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Is there a way to raise all windows under the Windows 7 task-bar group

Example -

  1. Open your preferred browser (don't maximise it)
  2. Click the taskbar icon twice - it minimises and maximises (hide and raise)
  3. Now open a second window for your browser (again don't maximise it - put it side by side with your other one)
  4. Click the taskbar group-icon - you get a preview-list of windows, you need to choose one to hide or raise - just one at a time.

What I'm looking for is the ability to raise or hide all of them in the group. So either:

  • Click the browser taskbar group-icon, both windows raise, click it again - both lower; OR
  • Click the browser taskbar group-icon, click the preview window in some way that indicates all of the windows in the group

Any ideas if this is possible?

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8

Here's something I've found that does what I need, not one click, but not too bad.

Hold down ctrl and click on a group - each time you do one of the windows will be restored in turn in its original position and brought to focus on top. After sufficient clicks all windows in the group will be on top.

Clicking more times than there are windows is harmless as the windows remain on top, you only change which exact window has the focus.

I hope this is of some use to others.

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  • It's the best of the not-great solutions. – Grant Birchmeier Nov 11 '13 at 23:42
  • The best of all TERRIBLE solutions, yes. If I have 4 explorer windows open, I need to not only hold a key down but ALSO click 4 times (!!!!) on my mouse to restore them all. And Windows is supposed to be for professionals. OMG. – MrUpsidown Dec 30 '20 at 14:20
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Shift+right-click to get options such as cascading the windows or stacking them. It won't restore their original positions, but it will get them all open on the screen.

alt text

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  • 1
    Note that you have to right-click on an empty section on the taskbar to do this. – Hello71 Jul 14 '10 at 14:30
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    Incorrect. You can right-click on a program which has multiple windows open and get the same menu. It will then only apply that action to those windows. If you click on an empty section of the taskbar, it will apply the action to all your open windows. – nhinkle Jul 14 '10 at 16:10
  • -1 to Hello71 for incorrect information – Moab Jul 15 '10 at 19:37
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    Thanks for the info - The cascade or side-by-side options will be useful to some people, but not to my requirements. What I'm after is essentially is "Restore All Windows", but bring them to the front also. It seems that "Restore" will only be available if at least one of the windows have been minimised, and may restore them under other unrelated windows. – Greg Jul 15 '10 at 23:33
  • @nhinkle - Thanks also for getting me thinking about ctrl/shift/alt type modifiers. I've found something that works thanks to your inspiration. – Greg Jul 15 '10 at 23:38

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