PcFixin'

How to Resize, Snap, and Switch Windows in Windows 11

By PcFixin' · July 17, 2026 · Windows · Windows 11, window management, Snap layouts

Learn easy ways to resize, arrange, and move between open windows using Windows 11 controls, Snap layouts, and keyboard shortcuts.

Before you start

These instructions are for Windows 11, including current versions such as Windows 11 24H2. Most basic controls and shortcuts also work in Windows 10, but Snap layouts and some menu options may look different.

A window is the movable box used by an app, folder, document, or website. Most windows have Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons in the upper-right corner. Apps with custom designs may display these controls a little differently, but they usually work the same way.

Resize or move a window

You can resize most windows by dragging an edge or corner. A window must be restored—not maximized—to resize it freely. If it fills the screen, click the Restore Down button in the upper-right corner first. It is the button showing two overlapping squares.

To move a window without changing its size, drag its title bar. The title bar is the strip across the top that usually contains the app or document name. Release the mouse button when the window reaches the position you want.

1. Point to any edge or corner of the window until the pointer changes to a two-headed arrow.
2. Click and hold, then drag inward to make the window smaller or outward to make it larger.
3. Release the mouse button when the window is the right size.
4. To maximize the window, double-click its title bar or click the Maximize button.
5. To minimize it without closing the app, click the Minimize button. Select the app on the taskbar to bring it back.

Arrange windows with Snap layouts

Snap layouts divide your screen into ready-made areas, making it easy to place two, three, or four windows side by side. The available arrangements depend on your screen size and resolution.

To see the layouts, point to the Maximize button in the upper-right corner of an open window. You can also press Windows key+Z. Choose a zone, and Windows places the current window there. Snap Assist then shows thumbnails of your other open windows so you can fill the remaining space.

If Snap layouts do not appear, open Settings, select System, and then select Multitasking. Make sure Snap windows is turned on. Select the arrow next to that setting if you want to adjust related behavior.

1. Open the first app or window you want to arrange.
2. Point to its Maximize button, or press Windows key+Z.
3. Select a layout and then choose the zone where the window should go.
4. Select another open window from the Snap Assist thumbnails to fill the next zone.
5. Repeat if the chosen layout has additional spaces.

Snap windows by dragging or with the keyboard

You do not have to open the Snap layouts menu. Drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen to snap it to that half. Dragging it to a corner places it in a quarter of the screen. On current Windows 11 versions, dragging a window toward the top of the screen can also reveal a bar of Snap layout choices.

Keyboard shortcuts are often faster. Windows key+Left Arrow or Windows key+Right Arrow snaps the active window to one side. Windows key+Up Arrow maximizes it, while Windows key+Down Arrow restores or minimizes it, depending on its current position. You can combine arrow shortcuts to move a window into a corner.

To move the active window to another monitor, press Windows key+Shift+Left Arrow or Windows key+Shift+Right Arrow.

Adjust windows after snapping

When two snapped windows meet, point to the divider between them. If a resize handle appears, drag it to give one window more room and the other less. Windows may resize both windows together so the arrangement stays neatly aligned.

To remove a window from a snapped position, drag its title bar away from the edge. You can then move and resize it normally. Windows 11 may remember groups of snapped apps. When you point to one of those apps on the taskbar, a thumbnail for the whole snap group may appear, letting you restore the arrangement together.

Switch between open windows

Press Alt+Tab to display your open windows, then keep holding Alt while tapping Tab until the window you want is highlighted. Release Alt to switch to it. Pressing Alt+Shift+Tab moves through the list in the opposite direction.

For a larger overview, press Windows key+Tab to open Task View. Select any window to bring it forward. Task View also shows virtual desktops, which provide separate workspaces for different activities. Select New desktop to create one, or use Windows key+Ctrl+Left Arrow and Windows key+Ctrl+Right Arrow to move between desktops.

You can also select an app icon on the taskbar. If that app has several windows open, Windows displays thumbnails so you can choose the correct one. Press Alt+F4 when you want to close the active window rather than merely switch away from it.

Bottom line

Windows 11 gives you several simple ways to organize your workspace: drag to resize, use Snap layouts for tidy arrangements, and switch apps with Alt+Tab or Task View. Learning just a few of these controls can make everyday multitasking much quicker.