To min & max you can also click (or hover) on the EXTREMELY thin, grey bar at the far bottom right corner of the screen. If you have (2) screens it is only on the main screen.
It is to the right of the notifications icon and not very apparent unless you are looking for it.
Beautifully described article, and few new useful features to learn as well. But I am strongly looking a way to Minimize All open windows of a single app, using only my mouse, like it used to be in earlier Windows versions, and not having to use Shift+Right click, which is a time wastage. If you can kindly provide me a way to do so, using a Registry modification, etc. please do let me know.
Thanks, Rajiv
That’s really interesting, I never even thought about needing groups of windows (for a workflow, or something). I guess that I would Windows+D (show desktop), or Windows+M (minimize all) and then ALT+TAB to whatever – but, this isn’t what you’re talking about…
So, the easiest solution would be Windows 10 multiple desktops, then? Some may also call them “virtual desktops”, but IMO that’s wrong because such would be network (virtual) desktops.
Earlier builds of Windows 10 actually had “Sets” (Settings > System > Multitasking), what 3rd-party applications like Stardock’s “Groupy” are capable of: adding tabs to Windows Explorer; and, unbelieavably, Micro$oft seems to have dropped development.
What’s funny is how LTSC Windows still displays “Multitasking” when you type “Sets” into the Settings searchbox. Ridiculous. :/
*sorry, can’t edit above: “Sets” were capable of adding tabs to Window Explorer AND grouping application windows in tabs (what Stardock “Groupy” can do, tabs for windows, but it’s paid software).
Yes, it is too much information. Seems like this could be a beginner and intermediate tutorial mixed up.
For example, in the text: “The screen capture below shows a maximized Google Chrome window”, it should be like a blank Notepad window – to start explaining, with.
Also, the (Notepad) window example should not change as we progress through the information and functions… That way it would be more clear for anyone just starting to learn. 🙂
None of these work for me I have a desktop w/ Win 10 and use Chrome. Say I have opened my mail, Ebay, and a Youtube . Each shows a tab at the top of the screen. I would like to minimize my mail down to the task bar to keep from accidentally closing it, while leaving the others available as tabs, but when I try to minimize the mail tab using any of these methods, everything goes to the task bar, leaving just the desktop. What am I doing wrong?
18 Responses to “8 ways to minimize and maximize apps in Windows”
To min & max you can also click (or hover) on the EXTREMELY thin, grey bar at the far bottom right corner of the screen. If you have (2) screens it is only on the main screen.
It is to the right of the notifications icon and not very apparent unless you are looking for it.
This article was really helpful. Great job, Thank You so much.
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Just wanted to say that this was on of the best structured and most usefull articles Ive seen. Great work, very well made.
Beautifully described article, and few new useful features to learn as well. But I am strongly looking a way to Minimize All open windows of a single app, using only my mouse, like it used to be in earlier Windows versions, and not having to use Shift+Right click, which is a time wastage. If you can kindly provide me a way to do so, using a Registry modification, etc. please do let me know.
Thanks, Rajiv
That’s really interesting, I never even thought about needing groups of windows (for a workflow, or something). I guess that I would Windows+D (show desktop), or Windows+M (minimize all) and then ALT+TAB to whatever – but, this isn’t what you’re talking about…
So, the easiest solution would be Windows 10 multiple desktops, then? Some may also call them “virtual desktops”, but IMO that’s wrong because such would be network (virtual) desktops.
Earlier builds of Windows 10 actually had “Sets” (Settings > System > Multitasking), what 3rd-party applications like Stardock’s “Groupy” are capable of: adding tabs to Windows Explorer; and, unbelieavably, Micro$oft seems to have dropped development.
What’s funny is how LTSC Windows still displays “Multitasking” when you type “Sets” into the Settings searchbox. Ridiculous. :/
*sorry, can’t edit above: “Sets” were capable of adding tabs to Window Explorer AND grouping application windows in tabs (what Stardock “Groupy” can do, tabs for windows, but it’s paid software).
If I have minimized all outlook draft emails one after another, is there a way when I am ready to send them all, I can maximize them with one click?
Use Shift+Right click or press and hold, then Restore All.
Too much information at once.
Yes, it is too much information. Seems like this could be a beginner and intermediate tutorial mixed up.
For example, in the text: “The screen capture below shows a maximized Google Chrome window”, it should be like a blank Notepad window – to start explaining, with.
Also, the (Notepad) window example should not change as we progress through the information and functions… That way it would be more clear for anyone just starting to learn. 🙂
None of these work for me I have a desktop w/ Win 10 and use Chrome. Say I have opened my mail, Ebay, and a Youtube . Each shows a tab at the top of the screen. I would like to minimize my mail down to the task bar to keep from accidentally closing it, while leaving the others available as tabs, but when I try to minimize the mail tab using any of these methods, everything goes to the task bar, leaving just the desktop. What am I doing wrong?
This tutorial is about minimizing app windows, not browser tabs. You cannot minimize a browser tab unless you open tabs in separate browser windows.
Very useful article.Most of the time when using technology we are hardly aware of all the ins and outs.
Thanks was real helpful
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One more way to minimize all open applications. (it does toggle to redisplay the minimized apps).
What is this “one more way to minimize all open applications”?