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Question

Minimize active window with keyboard

Jul 1, 2011 12:51AM PDT

I want to minimize the window I have currently open without using the mouse and without minimizing every window I have open. I am running windows XP for now and use minumum of 13 windows to start my day and get up to 2 dozen open throughout the day.

There are times when I need to work on one document full screen and to allow multi-tasking need to quickly get rid of it to go back to another collection of applications running in the background.

Clicking all the other apps "forward" is time consuming and clicking to minimize can take too much time as well.

Can I shrink one window to the task bar with a key stroke, instead of a mouse click.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Minimizing with keyboard
Jul 1, 2011 1:06AM PDT

There are a few Windows shortcuts available to you for interacting with actual windows on your desktop.

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Minimize all, seeing your desktop, switching apps.
Jul 1, 2011 11:57AM PDT

Those are all good tricks - but I think Windows is missing a better trick.

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Minimize window
Jul 2, 2011 7:21PM PDT

Alt+spacebar+n should minimize your current active window.

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Minimize 'ACTIVE' window w/ keyboard shortcut alt+space+'N'
Jul 5, 2011 4:53AM PDT

This post answers my question - not the original post.

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minimize active window
Mar 7, 2015 10:46PM PST

Thank you, Nicole! That was very helpful!

Mickey

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Answer
Minimize active window with keyboard
Dec 30, 2011 12:55PM PST

Hi Hills

Cozdroid is right. I suggest you need to look for a third party app which will do what you want. Try 4t Tray Minimizer ( http://www.4t-niagara.com/tray.html ) or AutoHotkey ( http://www.autohotkey.com ).

I have used 4t Tray Minimizer for some time and whilst I have not used it for the specific purpose you require it does have an incredible range of functions and hotkey options. It sits unobtrusively in the system tray and has never caused me any grief with CPU or memory usage.

AutoHotkey is also an amazing liltle piece of software which I use on a daily basis. It comes with its own scripting language which you can use to control an unbelievable range of Windows actions and functions. Scripts can be as basic as one line one word commands linked to a hotkey(s) of your choice or as complex as you care to or are able to make them. There are also literally thousands if not more scripts available free online.

Hope this may help.

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thank you
Mar 7, 2015 10:47PM PST

thank you, shortcuts and downloads/apps are always a nice thing to share!