How to Move a Window that is OFF Screen

There are some cases where you’ll start an application or open a window and it will be off the screen. In majority of the cases, you might be able to see and interact with half (or a part of the window) but the other half will be off screen. Rarely, you’ll find yourself with an application or window that is completely off the screen. In these situations, it is very hard to move these windows or even interact with them. There are so many cases where we noticed that users weren’t even able to move the window which can be really inconvenient and might make the window/application completely useless.

This problem can happen when you accidentally move a window off the screen. This can also happen when you have a dual screen and left the window open on the other display. So, when you move back to a single screen, your window might open at the same location.

Method 1: Use Task Manager

Note: This method will not work for the latest version of Windows 10. The option to maximize the window via Task Manager is not available in the latest versions of Windows 10.

You can maximize your windows using the Task Manager. Here are the steps for locating the maximize option for your application.

1. Press and Hold CTRL, SHIFT, and Esc key simultaneously (CTRL + SHIFT + ESC)
2. This should open the Task Manager
3. Locate your application from the list. Make sure you are in the Process tab
4. Click the arrow besides the application name
5. Right click the application entry from the newly opened list and select Maximize. If you are seeing multiple entries in the newly opened list then try to right click and select maximize for all the entries

This should maximize your window and resolve the issue.

Method 2: Use Windows Key Shortcuts

You can use the Windows key along with the arrow keys to move your application window. Here are the steps for getting your Windows back to the screen

1. If your windows is minimized then Hold Windows key and press the Up arrow key to maximize the window.
2. Hold Windows Key and press the left arrow key to change the location of your application window. If it doesn’t appear on the screen then press the left arrow key (while holding down the Windows key again). Pressing the Windows and Left arrow key brings the application window to the left side of screen. This combination of the keys make your window go through a cycle of positions. So, you might have to press the left arrow key multiple times to bring the window to the appropriate location.

Method 3: Use Taskbar

You can open the right-click menu via the Taskbar for the problematic application and select the move option from there. This option will let you move the application window via the arrow keys and even mouse as well. Follow the steps given below to move the application via the taskbar menu

1. Right click your application icon from the Taskbar and select Move
2. If you are on Windows 10 or you simply can’t see a menu with the Move option the Hold Shift key and then right click the application icon from the Taskbar. Select Move
3. Press any of the arrow keys Now the application window will be attached to your mouse. Simply move the mouse and your application window should move along with it. Note: You don’t have to click or anything, simply move the mouse around.
4. You can also just use the arrow keys to move the application windows. In step 2, keep pressing the arrow key and your application window will move in that direction. Since the application window will move to the direction of your arrow key, make sure you press the right arrow key.

This should help you get your application window to the right place.

Method 4: Use Taskbar (alternative)

You can open the Taskbar’s own menu and select the Cascade Window option to bring the application window back to the screen. The main purpose of the Cascade window option is to arrange all open windows to overlap one another with their title bars remaining visible. This option allows you to quickly see which windows are open. Fortunately for us, this will bring the out-of-screen window in the middle as well.

Note: This is a very messy option especially if you have a lot of windows open on your screen. It will bring all the windows in the middle and resize the windows as well. So, if you don’t want to deal with resizing all the windows again then we will suggest other methods listed here.

1. Right click on the Taskbar (not on an icon, simple on the Taskbar)
2. Select Cascade window

That’s it.