Application Window Stuck Outside Your Monitor? Try This

If you work with multiple monitors regularly and then switch back to a single monitor, you may find that some of your applications open in the additional (now nonexistent) monitor. If you find this is the case, there are a couple of tricks I have found which work:

  • If you can only see part of the application window, try resizing the window by dragging one of the corners or sides. When you to resize it, the full application should appear on your screen.
  • If you cannot see the application at all, make sure you have it selected in the task bar, press Alt+Spacebar and then select Maximize from the system menu. After doing this, the application will be maximize on your screen.

I have tested these methods on Windows 7 and they do work. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, so if you have a trick on recovering applications trapped on a nonexistent monitor, please share.

Free eBook!

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

Post A Comment Using Facebook

  • Mark Weingarten

    You can also click on the application on the taskbar. Then click move, then use the arrows on your keypad. It does the trick!

  • Vertimyst

    Another similar trick that works for some applications is done in the same way as the maximize method – select the app in the taskbar, press alt + space, and select move. Then you can either use the arrow keys or drag the mouse to move the window on to your monitor.

  • Matt

    Vertimyst beat me to it. This is always happening to me and I use this trick all the time. I like it better than the maximize method as it’s one less step if I don’t want the window maximized. Also I think sometimes if you “Restore” the maximized window it may go offscreen again, although I’m not positive about that.

    I also have this window-offscreen problem when using Remote Desktop sometimes. If myself or another admin remotes into a machine using a higher res, moves a window to the outskirts of his screen, and then I remote in with a lower res, the windows will be offscreen.

  • http://www.korasport.com koora

    merciiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • HK

    Thank you! You’ve saved my week

  • bruzz

    I have been stuck with this problem for 2 weeks …

    - Thank you so much!

  • John

    Thanks !!!! – Saved my day.

    Another reason to avoid Microsoft …..

What’s Your Preference?

Daily Alerts

Each day we send out a quick email to thousands of PCMECH readers to notify them of new posts. This email is just a short, plain email with titles and links to our latest posts. You can unsubscribe from this service at any time.

You can subscribe to it by leaving your email address in the following field and confirming your subscription when you get an email asking you to do so.

Enter your email address for
Daily Updates:

Weekly Newsletter

Running for over 6 years, the PCMECH weekly newsletter helps you keep tabs on the world of tech. Each issue includes news bits, an article, an exclusive rant as well as a download of the week. This newsletter is subscribed to by over 28,000 readers (many who also subscribe to the other option) - come join the community!

To subscribe to this weekly newsletter simply add your email address to the following field and then follow the confirmation prompts. You will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

Enter your email address for
Free Weekly Newsletter: