How to Move an Off Screen Window Back on Your Desktop

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Move a missing window back on your desktop with these quick tips
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Is one of your apps or windows hidden off-screen? This is usually a problem for computers that have external monitors attached, but it can also happen due to issues with your settings. No matter the cause, we’ll teach you how to regain your hidden windows in seconds. This wikiHow article teaches you how to move an off-screen window back to the main desktop in Windows 10 or 11.

How to Restore Off Screen Windows

  • If your window is on another monitor or desktop, or if it’s minimized, you can bring it back with a keyboard shortcut.
  • Use the Taskbar’s “Move” feature and your keyboard’s arrow keys to bring back a window you dragged offscreen.
  • If you’re using Windows 10, you can find your window with the Cascade windows feature.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

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  1. Step 1 Move windows between monitors with ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+← or ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+→.
    If you have multiple monitors set up, the window you want might be on a different screen from the one you’re currently using. Select the window’s thumbnail by clicking it in the Taskbar. Alternatively, press Alt + Tab to bring up a menu of all open windows. Hold down Alt and keep pressing Tab until the window you want is selected. Then:[1]
    • To move the selected window one screen to the left, hold Windows key + Shift + left arrow.
    • To move the selected window one screen to the right, hold Windows key + Shift + right arrow.
  2. Step 2 Restore minimized windows with ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+M.
    If you have tons of windows minimized, it can be easy to lose track of the one you want. To quickly restore all your minimized windows, press Windows key + Shift + M.[2]
    • You can also restore all windows except for the active window with Windows key + Home.
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  3. Step 3 Use ⊞ Win+Ctrl+→ or ⊞ Win+Ctrl+← to check a different desktop.
    If you have multiple desktops set up, your missing window might be on another desktop. Press the Windows key + Ctrl + the right or left arrow key to flip between desktops in either direction.[3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using the Taskbar

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  1. Step 1 Hold ⇧ Shift and right-click the window’s Taskbar icon.
    If you accidentally dragged the window you want offscreen and you can’t select it, this trick will let you move it back using the arrow keys. To get started, locate the thumbnail for the app or window you want to move in the Taskbar. Hold down Shift and right-click the icon.
  2. Step 2 Select Move.
    You should see this option in the context menu that pops up.
  3. Step 3 Press the ↑+↓+←+→ keys to move the window back into view.
    Keep pressing the arrow keys until the window moves back onto your screen. If you’re not sure which side of the screen your window ended up on, you might need to experiment until you figure out which arrow key to use.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Cascading All Windows (Windows 10)

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  1. Step 1 Right-click the Windows taskbar.
    This is the bar that’s usually at the bottom of the screen, which contains various icons and the Windows button. A menu will appear.
    • This method will not work on Windows 11, as there is no cascade feature.
  2. Step 2 Click Cascade windows.
    All your open windows will be arranged in a cascading stack. You’ll be able to see the title bar at the top of each window so you can easily spot the one you’re looking for.
    • This won’t work if your hidden window is minimized. Restore minimized windows first by pressing Windows key + Shift + M.
  3. Step 3 Click the window you want to access.
    This will bring the window to the front of the stack so you can move it wherever you like.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Changing the Display Resolution

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  1. Step 1 Open Settings.
    You can open Settings by pressing Win + I together or by clicking the gear icon in the Start menu.[4]
    • By lowering the resolution of your display, you'll force any open windows to re-arrange, which may bring them back to your main desktop. Once you have the window set in the middle of your screen, you can reset the resolution of your display.
  2. Step 2 Click System.
    This will open the System Settings page.[5]
  3. Step 3 Click Display.
    You'll see it in the panel on the left side of the window.[6]
  4. Step 4 Click the drop-down under "Display Resolution" and choose a smaller resolution.
    In this drop-down, choosing an item lower in the list than the highlighted one (your current settings) will result in a lower resolution.[7]
    • Your windows will resize and you can press Alt + Tab to activate the missing window and move it where you want it. If you did that in the allotted time (about 15 seconds), you can click Revert. If the time limit has passed, go back to Settings > System > Display > Display Resolution and change it back to the recommended setting.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Do not want split screen..how to only have one
    Darlene Antonelli
    Darlene Antonelli
    Community Answer
    Click the expand button (it's a square on most web browsers next to the X) to make the current app full-screen. That will get rid of the split-screen situation.
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-screen-resolution-and-layout-in-windows-5effefe3-2eac-e306-0b5d-2073b765876b
  5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-screen-resolution-and-layout-in-windows-5effefe3-2eac-e306-0b5d-2073b765876b
  6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-screen-resolution-and-layout-in-windows-5effefe3-2eac-e306-0b5d-2073b765876b
  7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-screen-resolution-and-layout-in-windows-5effefe3-2eac-e306-0b5d-2073b765876b

About This Article

Ken Colburn
Co-authored by:
Ken Colburn
Consumer Electronics Expert
This article was co-authored by Ken Colburn and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Ken Colburn is a Consumer Electronics Expert and the Founder & CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services. With more than 34 years of experience, he specializes in computer checkups and repairs, data recovery, and teaching others about technology. Ken also provides one-minute tech tips through his broadcast, Data Doctors Tech Tips. This article has been viewed 544,162 times.
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Co-authors: 8
Updated: March 19, 2026
Views: 544,162
Categories: Basic Computer Skills
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