Used Task Manager to force a window to Maximize, now can't restore to default

Cuheru · Jun 20, 2024

Used Task Manager to forcibly maximize a window that by all other means had maximize greyed out, but now the program is stuck like that or completely minimized, with no option to restore it to its default.

Also apparently by doing this with Task Manager, it now opens automatically maximized. This is a problem because its idea of maximized is actually larger than my screen and resolution(2160), though I did try changing my resolution around to see if that solved it, to no effect.

I've tried all sorts of listed hotkeys or combinations to restore it, and none have worked and there is no off/restore button to select in Task Manager's right-click drop-down menu just:

Switch To
Bring to Front
Minimize
Maximize
End Task

Spunk · Jun 20, 2024

Reverse what you did in the Task Manager
Option 8 in this link

Maximize Window in Windows 11 Tutorial

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...

www.elevenforum.com

Cuheru · Jun 20, 2024

Spunk said:
Reverse what you did in the Task Manager
Option 8 in this link

Maximize Window in Windows 11 Tutorial

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...

www.elevenforum.com

Thanks for the quick response.

However, clicking on maximize again does nothing. I may be doing a stupid and missing something obvious though.

Spunk · Jun 20, 2024

The other steps in the tutorial linked are other ways to reverse the Maximize step.
Or you can do a System Restore to a time before you Maximized the app.

Edwin · Jun 20, 2024

Grab the window's Title Bar with your mouse and pull it down out of it's maximized state...

MitchInHome · Jun 20, 2024

Shut Down and restart ?

glasskuter · Jun 20, 2024

Exactly. Size it manually. Windows should remember the size it was when the window is closed and open that size next time. If your window is so large you can't grab the edges with the double ended arrow, Use the snap feature to position the window to one of the smaller sizes. Drag that small window to the center of the screen and then drag edges of window to what size you want. I never advise anyone to open a window maximized anymore but to size them yourself. Opening Windows maximized went by the wayside for me when Windows 10 came out. It causes all kind of weird stuff, especially if one hides his taskbar..

Spunk · Jun 20, 2024

In the Window, press the Alt key + Space bar, choose Minimize

If the windows is viewable but you can't move it from the toolbar, you can also choose Move from that menu, then one of the Arrow keys, and you will get the 4 Cross arrow where you can grab the window and drag it where you want.

Cuheru · Jun 20, 2024

Spunk said:
The other steps in the tutorial linked are other ways to reverse the Maximize step.
Or you can do a System Restore to a time before you Maximized the app.

System Restore worked, though none of the other options did.

Thanks for the help man, sorry if I asked stupid questions or ignored anything obvious.

Cuheru · Jun 20, 2024

For completionist's sake, will also say that, at least for those of the other options given that I tried before I started the restore and walked away from my computer:

@Edwin That didn't work for me, just dragged around the forcibly maximized window.

@MitchInHome Also Didn't work, tried it twice.

@glasskuter Program Window did not allow itself to be sized manually(with the edge drag arrows anyway) to begin with, would have started there if I could.

@Spunk regarding the hotkey solution: None of the normal hotkeys were able to help me.

Thankfully, System Restore sorted out whatever the problem was. I appreciate everyone taking the time to chime in.

dacrone · Jun 20, 2024

Not to bump a solved topic, but just for future readers…

Hover over taskbar instance of window, when the thumbnail populates, right click on it and choose restore or resize. It will auto move your mouse to the correct location. *also good to do when a window is on a screen you cannot access. Just choose the move option and click and drag it back (or win+shift+arrow). Ok. Rant over.