Thankfully, the Windows operating systems come with keyboard shortcuts that you can use to move, select, and rearrange the windows across your screen(s). Many users still use their mouse to drag a window, but sometimes it is much more convenient to use the keyboard which automatically snaps windows according to your directions. You may occasionally find yourself in a situation where a window on the secondary screen did not appear on your primary screen after disconnecting it. Or your mouse may not be functioning and you need to select and move windows using just your keyboard. In this article, we show you all the different methods to move your windows using just the keyboard. There are different ways to move or rearrange windows on a Windows PC. While some methods can be used to automatically align windows, others can be used to move them bit by bit until they are at your desired location.Move and rearrange window with keyboard

How to Snap a Window using Keyboard

The Windows OS has a feature that automatically moves and snaps an app window according to the keyboard input. For example, if a window is open in the middle of the screen, you can move it to the right half of the screen, or the left half. Similarly, you can also arrange a window in each corner of the screen. There are many other window layouts that you can set using just your keyboard. For these shortcuts to work, the window you want to snap must be selected. We have given the methods to select a window further down this article. You will find the details for each keyboard shortcut to snap a window in this table:Keyboard Shortcut KeysActionWindows Key + Left ArrowSnap the window to the leftWindows Key + Right ArrowSnap the window to the rightWindows Key + HomeMinimizes all windows except the selected one. Press again to restore all windows againWindows Key + Up ArrowMaximize an open window/Opens a minimized windowWindows Key + Down ArrowRestores a window to its original size if maximized/ Minimizes a window if in its original sizeWindows Key + Shift + Up ArrowMaximizes a window verticallyWindows Key + Shift + Down ArrowRestores a window to its original size if maximized/ Minimizes a window if in its original size and unselects itKeyboard shortcuts to snap windows We have also shared a few examples here:

To snap a window to the right side of the screen, press Windows Key + Right Arrow.Snap window to the rightTo bring a snapped window to the left side of the screen from the right side, press and hold the Windows Key and then press the Left Arrow twice.Snap window to the leftTo snap a window to the bottom-right corner of the screen, press Windows Key + Right Arrow, and then Windows Key + Down Arrow.Snap window to the bottom-right of the screenTo maximize a window vertically, press Windows Key + Shift + Up Arrow.Maximize window vertically

How to Move a Window using Keyboard

When we use the word “move,” we mean an incremental move of a window. This means moving a selected window little by little. This can also be done using just the keyboard. However, this will only work on windows that are not maximized. This method can also be used if a window is off-screen and you want to bring it to an active screen.

How to Move a Window to Different Screen using Keyboard

You can move a window to a different screen using the incremental move shortcut keys discussed above. But that would take a lot of time. The mouse cursor will now turn into a cross with arrows and move to the title bar of the window. You can instantly shift a window to a different screen if you have multiple monitors using keyboard shortcuts.

How to Minimize/Maximize a Window using Keyboard

There are also different methods to minimize and maximize windows in Windows OS. You can perform an action on a specific window or all of them. The table below lists the details and their respective key combinations:Keyboard Shortcut KeysActionWindows Key + Up ArrowMaximize an open window/Opens a minimized windowWindows Key + Down ArrowRestores a window to its original size if maximized/ Minimizes a window if in its original sizeWindows Key + MMinimize all windowsWindows Key + DMinimize all windows and show the desktopWindows Key + HomeMinimizes all windows except the selected one. Press again to restore all windows againWindows Key + Shift + MOpen all minimized windowsKeyboard shortcuts to minimize or maximize a window(s)

How to Select a Window using Keyboard

The keyboard shortcuts given above will only work if and when a window is selected. There are multiple ways to select an open window in Windows OS.

Select an Open Window using Alt + Tab Keys

The most-used method to switch and select different windows is using the Alt + Tab shortcut keys from the keyboard. This is what most people use to switch between windows and cycle through them. Using the Alt + Tab shortcut keys, the selected window is brought forward while all others remain in the background.Switch window using Alt + Tab To select a window, hold down the Alt button and then press Tab. While holding the Alt button, repeatedly press the Tab button to cycle through the open windows.

Select an Open Window using Ctrl + Alt + Tab

Similar to using the Alt + Tab shortcut keys, you can also use the Ctrl + Alt + Tab shortcut key combination to cycle through the open windows. However, you only need to press it once. Once you press the Ctrl + Alt + Tab shortcut keys, you will see a panel displaying the open windows. Let go of the keys. Then, use the arrow keys to cycle through the windows and press Enter on the window you want to select.

Select an Open Windows using Task View

This method does not apply to Windows 7. Both Windows 11 and Windows 10 have a Task View feature, as well as a button built into the taskbar through which you can cycle through the open windows as well as the virtual desktops. This a more sophisticated method that displays relatively larger previews of the open windows. You can open the Task View panel by clicking on the button in the taskbar, or pressing the Windows Key + Tab shortcut keys. When open, use the arrow keys to cycle through the app windows and hit Enter. You can also select a window using your mouse. These are the methods to select a window, after which you can snap or move it using any of the methods shared above.

Closing Thoughts

We find it quite nifty to be able to perform many different window-related tasks using just our keyboard. To attain maximum productivity, the keyboard shortcuts can be used to go directly to the desktop or cycle between windows, as opposed to using the mouse cursor. Also see:

How To Move Off-Screen Window Using Keyboard To Bring It On-ScreenHow To Create And Manage Multiple Desktops (Virtual Desktops) On Windows 11How To Set/Change Keyboard Language Shortcuts In WindowsUltimate Guide To All Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows 11/103 Ways To Change Primary Monitor In Windows 11/10