If you still want windows to snap to edges and corners but without the new flyout, toggle Snap windows back to On. Then uncheck every checkbox below it: “When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it,” “When I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging to the edge of the screen,” and “Show Snap Layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button.” This combination disables the 25H2 additions while keeping the classic edge-and-corner snapping intact.

Method 2: Restore Classic Behavior via Registry Editor

1. Open Registry Editor
   Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
2. Navigate to the Explorer Advanced key
   In the Registry Editor address bar, paste this path and press Enter: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Create or modify the EnableSnapAssistFlyout DWORD
   In the right pane, right-click an empty area and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it EnableSnapAssistFlyout. Double-click the new value, set the base to Hexadecimal, and change the Value data to 0. Click OK. This value disables the Snap Layouts flyout that appears when you drag a window to the top of the screen.
4. Create or modify the SnapFill DWORD
   In the same folder, create another DWORD named SnapFill. Set its Value data to 0. This prevents Windows from automatically filling empty space when you snap a window to one side. This restores the classic behavior where snapped windows stay at their snapped size without auto-resizing.
5. Restart File Explorer
   Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. Find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and select Restart. Your changes take effect immediately after Explorer restarts.

Method 3: Apply Classic Behavior via Group Policy (Domain or Local)

1. Open Local Group Policy Editor
   Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. This tool is available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
2. Navigate to the Edge UI policy folder
   In the left pane, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Edge UI.
3. Enable the Turn off Snap Assist policy
   Double-click the setting named “Turn off Snap Assist” in the right pane. Select Enabled, then click OK. This policy disables the Snap Assist flyout and restores classic edge-and-corner snapping for all users on the machine.
4. Apply the policy
   Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run gpupdate /force to apply the policy immediately without a reboot. Changes take effect after the next user sign-in.

Common Issues After Restoring Classic Window Arrangement

Windows Still Show Snap Layouts Flyout After Changing Settings

If the Snap Layouts flyout continues to appear after you disable it in Settings or Registry, a background Windows Update may have reinstated the default behavior. Check for pending updates in Settings > Windows Update and install any that are marked as optional. Then repeat the registry changes from Method 2. Also verify that no third-party window management tool like PowerToys FancyZones is overriding your settings. Disable FancyZones temporarily to isolate the conflict.

Snapping Works but Windows Do Not Return to Original Size When Unsnapped

This is a known quirk when you disable Snap Fill via registry. If you prefer windows to restore their previous size when you drag them away from an edge, set SnapFill back to 1 in the registry path HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. This restores the unsnap restore behavior while keeping the classic snapping logic active.

Touchpad Gestures No Longer Snap Windows After Registry Changes

The registry modifications above only affect mouse drag behavior. Touchpad three-finger swipe gestures for snapping are controlled by the Precision Touchpad driver. To restore touchpad snapping, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, and under the Gestures section, ensure “Snap windows” is set to On. If it is already on, uninstall and reinstall your touchpad driver from Device Manager.

Classic Snap vs 25H2 Snap Layouts: Key Differences

Item	Classic Snap (pre-25H2)	25H2 Snap Layouts
Drag to top of screen	Window snaps to full screen immediately	Opens a layout grid flyout; no snap until you select a zone
Drag to left or right edge	Window snaps to 50% width instantly	Same instant snap, but shows a Snap Assist panel on the opposite side
Drag to a corner	Window snaps to 25% quadrant instantly	Snap Layouts flyout appears; snap is delayed by 300 ms
Snap Assist panel	Appears only after snapping to an edge, shows remaining windows as thumbnails	Appears after every snap, shows both thumbnails and layout suggestions
Maximize button hover	No action	Shows a small layout grid for manual zone selection
Registry control	No specific key for flyout; SnapFill and SnapAssist existed	EnableSnapAssistFlyout key added in 25H2

After applying the steps in this article, you can restore the classic window arrangement behavior that matches the pre-25H2 experience. Test your preferred snapping method by dragging a window to each edge and corner. If the Snap Layouts flyout reappears after a future Windows update, repeat the registry modification for EnableSnapAssistFlyout. For advanced control, consider using PowerToys FancyZones, which allows you to define custom grid layouts that bypass both the old and new Snap Layouts engines entirely.