General Maximize Window in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:

Maximize_banner.png

This tutorial will show you different ways to maximize an open window for your account in Windows 11.

You can maximize a window in Windows 11 to "fit to screen" or "fill the screen" with the window.

When the window is maximized, you can restore it back to its original size and position when wanted.


Contents





Option One

Maximize Window using Keyboard Shortcut


1 While the window is in focus, press the Win :win: + Up arrow keys.




Option Two

Maximize Window using Double Click


1 Double click/tap on the title bar of the window. (see screenshot below)

Double_click_to_maximize.png





Option Three

Maximize Window using Drag to Top


This option requires Snap to be turned on.


1 Drag the window by the title bar to the top of the screen until you see the acrylic blur fill screen animation in the background, and release to maximize the window. (see screenshot below)

Drag_to_top_to_maximize.png





Option Four

Maximize Window using Maximize Caption Button


1 Click/tap on the Maximize caption button at the top right corner of the window. (see screenshot below)

Maximize_button.png





Option Five

Maximize Window using Title Bar Menu


1 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshot below)
  • Right click on the title bar of the window, and click/tap on Maximize.
  • While the window is in focus, press the Alt + Space keys and release to open the title bar menu, and press the X key.
Title_bar_menu_to_maximize.png





Option Six

Maximize Window using Taskbar Menu


1 Press and hold the Shift key.

2 Right click on the window's taskbar icon. (see screenshot below)

3 Release the Shift key.

4 Click/tap on Maximize.

taskbar_menu_maximize.png





Option Seven

Maximize Window from Taskbar Thumbnail Preview


1 Hover the pointer on the window's taskbar icon to see its thumbnail preview. (see screenshot below)

2 Right click on the taskbar thumbnail preview.

3 Click/tap on Maximize.

thumbnail_maximize.png





Option Eight

Maximize Window from Task Manager


1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 Click/tap on the Processes tab. (see screenshot below)

3 Right click on the app (ex: "This PC" for File Explorer) you want to maximize its window.

4 Click/tap on Maximize.

Task_Manager_maximize.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
All good tricks for maximize. Now...... what's the trick for getting Task Manager to remember full screen on next open? TM seems to have a mind of it's own and doesn't follow any general rules that Explorer has for opening windows full screen. No, not a shortcut trick.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, D...11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 log...32GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
OS
Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, Dev and Canary
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware R12
CPU
11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 logical proc.
Motherboard
Alienware 07HV66 (U3E1)
Memory
32GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 27" Curved C27F591
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
1TB NVMe PM961 NVMe SSD SAMSUNG (Boot),
2TB Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (SATA),
1TB Samsung SSD 850 EVO,
1TB Seagate ST1000DM003-1ER162,
1TB WD Elements 10A8 USB Device,
1TB BUFFALO HD-PNTU3 USB Device,
1TB x4 Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device
PSU
850W PSU Liquid Cooled Chassis - CyberPower 1500 UPS
Case
Alienware Mid-Tower (Dell)
Cooling
Liquid Cooled - 3 fan - Top exhaust
Keyboard
Logitech K800 Wireless
Mouse
Logitech MX Master Wireless
Internet Speed
1 Gigabit
Browser
FF, Chrome, Opera, Edge
Antivirus
Defender, MBAM, SuperAntiSpyware
Other Info
Blueray R/W Optical,
Canon MX410 series Printer/Fax/Scanner/Copier,
Altec 5.1 Speakers L-R, Mid Base Boom,

Macrium Home Premium, Revo Pro, Screenspresso Pro
Same question - Using, say, Snipping Tool. It always opens in a teeny window. I want to set it for Max. There's no "Properties" as I can find, to set it?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH16GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSFT Surface Pro 8
CPU
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH
Memory
16GB
Same question - Using, say, Snipping Tool. It always opens in a teeny window. I want to set it for Max. There's no "Properties" as I can find, to set it?
Crete a shortcut to it and change the properties in that. Then use that as your go-to for the app.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, D...11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 log...32GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
OS
Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, Dev and Canary
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware R12
CPU
11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 logical proc.
Motherboard
Alienware 07HV66 (U3E1)
Memory
32GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 27" Curved C27F591
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
1TB NVMe PM961 NVMe SSD SAMSUNG (Boot),
2TB Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (SATA),
1TB Samsung SSD 850 EVO,
1TB Seagate ST1000DM003-1ER162,
1TB WD Elements 10A8 USB Device,
1TB BUFFALO HD-PNTU3 USB Device,
1TB x4 Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device
PSU
850W PSU Liquid Cooled Chassis - CyberPower 1500 UPS
Case
Alienware Mid-Tower (Dell)
Cooling
Liquid Cooled - 3 fan - Top exhaust
Keyboard
Logitech K800 Wireless
Mouse
Logitech MX Master Wireless
Internet Speed
1 Gigabit
Browser
FF, Chrome, Opera, Edge
Antivirus
Defender, MBAM, SuperAntiSpyware
Other Info
Blueray R/W Optical,
Canon MX410 series Printer/Fax/Scanner/Copier,
Altec 5.1 Speakers L-R, Mid Base Boom,

Macrium Home Premium, Revo Pro, Screenspresso Pro
But of course the Snipping Tool launches from a Win key... So that wouldn't work?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH16GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSFT Surface Pro 8
CPU
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH
Memory
16GB

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, D...11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 log...32GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
OS
Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, Dev and Canary
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware R12
CPU
11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 logical proc.
Motherboard
Alienware 07HV66 (U3E1)
Memory
32GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 27" Curved C27F591
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
1TB NVMe PM961 NVMe SSD SAMSUNG (Boot),
2TB Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (SATA),
1TB Samsung SSD 850 EVO,
1TB Seagate ST1000DM003-1ER162,
1TB WD Elements 10A8 USB Device,
1TB BUFFALO HD-PNTU3 USB Device,
1TB x4 Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device
PSU
850W PSU Liquid Cooled Chassis - CyberPower 1500 UPS
Case
Alienware Mid-Tower (Dell)
Cooling
Liquid Cooled - 3 fan - Top exhaust
Keyboard
Logitech K800 Wireless
Mouse
Logitech MX Master Wireless
Internet Speed
1 Gigabit
Browser
FF, Chrome, Opera, Edge
Antivirus
Defender, MBAM, SuperAntiSpyware
Other Info
Blueray R/W Optical,
Canon MX410 series Printer/Fax/Scanner/Copier,
Altec 5.1 Speakers L-R, Mid Base Boom,

Macrium Home Premium, Revo Pro, Screenspresso Pro
To snip a screenshot - you hit Win+Shift+S...
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH16GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSFT Surface Pro 8
CPU
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH
Memory
16GB
K, wait a minute!
Are you guys talkin about Snipping Tool or the Snip N Sketch thing???

0002550.png
 

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    ASUS ROG Strix
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  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home
To snip a screenshot - you hit Win+Shift+S...
I don't use the Windows Snipping tool, I use another app. BUT..... I found the Snipping tool app and created a shortcut to it. Then modified the properties to open in MAX window. Unfortunately, because it is "Store" type app it does not honor those settings and still opened in a small window. You can still expand it to full with just one click on the title bar where the full screen indicator is. Sorry it won't work the other way.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, D...11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 log...32GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
OS
Multi-boot Windows 11 & 10 - RTM, RP, Beta, Dev and Canary
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware R12
CPU
11th Gen i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz, 8 cores/16 logical proc.
Motherboard
Alienware 07HV66 (U3E1)
Memory
32GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 w/10GB GDDR5X mem
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 27" Curved C27F591
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
1TB NVMe PM961 NVMe SSD SAMSUNG (Boot),
2TB Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (SATA),
1TB Samsung SSD 850 EVO,
1TB Seagate ST1000DM003-1ER162,
1TB WD Elements 10A8 USB Device,
1TB BUFFALO HD-PNTU3 USB Device,
1TB x4 Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device
PSU
850W PSU Liquid Cooled Chassis - CyberPower 1500 UPS
Case
Alienware Mid-Tower (Dell)
Cooling
Liquid Cooled - 3 fan - Top exhaust
Keyboard
Logitech K800 Wireless
Mouse
Logitech MX Master Wireless
Internet Speed
1 Gigabit
Browser
FF, Chrome, Opera, Edge
Antivirus
Defender, MBAM, SuperAntiSpyware
Other Info
Blueray R/W Optical,
Canon MX410 series Printer/Fax/Scanner/Copier,
Altec 5.1 Speakers L-R, Mid Base Boom,

Macrium Home Premium, Revo Pro, Screenspresso Pro
1675981944548.png


Yeah, because it's an inherent "app" there's no Properties, etc. Ugh
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH16GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSFT Surface Pro 8
CPU
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GH
Memory
16GB
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