Slow Down Vista Aero Animations

By | 2008-12-25

If you are really into the slick animations, known as eye candy, that are present in the Vista Aero interface, you might like this fun little registry hack. It slows the animations down a bit, so you can enjoy them a bit more.

Launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit at the Start Search box or at a command prompt and pressing enter. Then:

  1. Go to
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM.
  2. Select Edit > New DWORD (32-bit) Value and create a new DWORD called AnimationsShiftKey. Give it a value of 1.
  3. Close the Registry Editor, log off of Windows, and then log back in again, or else reboot.
  4. Hold the Shift key and minimize or maximize a window. The animation will be slowed down considerably. To make the animation go at normal speed, let go of the Shift key.
Author: dwirch

Derek Wirch is a seasoned IT professional with an impressive career dating back to 1986. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience that is invaluable to those embarking on their journey in the tech industry.

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