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I try to switch a window from my second monitor to the first, because my OS always opens some windows where they were last closed. E.g. if I open up VLC Player to watch a video and then move the window to monitor B, close it and reopen it, then it is opened on monitor B the next time.

This is obviously very annoying, especially if monitor B is not on.

Is there a shortcut so I can move the windows easily to monitor A again if it has focus?

I tried to give the window focus and press

Windows+SHIFT+→ or: Windows+SHIFT+←

But nothing happens.

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  • 108
    Windows+SHIFT+→ works for me on four monitors.
    – Peter Hahndorf
    Commented Oct 9, 2016 at 16:42
  • Thanks for your Feedback! Thats weird, shouldn't it work for me aswell then?
    – Black
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 6:10
  • 2
    I would think so, if it doesn't, there may be third party tools intercepting keyboard calls. Not sure.
    – Peter Hahndorf
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 6:14
  • I will check for any external software. It didn't worked before i upgraded from windows 7 to windows 10 either.
    – Black
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 6:35
  • 5
    For me it's just Windows+Cursor Keys to move windows across desktops by switching them through various sizes.
    – Seth
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 7:31

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
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I solved it by unchecking the box which you can see in the following screenshot. Ease of access English version

Go to Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Make the Keyboard Easier to Use

Then search for the setting "Make it easier to manage windows" and un-check the option "Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen"

After unchecking this option, it works again.

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  • 5
    English screenshot. However this also disables snapping (dragging windows to edges or Windows+left/right)
    – phuclv
    Commented Oct 20, 2017 at 9:54
  • Thanks for the fix to a very annoying problem. Is there a bug report to microsoft?
    – Bruce Adams
    Commented Mar 22, 2023 at 20:52
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Go to Settings -> System -> Multitasking

The first section in the Multitasking settings is called Snap.  I had the first four items in the list set to Off.  When I changed them to On, it (moving windows with Windows+Shift+→ / ← (Right / Left arrow key) started working again.

IMG:
(Click image to enlarge)

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34

An alternative method of moving desktop applications using the keyboard, is to open the application system menu by pressing ALT + Space and then press m to select move. Then you can use the arrow keys to move the application window. I regularly use this to move applications that are placed outside my desktop.

Note that this will not work if "move" is disabled in the application. Which will be the case if the application is maximized.

This method also works when "Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen" is checked in the control panel.

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  • 3
    "Note that this will not work if "move" is disabled in the application. Which will be the case if the application is maximized." In that case, Windows will boing at you to let you know it's not working; then Alt+ Space then R will restore the window to non-full screen and THEN you can ALT + Space, M arrowkey to move it.
    – Steve Rindsberg
    Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 15:44
  • You save my life! It is midnight now and I have to do some urgent work on remote PC. Since I have 2 monitor and Google remote desktop only support single screen. Visual Studio is opened and unsave work on 2nd monitor, so I have to move to primary screen. The ALT+SPACE is works, and classical method always work!
    – Cheung
    Commented Jan 19, 2019 at 17:56
  • Alt+space does nothing in my Win 10. Why?
    – Pedro77
    Commented Dec 25, 2019 at 19:22
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    @Pedro77 Alt+space opens the window menu of the active application. The application has to be made active first. Applications can disable this behaviour.
    – staaleh
    Commented Dec 27, 2019 at 11:26
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    In case the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, you can also access the "Move" function for a window by hovering over the application on the task bar, then hovering over the preview window, and right-clicking
    – Unicorn Sprinkles
    Commented Aug 24, 2023 at 0:08
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A couple things that can prevent this key combo from working are:

  1. Filter Keys is turned on.

    Open the "Ease of Access Keyboard Settings" page and disable this feature.

    Filter Keys Off

  2. GPO: "Turn off Windows+X hotkeys" is enabled.

    Do the reverse of what this article details. This is less likely to cause the issue, as having this enabled did not prevent the hotkey from working in my tests, but I suppose it's theoretically possible.

I may add additional causes if I discover any, but I hope this helps resolve your current issue. :)

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  • Thank you, I am currently not at home and can't try it, but i will do and report back :). I already solved it though it was indeed a windows setting. I will report asap how I solved it.
    – Black
    Commented Mar 10, 2017 at 10:03
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    This totally worked for me, but I had "Filter Keys" already turned "off" but I also had to disable "Allow the shortcut key to start filter keys" since it was blocking the <shift> key from working.
    – DH4
    Commented Sep 30, 2019 at 2:16
  • Up votes are always appreciated mate. Cheers.
    – Chiramisu
    Commented Sep 30, 2019 at 3:23
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In the newer Versions of Windows (1903) the Snap Dialog has changed.

It is necessary to have Snap on to use Alt-Shift-Arrow. The checkboxes below do not have an impact.

enter image description here

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  • 3
    Thanks! This worked. Can use Win+Shift+Arrow to move windows across monitors
    – tHeSiD
    Commented Feb 8, 2021 at 7:02

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