If you’re a Windows user, you know exactly how to switch between open applications and how to minimize and maximize open windows. Almost all of us use the maximize and minimize buttons at the top right of our apps for this purpose. Did you know that there are several other ways to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10? In this article we will see how to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10.

If you ever noticed that in addition to maximizing and minimizing a window, another option is available in Windows 11/10 – “Restore”. Before we start discussing the different ways to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10, let’s take a look at the difference between these three terms.

• Maximize: When we say “maximize”, we mean an application that covers the entire screen of the user’s computer, regardless of its screen size.
• Minimize: Minimizing an application hides it from the desktop or laptop screen without closing it. The application remains open, but only hides from the screen. You can access it by clicking its icon on the taskbar.
• restore: Restoring a window does not maximize it to full screen or minimize it to the taskbar. Clicking the Restore button will resize the selected window. You can think of this as a state between maximizing and minimizing. When you restore an application, both expand and collapse 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 using the following methods:

1. Using the maximize and minimize buttons
2. By clicking on the application title bar
3. Using the title bar menu
4. On the taskbar
5. Using keyboard shortcuts
6. Maximize and minimize all open windows

Let’s look at all these methods in detail.

1]Maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10 using maximize and minimize buttons.

Let’s start with a method that is known to almost all Windows users. Almost all of you are familiar with this method. You can expand and collapse applications by clicking on the corresponding buttons. These buttons are available at the top right of the application or open window.

When the application is not open in full screen mode, you will see the “maximize” and “minimize” buttons in the upper right corner. minus sign closes the application and square box maximizes a window or application. Click on the button according to your needs.

When you maximize the window, you will see that the single square button has changed to a double square button. it restore. If you click on this button, the size of the open window will change.

2]Deploy and restore the application by clicking its title bar.

This trick does not minimize the window. Instead, it restores and maximizes it. To deploy and restore an application, you simply need to double-click on an empty space in its title bar. If the application is open in full screen mode, double-clicking on the title bar will restore it, and vice versa.

3]Maximize and minimize the open window using the title bar menu.

We saw above that double clicking on the title bar of an open window only maximizes and restores it. You cannot minimize an application by double-clicking its title bar. But if you use the title bar menu, you can maximize, minimize, and restore the window.

To bring up the title bar menu, right-click the application’s title bar, or click Alt + spacebar. After that, select the desired option. In the title bar menu, you can find a specific option greyed out. This is because your application is currently in this mode. For example, if your app is in full screen mode (expanded), you will see that the Expand option in the title bar menu is greyed out.

4]Maximize and minimize windows on the taskbar.

The icons of applications or programs that we open appear on the taskbar. We can switch between open applications or programs by clicking on the corresponding icon on the taskbar or by pressing the button Alt + TabWith. Most of you probably don’t know that you can maximize and minimize apps from the taskbar.

The following steps will help you maximize and minimize windows on the taskbar.

1. Hover your mouse over the application icon.
2. You will see a thumbnail preview of this application. Right click it.
3. When you right-click on a thumbnail preview, Windows will show you a menu to minimize, maximize, restore, and close the application.
4. Select the desired option.

5]Maximize and minimize apps using Windows 11/10 keyboard shortcuts.

You can maximize and minimize open windows using keyboard shortcuts. Let’s see what these keyboard shortcuts are and how to use them.

• Win + Up Arrow Key: This key combination enlarges the window.
• Win + Down Arrow Key: When using this keyboard shortcut, the open window is first restored and 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.
• Windows + Home: This key combination minimizes all windows except the active desktop window.
• Win+Number Keys: This keyboard shortcut is used to open applications pinned to the taskbar. For example, if you want to open the fourth application pinned to the taskbar, you need to press the button Windows + 4with and so on. This keyboard shortcut only works for 9 apps because 9 is the largest single digit.

You can also use this Win + Number Keys combination to maximize and minimize windows. For example, if you opened the application pinned under the 6th number on the taskbar, you need to press the button Windows + 6s to keep it to a minimum. Press the Win + 6 keys again to expand it.

In the screenshot above, I have numbered the applications pinned to the taskbar from 1 to 7. With all of these applications open, the keyboard shortcuts for maximizing and minimizing windows are as follows:

6]Maximize and minimize all open windows

pressing Win+M will minimize all open windows. If you want to maximize or minimize all open windows at the same time, you can use Win+D. Clicking this shortcut will minimize all open windows. Clicking again will maximize all minimized windows. Apart from this keyboard shortcut, there is another way to maximize and minimize all open windows at the same time. There is a vertical bar at the bottom right of the taskbar. When you click on this bar, all windows will be minimized. If you click on that vertical bar again, all minimized windows will be maximized.

read: How to select, copy and paste, delete, rename multiple files and folders in Windows 11/10

How to maximize a window in Windows 11?

There are several ways to maximize a window in Windows 11. The most common way is to use the maximize button at the top right of the open window. This method is used by most Windows users. Apart from this, there are several other ways to maximize a window in Windows 11. To do this, you can use keyboard shortcuts, title bar menu, etc. In addition to this, double clicking on the title bar of an open window also maximizes and restores windows.

We have described all the ways to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10 in this article.

What are the keyboard shortcuts for maximizing and minimizing a window?

You can use Win + arrow keys to maximize and minimize windows. If you press Win + up arrow keys, your window will be maximized. If you press Win + down arrow keys, your window will be minimized. In addition, you can also use Win + number keys for the same. We have explained all keyboard shortcuts to maximize and minimize windows in Windows 11/10.

Hope this helps.

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