Can’t Resize App Windows on Windows 11 and 10? Try These Fixes (2024)

In Windows 10 and 11, you can resize an app window using the built-in Snap Layout feature, keyboard shortcut, and the conventional mouse method. But what if you can’t resize an app window using these options?

Often Windows may not allow you to resize app windows due to incorrect Scale and Layout configuration. Other times, the problem can be due to Tablet Mode being enabled, bad Windows updates, and third-party app conflicts.

Fortunately, you can fix this problem with a few minor tweaks to your Windows computer. Here’s we show you how.

1. Resize and Restore Using the App’s Window Menu

You can use the Alt + Spacebar combo to open the program’s window menu and then try to resize the app window. This is a useful workaround if a specific app window is missing the title bar and the resize option is not working.

To access the app window menu:

1. Launch the app you want to resize and press Alt + Spacebar.
2. In the window menu, select Maximize to make the app full-screen or minimize if it is already in fullscreen mode.
3. Once the app is resized, drag the app window to resize it again.
4. Close and relaunch the app. You should now be able to resize the app window like before.
5. Alternatively, you can right-click on any app’s title bar to open the app window menu. However, this option may not work if the title bar is stuck or not visible.

2. Disable Tablet Mode

If you are using Windows 10, or you're using Windows 11 on a two-in-one device, check if the Tablet Mode is enabled. When enabled, all the programs open in full-screen and disable the resize option. Tablet mode is not available in Windows 11.

To disable Tablet Mode in Windows 10:

1. Press Win + A to open Action Center.
2. Click on Tablet Mode to turn it off.
3. Once turned off, you should be able to resize app windows as usual.

On Windows 10, you can configure Tablet Mode to ask you before switching to and from Tablet Mode.

To configure Tablet Mode in Windows 10:

1. Open Settings and click on System.
2. Next, click on the System tab in the left pane.

   

3. Click the When I use this device as a tablet drop-down and select Ask me before switching modes.
4. You can also configure your system never to use Tablet Mode as well. Click the When I sign in drop-down and select Never use tablet mode.

Windows has removed the option to enable or disable Tablet Mode manually. Instead, it automatically detects if a two-in-one device is detached from its keyboard base and activates Tablet Mode.

Since Tablet Mode is not available on Windows 11, if you have a two-in-one, make sure you are not using it in Tablet Mode. To exit Tablet Mode, attach the display to the base to use your device as a laptop.

3. Change and Set Scale and Layout to Recommended Settings

Windows can automatically detect your display resolution and set the best display settings for your computer. This includes display resolution and scaling. However, manually tweaking your display settings can result in issues with the app window resize not working.

To fix this, you'll need to undo the changes and reset the display settings to Windows-recommended settings.

To change Scale and Layout options:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. In the System tab, click on Display.
3. Next, scroll down to the Scale & Layout section.
4. Next, click the Scale drop-down and select the Recommend option from the list.
5. Next, click the Display resolution drop-down and select the Recommend option.
6. Next, click the Display orientation drop-down and select Landscape.
7. With the display settings restored to Windows recommended, check if you can resize or minimize the app window now.

4. Disable Tablet Mode Using Registry Editor

You can disable Tablet Mode in Windows 10 using Registry Editor. Note that incorrect modification to registry entries can adversely affect your system. Make sure to create a Windows restore point and take a registry backup before proceeding with the below steps.

To disable Tablet Mode using Registry Editor:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type regedit and click OK to open Registry Editor.
3. Next, navigate to the following location:

   Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell

4. In the right pane, select and right-click on the TabletMode value. Then, select Modify.

   

5. In the Value Data field, type 0 and click OK to save the changes.

   

6. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC. After the restart, relaunch the app and check for any improvements.

5. Check for Third-Party App Conflict

If you can’t resize a specific app window, check for third-party app conflict. Some apps tend to create issues with other apps and prevent them from working.

To find the problematic app, close all the background apps you can find in the system tray. If that does not help, disable the Startup apps in Task Manager. Once done, restart your PC and check if the issue persists. If not, reenable the startup apps one by one to find the conflicting app.

Additionally, restart your PC in clean boot mode and check if the issue persists. In Clean Boot mode, Windows loads with third-party services disabled to determine if the problem is triggered due to a third-party app.

6. Perform a System Restore

If the issue occurred after installing a Windows update or tweaking your Windows Registry, a restore point could help you undo the changes and restore your PC to an earlier state.

This is useful if the recent changes to your system have caused the apps to malfunction or some features to stop working. Depending on your configuration, you may have multiple restore points available. You can use the most recent restore point and, if necessary, try older ones.

Resize App Windows on Windows 10 and 11

When you can resize app windows on Windows, it is often due to a temporary glitch or bad Windows update. Additionally, disable Tablet Mode and check your display settings to fix the problem. If the issue persists, troubleshoot for third-party conflict or perform a system restore to resolve the issue.