Direct shortcut for Windows Maximize/Minimize/Restore window?

Question

Is there a direct shortcut for maximizing/minimizing/restoring current window in Windows (10)?

I know I can press Alt+Space and then use the arrows to navigate and select, but I looking for a direct shortcut.

Solution 1

From Help Docs on Keyboard shortcuts in Windows:

Shortcut	Action
Win+D	Display the desktop.
Win+M	Minimize all windows.
Win+Shift+M	Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
Win+↑	Maximize the window.
Win+←	Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
Win+→	Maximize the window to the right side of the screen.
Win+↓	Minimize the window.
Win+Home	Minimize all but the active window.
Win+Shift+↑	Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.

Solution 2

Currently as per my experience in Windows 10:

Restore Down The Maximized Window OR Minimize The Restored Window
Win + Down Arrow

Minimize The Maximized Window
Win + Down Arrow (twice)

Maximize The Restored Window
Win + Up Arrow

Solution 3

I was looking for the same thing, and I want to refer to an answer by Sam Hasler who made an AutoHotKey script that adds a shortcut for that task.

In short, this is the script (you need ahk) - just save it as an .ahk file and put it in the startup folder (open it with shell:startup from the Run):

;=========================================================;
; WINDOWS KEY + Alt + Down  --  Minimizies Active window
;=========================================================;
; instead of "Restore Down" for Win+Down

#!Down::WinMinimize, A

For more details, go to the referred answer.

Solution 4

If you are using Powertoys Fancyzones, you have to set the setting PowerToys->FancyZones->Override Windows Snap->"Move windows based on: Zone index" to be able to maximize/minimize using Win+Up/Down.

There is an open feature request to be able to maximize while using the setting "Move windows based on: Relative Position".

View more solutions

Comments

[Bitterblue]

Actually you can Alt+Space, X to maximize etc. No need for arrow keys and navigation.

[user]

The Win+Down was a new one to me. I have always used Alt+Space, n (because n is the hotkey for Minimize), but this is language-dependent.

[mtness]

Win+Down doesn't minimize a maximized window to tray directly, it first "unsnaps" the window, you have to press again for the window to be minimized to tray.

[Alfie Anil]

^^ This. and then if you double-tap the down-arrow, it means it will only restore back to a floating-window. Wish there was a single-tap combo to always minimise.

[Darkov]

A quick edit with the same commands for Linux would be greatly appreciated here.

[Sam Rueby]

There's a lovely powertoy now that can help you learn these shortcuts: github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/tree/master/src/modules/…

[RogUE]

@Darkov That would be very difficult. Linux has several window managers and desktop environments, and in my experience not all of them come with a lot of keyboard shortcuts preconfigured, but offer ways to configure them by the user.

[Andy Fraley]

I think the drawback to these hot keys is that they aren't one handed. I'm not sure if there's a similar Windows tool, but Spectacle on OSX has simple one handed shortcuts for window management that are much quicker to press, and you don't have to take a hand off the mouse. For example cmd+option+f to maximize a window.

[Manngo]

I use Windows in a virtual machine on my Mac. I am always pressing <kbd>⌘←</kbd> to go to the beginning of the line, only to find the window moving to the left of the screen. The <kbd>Win↑</kbd> will be a great help. BTW I find that I have to do that in two steps: the first time moves the window to the top left corner.

[Admin]

does not seem to work anymore? at least with "Move windows based on: Relative Position"

[Admin]

@gooleem Same. If you go into powertoys settings->fancyzones->override windows snap->move windows based on: Zone Index, then maximizing using windows shortcuts works. If you still want to move by relative position, there is an open feature request for that. I will update the answer.