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Why Does a “Drag Tray” Appear When I Move Files in Windows 11 and How Do I Stop It?

By: Author Alex Lim

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Categories Windows

Home » Microsoft » Windows » Why Does a “Drag Tray” Appear When I Move Files in Windows 11 and How Do I Stop It?

Is There a Quick Way to Permanently Disable the Drag to Share Bar in Windows 11 Settings?

What Is the “Drag Tray” and Why Disable It?

Windows 11 recently introduced a feature called the “Drag Tray.” This panel appears automatically at the top-center of your screen when you drag files. It intends to speed up sharing by linking directly to apps like WhatsApp, My Phone, or Copilot. However, this pop-up often disrupts workflow. It distracts users who simply want to move files between folders or to the desktop. Fortunately, Microsoft provides methods to disable this overlay.​

Method 1: Turn Off Drag Tray via Settings (Recommended)

  1. The safest way to remove this feature is through the main Settings app. This option is available to all users on updated Windows 11 builds.
    ​
    Open Settings: Press WIN + I on your keyboard to launch the Settings app instantly.
  2. Navigate to Nearby Sharing: Click the System tab in the left sidebar. Select the Nearby sharing option from the right-side menu.
  3. Toggle the Feature Off: Locate the Drag Tray toggle switch at the top of the page. Set this switch to Off.

The Drag Tray panel will stop appearing immediately. You do not need to restart your computer.

Method 2: Disable Drag Tray via Registry Editor (Advanced)

If the Settings toggle is missing or you prefer a backend solution, you can modify the Windows Registry. This method is effective for power users.

Warning: Always back up your registry before making changes.

  1. Launch Registry Editor: Press WIN + R. Type regedit into the box and press Enter.
  2. Locate the CDP Key: Navigate to the following address in the editor:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CDP
    Note: CDP stands for Connected Devices Platform, which manages sharing services.
  3. Create the Value: Right-click an empty space in the right pane. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new value DragTrayEnabled.
  4. Set the Value: Double-click DragTrayEnabled and set the “Value data” to 0.
    1. Value 0: Disables the Drag Tray.
    2. Value 1: Enables the Drag Tray.

Windows applies this change instantly. You can now drag files without the sharing panel interrupting your work.