If you are a Windows user, you definitely know how to switch among the opened apps and how to minimize and maximize the opened windows. Almost all of us use the maximize and minimize buttons on the top right side of the apps for this purpose. Do you know there are multiple other ways in Windows 11/10 to maximize and minimize windows? In this article, we will see how to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10.
If you have ever noticed that apart from maximizing and minimizing a window, there is one more option available in Windows 11/10, i.e., Restore. Before we begin our discussion on the different ways to maximize and minimize windows in WIndows 11/10, let’s see the difference between these three terms.
- Maximize: When we say maximize, we refer to the app that has covered the entire screen of a user’s computer irrespective of his screen size.
- Minimize: Minimizing an app hides it from your desktop or laptop screen without closing it. The app remains open but only gets hidden from your screen. You can access it by clicking on its icon on the Taskbar.
- Restore: Restoring a window neither maximizes it to the full screen nor minimizes it to the Taskbar. When you press the Restore button, the size of the selected window will change. You can consider it as a state between maximize and minimize. When you restore an app, both maximize and minimize options become available.
How to Minimize and Maximize windows in Windows 11/10
You can maximize and minimize active, inactive or all open windows in WIndows 11/10 by using the following methods:
- By using the maximize and minimize buttons
- By clicking on the Title Bar of the app
- By using the Title Bar menu
- From the Taskbar
- By using the keyboard shortcuts
- Maximize and Minimize all the opened windows
Let’s see all these methods in detail.
1] Maximize and Minimize windows in Windows 11/10 by using the maximize and minimize buttons
Let’s start with the method that is known to almost all Windows users. Almost all of you are familiar with this method. You can maximize and minimize the apps by clicking on the respective buttons. These buttons are available on the top right side of an app or opened window.
When an app is not opened in full-screen mode, you will see both maximize and minimize buttons on the top right side. The minus sign minimizes the app and the square box button maximizes the window or app. Click on the button as per your need.
When you maximize a window, you will see that the single square box button has turned into a double square box button. This is the Restore button. If you click on this button, the size of the opened window will change.
2] Maximize and Restore an app by clicking on its Title Bar
This trick does not minimize the window. Instead, it restores and maximizes it. To maximize and restore an app, you just have to double-click on the empty space on its Title Bar. If the app is opened in the full-screen mode, double-clicking on its Title bar will restore it and vice-versa.
3] Maximize and Minimize an opened window by using the Title Bar menu
Above, we have seen that double-clicking on the Title Bar of an opened window only maximizes and restores it. You cannot minimize an app by double-clicking on its Title bar. But if you use the Title Bar menu, you can maximize, minimize, and restore the window.
To bring the Title Bar menu, right-click on the Title Bar of an app or press the Alt + Spacebar. After that, select the desired option. In the Title Bar menu, you may find a certain option greyed out. This is because your app is currently in that mode. For example, if your app is in the full-screen mode (maximized), you will see that the Maximize option in the Title Bar menu is greyed out.
4] Maximize and Minimize windows from the Taskbar
The icons of the apps or programs that we open appear on the Taskbar. We can switch between the opened apps or programs by clicking on the respective icon on the Taskbar or by pressing the Alt + Tab keys. Most of you probably do not know that you can maximize and minimize the apps from the Taskbar.
The following steps will help you maximize and minimize windows from the Taskbar.
- Hover your mouse cursor over an app icon.
- You will see the thumbnail preview of that app. Right-click on it.
- When you right-click on the thumbnail preview, Windows will show you the menu to minimize, maximize, restore, and close the app.
- Select the desired option.
5] Maximize and Minimize the apps by using Windows 11/10 keyboard shortcuts
You can maximize and minimize the opened windows using keyboard shortcuts. Let’s see what these keyboard shortcuts are and how to use them.
- Win + Up Arrow Key: This key combination maximizes the window.
- Win + Down Arrow Key: When you use this keyboard shortcut, the opened window is first, restored, then minimized.
- Win + Right Arrow Key: Maximizes the window to the right of the screen.
- Win + Left Arrow Key: Maximizes the window to the left of the screen.
- Win + Home: This key combination minimizes all the windows except the active desktop window.
- Win + Number Keys: This keyboard shortcut is used to open the apps pinned on the Taskbar. For example, if you want to open the 4th app pinned on the Taskbar, you have to press the Win + 4 keys and so on. This keyboard shortcut works only for up to 9 apps because 9 is the largest single-digit number.
You can also use this Win + Number Keys shortcut to maximize and minimize the windows. For example, if you have opened an app that is pinned on the 6th number on the Taskbar, you have to press the Win + 6 keys to minimize it. Press the Win + 6 keys again to maximize it.
In the above screenshot, I have numbered the apps pinned on the Taskbar from 1 to 7. If all these apps are opened, the keyboard shortcuts to maximize and minimize the windows are as follows:
- Win + 1: File Explorer.
- Win + 2: Microsoft Edge.
- Win + 3: Mozilla Firefox.
- Win + 4: Paint dot net.
- Win + 5: Notepad++.
- Win + 6: Bluetooth.
- Win + 7: Microsoft Store.
6] Maximize and Minimize all the open windows
Pressing Win+M will minimize all open windows. If you want to maximize or minimize all the opened windows at once, you can use the Win+D keyboard shortcut. Pressing this shortcut will minimize all the opened windows. Pressing it again will maximize all the minimized windows. Apart from this keyboard shortcut, there is one more way to maximize and minimize all the opened windows at once. On the bottom right side of the Taskbar, there is a vertical strip. When you click on that strip, all the windows will be minimized. If you click on that vertical strip again, all the minimized windows will be maximized.
Read: How to Select, Copy and Paste, Delete, Rename Multiple Files and Folders in Windows 11/10
How do I maximize a window in Windows 11?
There are multiple ways to maximize a window in Windows 11. The most common way is to use the maximize button present on the top right side of an opened window. This is the method used by most Windows users. Apart from this, there are several other methods to maximize a window in Windows 11. You can use the keyboard shortcuts, Title Bar menu, etc., for the same. In addition to this, double-clicking on the Title Bar of the opened window also maximizes and restores the windows.
We have described all the methods to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10 in this article.
Read: Windows 11 File Explorer Tips and Tricks
What are the shortcut keys for maximizing and minimizing the window?
You can use Win + Arrow Keys to maximize and minimize the windows. If you press the Win + Up Arrow Keys, your window will be maximized. If you press the Win + Down Arrow Keys, your window will be minimized. Apart from that, you can also use the Win + Number Keys for the same. We have explained all the keyboard shortcuts to maximize and minimize windows on Windows 11/10.
Hope this helps.
Read next: Managing Files and Folders in Windows.
