How To Move Windows That Are Off Screen Back On The Desktop In Windows

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winlogo.jpgHave you ever changed your display resolution or moved an application window to where you could no longer grab the top of the window to resize it?

Or maybe you use dual monitors with a laptop and undock it, only to forget to move the window (or windows) back to the primary desktop, but you can still see the application in the taskbar and can't do anything with it?

If so, there is an easy trick that will bail you out and let you bring windows back on screen with out giving up and rebooting your PC.

First, right click on the application tab in the taskbar and select Move . If right clicking and the Move option is greyed out, try using ALT+TAB to select it and bring it into focus on the taskbar.

After selecting Move, your cursor will change to the "Move" mode displaying four arrows as shown in the following screenshot:

Now using your keyboard, press once either Left, Right, Up or Top keys, then move your mouse until the Window appears on the Desktop. You can also continue to press one of the arrow keys to move the Window back on screen manually.

This trick works great for recovering off screen windows especially if you use remote control utilities that tend to cause display problems and resize windows to point where you can no longer grab it with the mouse to move or minimize.

Filed under Windows Tips by  #

Comments on How To Move Windows That Are Off Screen Back On The Desktop In Windows Leave a Comment

December 5, 2008

Marshall @ 9:38 am #

I am using Windows XP and have a similar problem. However, when I hit ALT-SPACE when the application is highlighted the 'move' option is greyed out.

When I try ALT-Tabbing to it it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Can you please explain exactly how to do this if the 'move' menu item is greyed out?

Please advise.

Regards,
Marshall.

Marshall @ 2:54 pm #

When I hit Alt+Space the menu appears, but when I hit 'M' it does nothing (this is because the 'M'ove option is not there! in the menu).

Any other idea? Is there any way to go through the registry to access the object HWND handle or something and manually change the x,y coordinates of the application window?

Or any other ideas?

Please advise.

Regards,
Marshall.

February 8, 2009

James Parsons @ 3:27 am #

Dammit, that did the trick. Thanks haha

February 9, 2009

Ronen @ 4:55 pm #

thank you very much, Watching The Net, i am a pc tech and i didn't think of your solution, you helped alot, because right clicking the window on the task bar didn't have the option to move, using alt space popped the menu on my monitor and let me move it.

September 30, 2009

Scott @ 11:52 am #

I am having the same problem with "move" not being an option!

November 30, 2009

Ralph @ 1:42 pm #

thanks mate!!! This worked great on windows 7, even though it doesnt even have a menu that pops up!! :DD!!

December 16, 2009

SteveB @ 12:30 pm #

Using CuteFTP, and no, this method doesn't work: there is no "Move" option available in this app.

January 12, 2011

vaxx @ 1:42 am #

Thanks for the alt space m trick. One to burn into memory 😀

March 19, 2011

Ash @ 6:34 am #

Alt+Space worked for me too. I can't believe MS made this so hard to use. I have wasted hours and frustration trying to use application after undocking from dual monitor situation. Bad OS.

November 29, 2011

thanx @ 10:08 am #

thank you u saved my firefox from shut down with process manager 😛

April 14, 2013

gilad @ 5:00 am #

I found how to do it if you dont have "move"
go to task mannager, right click the app and select maximize, and then you can change it as you wish.

January 23, 2022

Nathan Ricker @ 5:54 am #

Thanks for the simple instructions. Would you please help me with how can I maximize into fullscreen from the remote desktop window?

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