How to Minimize and Maximize Apps on a Windows Device

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.

Person closing an app on a Windows touchscreen device

So, you could 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.

The title bar menu can also help you easily minimize or maximize an app. Here’s how you can use this feature:

If you want to restore a window to its previous size, here’s what you can do:

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.

Tomaximize 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’veopened 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.

Now, here’s how you can minimize one of your File Explorer windows:

To maximize the app, move your mouse cursor to theFile Explorer optionon the taskbar. Next, move the cursor to the relevant window, right-click on it, and selectMaximize.

5. How to Minimize and Maximize With Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows keyboard shortcuts can do wonders for your productivity. If youuse 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 pressWin + Down arrow. To minimize the app, select the window again and pressWin + Down arrow.

If you want to maximize a small-sized window, select it and pressWin + Up arrow.

Now, there are some additional keyboard shortcuts you can use. However, these will only apply to thefirst nine appsthat appear on the taskbar.

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, pressWin + D—this will take you straight to the desktop.

To maximize your windows, pressWin + Dagain.

Use the Vertical Stripe in the Bottom-Right Corner of the Taskbar

There’s this tinyvertical stripethat’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 thevertical stripein the taskbar. Alternatively, right-click on thatvertical stripeand selectShow desktopfrom the options.

If you want to maximize your apps, click on thatvertical stripeagain. Alternatively, right-click on thevertical stripeand selectShow desktop.

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:

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.

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How to Minimize and Maximize Apps on a Windows Device