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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.

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  • 5
    Actually you can Alt+Space, X to maximize etc. No need for arrow keys and navigation.
    – Bitterblue
    Apr 8, 2020 at 10:07

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
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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.
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    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.
    – user
    Oct 19, 2015 at 8:49
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    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.
    – mtness
    Aug 30, 2017 at 11:46
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    ^^ 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.
    – Hicsy
    Nov 3, 2018 at 1:21
  • A quick edit with the same commands for Linux would be greatly appreciated here.
    – Darkov
    Oct 9, 2019 at 9:32
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    @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.
    – RogUE
    Jun 4, 2020 at 3:52
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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

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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.

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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".

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    does not seem to work anymore? at least with "Move windows based on: Relative Position"
    – gooleem
    Jul 12, 2022 at 10:53
  • @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.
    – Zikoat
    Jul 12, 2022 at 12:03
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Win+Shift+M (shown above, as "Restore minimized windows to the desktop.") is in Windows 11 only. The other listed shortcuts work in Windows 10, and likely older versions of Windows as well.

I would appropriately share that info as a comment on the near-perfect answer above . . . but I just need another 49 pts / 490 years seeing as how I've been on stack intermittently for 10, now. Just thank me for not complaining until today, and for never having spammed the forum with questions that have already been answered 500 times.

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    Its still an answer and have upvoted it. However. you can make it better by explaining in ypur answer, exactly what that shortcut does - MAX. MIN OR RESIZE
    – Rohit Gupta
    Nov 30, 2022 at 18:56
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Why you make it so difficult? Make a shortcut to this.

C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

Done. (you can change the ICON if you want). Works for me the ol' windows7 desktop button.

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  • Your answer is a bit terse, you could improve it by explaining why this works, what is that GUID etc.
    – Rohit Gupta
    May 17 at 3:00
  • As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please edit to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
    – Community Bot
    May 17 at 3:54

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