Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program

When running a computer program in full-screen mode, there are a couple of ways to quickly minimize the program so that other applications or windows can be used. Be aware that games often take longer to minimize than other programs, and may even crash or freeze your computer. To avoid this problem, some newer games allow you to select "Full Screen Windowed Mode," which displays the game full screen but lets your computer use some of its graphics processing for other purposes.

Steps

Minimizing a Program in Windows

  1. Press the Windows key to return to your desktop. Look at the lowest row on your keyboard for a key with a Windows logo, which looks like four wavy squares. Press this key to return to your Windows desktop, and your program should be minimized in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Minimize all open programs with the Windows key + M. Press the Windows key plus M to minimize all open programs at once, exiting full screen and moving them all to the taskbar.[1]
    • Use the Windows key + Shift + M to open all minimized programs again.[2]
  3. Try Alt+Tab to switch to another program. Hold down the Alt key, then press Tab. You should see a list of open programs, and may keep pressing Tab until the program (or the desktop) you want is selected. Release the keys to minimize your current program, and expand the program you selected.
  4. Use Ctrl+ESC to open the Start menu. These keys, pressed at the same time, will minimize your full-screen program and open the Start menu.[3]
  5. If you encounter problems minimizing a game, check whether it will run in windowed mode. Games often take longer to minimize, or even crash or freeze when you attempt to minimize them. This is because full-screen games sometimes prevent your computer from rendering your desktop, so that all its graphics processing power can focus on the game. When you minimize the game, Windows must render the desktop again, which can cause these problems. You can avoid this problem if the game has a "Windowed Mode" or "Full Screen Windowed Mode" option in its settings.[4]
    • In Full Screen Windowed Mode, your game will still appear full screen, but the desktop will be rendered in the background, so you can more easily switch between them. This options is usually not available on older games.

Minimizing a Program in Mac

  1. Try the esc key first. The esc key at the top left of the keyboard is short for "escape," and can be used to exit many full screen programs. Some programs, especially games, may not minimize with this command, in which case you can try the options below.
  2. Use command+M to minimize the window. Return to it by clicking the new minimized icon in your Dock, next to the Trash icon. (In some programs, this may cause it to enter windowed mode first, after which you can minimize it by clicking the yellow button in the top bar of the window.)
  3. Use command+H to hide the program. This will turn all windows in the program invisible. Specific windows will not show up in your Dock; you will need to click the application icon, such as TextEdit or Safari, instead.
  4. Try additional options. If none of the above work, your full-screen program may have a specific keyboard shortcut for minimizing. Try command+F (to toggle full screen) or command+return.[5]
    • If you are playing a game through Steam, the Steam application may interfere with your ability to minimize programs.
  5. Change game options to prevent problems with minimizing. If your game freezes or crashes when you try to minimize it, check the game's options for "Windowed Mode" to play it inside a window, or "Full Screen Windowed Mode," which will run the game full screen but keep the desktop rendered to let you quickly minimize the program. These options are not available for all games.
  6. Use command+tab to switch to another application. This keyboard shortcut displays a list of open programs. Press tab additional times to select the one you want, then release both keys to minimize the current program and move to the selected one. This does not work for all full-screen programs.

Tips

  • If watching a video or playing a game, pause the program before minimizing, or it may continue to run while minimized.

Warnings

  • If a program uses these keyboard shortcuts for a command within the program, that will override the ordinary function of the shortcut. Try to find a list of the program's keyboard shortcuts, and see if it provides the option to change them.
  • Older programs can crash due to attempts to minimize them.

Related Articles

  • Find-All-Keyboard-Shortcuts-in-Your-Computer
  • Force Unpin Windows 7 Taskbar Icons

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449
  2. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/minimize-open-windows-view-desktop#1TC=windows-7
  3. ↑ http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/126449
  4. ↑ http://www.howtogeek.com/181761/why-pc-games-struggle-with-alttab-and-how-to-fix-it/
  5. ↑ http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=193982
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