You’re using your Windows PC and want to minimize or maximize some apps. The easiest method is to use the “minimize” and “maximize” buttons. However, there are other lesser-known and quicker methods you can try too.
In this article, we’ll show you the six methods that’ll help you easily minimize and maximize software programs on Windows.
1. Use the “Minimize” and “Maximize” Buttons on the Title Bar
Let’s start with the most common method, which involves using the "minimize" and "maximize" buttons.
An active program has three buttons located in the top-right corner of the title bar. The “minimize” button looks like a dash or an underscore, and the “maximize” button is a square. The third button (which looks like the letter “X” or a cross) is used for closing an app.
So, you can simply click on any of these buttons depending on the action you want to take.
When a window is displayed on full screen, the “maximize” button will now appear as two overlapping squares. In this case, it’s now called a “Restore Down” button.
The “Restore Down” button reduces the size of an active window. In this case, you can use this button only if you want to change the size of an active program.
2. How to Minimize and Maximize With the Title Bar Menu
The title bar menu can also help you easily minimize or maximize an app. Here's how you can use this feature:
- Right-click on the title bar to open its menu. Alternatively, press Alt + Spacebar.
- Depending on what you want to do, select either Minimize or Maximize from the options.
If you want to restore a window to its previous size, here’s what you can do:
- Open the title bar menu as per the previous steps.
- Select Restore from the options.
3. How to Minimize and Maximize With the App’s Title Bar
You can also use the title bar to maximize or change the size of a window.
To maximize a window, double-click on the title bar. And if you want to restore the window to its previous size, double-click on the title bar again.
However, this method won’t help if you want to minimize an app. In this case, you’d have to use the “minimize” button in the top-right corner of the title bar.
4. How to Minimize and Maximize With the Taskbar
The taskbar also makes it easy for you to minimize and maximize software programs. To minimize an open program, all you need to do is click its icon on the taskbar. If you want to maximize the same program, click its taskbar icon again.
Things are a bit different if you’ve opened multiple windows of the same program. For example, let’s open multiple File Explorer windows and see how you can minimize or maximize one of them via the taskbar.
- Open File Explorer by clicking its icon on the taskbar. Alternatively, press Win + E.
- Let’s now open another File Explorer window. To do this, move your mouse pointer to the File Explorer icon, right-click on it, and then select File Explorer.
Now, here’s how you can minimize one of your File Explorer windows:
- Move the mouse cursor to the File Explorer icon on the taskbar. This will show you a preview of all the active windows.
- Move the cursor to the relevant window and then right-click on that option. Finally, select Minimize.
To maximize the app, move your mouse cursor to the File Explorer option on the taskbar. Next, move the cursor to the relevant window, right-click on it, and select Maximize.
5. How to Minimize and Maximize With Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows keyboard shortcuts can do wonders for your productivity. If you use the right keyboard shortcuts, you can get a lot done quickly on your device.
You’d be glad to know that you can also use keyboard shortcuts to minimize or maximize apps.
To reduce the size of a window, select the relevant window and press Win + Down arrow. To minimize the app, select the window again and press Win + Down arrow.
If you want to maximize a small-sized window, select it and press Win + Up arrow.
Now, there are some additional keyboard shortcuts you can use. However, these will only apply to the first nine apps that appear on the taskbar.
- If you want to maximize the first app that appears on the taskbar, press Win + 1. To minimize the same program, press Win + 1 again.
- To minimize or maximize any other app, press the Windows key and the app’s number on the taskbar (as long as it’s not above 9).
6. How to Minimize and Maximize All Windows to See the Desktop
Do you want to minimize or maximize multiple windows simultaneously? If so, then you can easily do that by accessing the desktop.
So, we’ll show you the three easy methods you can apply to access the Windows desktop.
Use a Keyboard Shortcut
The best method for accessing the desktop is by using a keyboard shortcut. To minimize all your apps, press Win + D—this will take you straight to the desktop.
To maximize your windows, press Win + D again.
Use the Vertical Stripe in the Bottom-Right Corner of the Taskbar
There’s this tiny vertical stripe that’s located in the bottom right corner of the taskbar. Did you know that you can use this feature to access the desktop?
To minimize your apps and access the desktop, click on the vertical stripe in the taskbar. Alternatively, right-click on that vertical stripe and select Show desktop from the options.
If you want to maximize your apps, click on that vertical stripe again. Alternatively, right-click on the vertical stripe and select Show desktop.
Use the Quick Access Menu
You might have probably used the Quick Access Menu before to access tools such as the Task Manager. Well, here’s some good news—the Quick Access Menu also makes it easy for you to minimize or maximize apps.
So, here's how you can minimize and maximize apps using the Quick Access Menu:
- Press Win + X to open the Quick Access Menu.
- Select Desktop from the menu items. This should take you to the desktop and minimize all your apps.
- To maximize your apps, open the Quick Access Menu again and select Desktop from the options.
Minimizing and Maximizing Windows Apps Is Quite Easy
If you’re a multitasker, then you probably like opening multiple PC apps simultaneously. Now, if you want to minimize or maximize some of those apps, just apply any of the methods we’ve covered.
Also, don’t forget to check out incredible tools that can manage your active programs and speed up your workflow.
