What to do if a window opens off-screen and you can’t access it
Sometimes a pop-up window will open off-screen and you are unable to proceed as the open window must be closed in order to proceed. There are several options for recovering the screen, depending on whether your computer is running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Windows 10
There are several options available:
1. Use the Alt + Tab keys to move between open windows. Stop on the hidden screen, which should bring it into view.
2. Use Task View to show all windows on the same screen.
You can also open Task View by pressing the Windows key + Tab. If you don't see the Task View icon on the taskbar, right-click the Taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and then click the switch next to "Task View" to turn it on.
3. Cascade your Windows to find the screen that is out of sight.
Right-click on the taskbar and choose the Cascade Windows option
You can now sort through and find the missing window. Clicking on the window brings it to the front and makes it available on your main screen.
Windows 11
Unfortunately, Windows 11 has removed the Cascade option. Here are some alternatives:
1. Use Windows 11 Snap Layouts to rearrange your windows. You can even move around minimised windows.
What do snap layouts do?
Snap layouts
are preconfigured ways to organise
windows on your screen. You can choose from two windows side by side, both
using one half of the screen, or four windows, each using one quarter of the screen.
You might choose a layout with one window using up a third of the screen and another
window using up the rest.28 S
How do I snap layouts in Windows
11?
With your
keyboard: In the window you would like to snap, press Windows Logo Key + Z to launch the layout box. With your
mouse: In the window you would like to snap, hover over the Minimize or Maximize
button to launch the layout box.
What does the new snap layout
in Windows 11 allow users?
Snap layouts
are easily accessible by hovering the mouse over a window's maximise button or pressing
Win + Z. After invoking the menu that shows the available layouts, users can click on a zone in a layout to snap a window to that
particular zone and then use Snap Assist to finish building an entire layout of
windows.21 Aug 2024
How do you snap on Windows 11
split screen?
Click Start
and Settings. Select System. Select Multitasking, and then switch Snap windows on.
Select the window you want to split by the title bar, and then press the keyboard
shortcut Windows key + left / right arrow.
How do I turn on windows Snap?
Click the Windows icon and then the Settings icon, and select System. Go to Multitasking and enable all four switches under Snap.
Here is a youtube video to show how to set up your snap windows
2. Use keyboard shortcuts to relocate windows into corners
- Press the Windows key and up arrow key at the same time to expand the window into full-screen mode.
- Press the Windows key and left/right arrow key at the same time to create a half-screen window.
3. Finding a window that is off-screen - start the program. Right-click the program on the taskbar,
and then click Move. Move the mouse pointer to the middle of the screen.
Use the ARROW keys on the keyboard to move the program window to a viewable area on the screen.
4. Moving a window that is off-screen - If you can, click on the off-screen window or use Alt + Tab to select it.
Once it's selected, do a Shift + Right-click on its taskbar icon.
This will change the context menu and you'll see a "Move" option. Choose Move and then use your arrow keys to bring the window back into focus.
5. If the app opens off-screen, select the application on the taskbar
and press this combination to move the window to your
current monitor: Windows + Shift + Arrow Keys (Left or Right).
6. Moving a window to another monitor:
- To move a window to a display oriented to the left of your current display, press Windows + Shift + Left Arrow.
- To move a window to a display oriented to the right of your current display, press Windows + Shift + Right Arrow.