In Windows 11 File Explorer, whenever you hover your mouse pointer over a file or a folder for more than a second, a small yellow or white pop-up box appears. This “tooltip” displays a brief description of the item, such as its exact file size, date modified, and file type. While this can occasionally be helpful, it often obscures the files directly beneath the one you are pointing at, creating a frustrating experience when you are trying to quickly scan through a dense list of documents. If you find these pop-up descriptions annoying, you can easily turn them off.
How to Hide File Explorer Tooltips
You can disable these pop-ups through the classic Folder Options menu.
- Open File Explorer (press the Windows Key + E).
- Click the three horizontal dots (See more) on the main toolbar at the top of the window.
- Select Options from the drop-down menu.
- The “Folder Options” dialogue box will appear. Click on the View tab at the top.
- Scroll down through the “Advanced settings” list. This list is quite long, so scroll carefully.
- Locate the checkbox labelled Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
- Click the checkbox to uncheck it.
- Click Apply, then click OK to close the window.
The change takes effect immediately across your entire system. When you hover your mouse over a file, folder, or even an icon on your desktop, no pop-up description will appear, allowing you to view your lists without any visual obstruction.