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How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program

This wikiHow teaches you how to minimize a full-screen window on your Windows or Mac computer so that you can view your desktop. Keep in mind that some programs (e.g., video games) will take longer to minimize than others. Look for the...
Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

  1. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 1How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 1
    Look for the "Exit full-screen" button. If you can find a button in your window that exits full-screen mode, you can simply click it and then click the - button in the top-right corner of the window to minimize it.
    1. Double-clicking most video player windows (e.g., VLC or YouTube) will take you out of full-screen mode.
  2. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 2How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 2
    Press Esc to exit full-screen. If you're watching a video or viewing photos in full-screen mode, this key will exit full-screen mode.
  3. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 3How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 3
    Use the Windows key (⊞ Win) to display the taskbar. Pressing this key, which resembles the Windows logo, will force the desktop's taskbar to display at the bottom of the screen. You can then click the full-screen program's icon to minimize it, or you can press the "Show Desktop" bar in the far-right corner of the taskbar.
  4. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 4How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 4
    Press ⊞ Win+M to minimize all open windows. This will exit any full-screen windows and minimize each window to the taskbar. Keep in mind that re-opening any of these windows will prompt them to resume in full-screen mode.[1]
    1. Press ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+M to open all minimized programs again.
  5. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 5How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 5
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to interrupt the program. Especially if you're playing a game that's freezing, pressing this combination of keys will almost always take you out of the window. To get to the desktop:
    1. Click Task Manager.
    2. Click the Processes tab.
    3. Click the full-screen program.
    4. Click End task.
  6. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 6How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 6
    Manually shut down your computer. If you're encountering a full-screen program that won't close, press and hold your computer's Power button (or, if it's a desktop, remove the power cable) until the computer shuts down. When you restart your computer, all previously open windows will be closed.
Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

  1. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 7How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 7
    Use the ⌘ Command+Ctrl+F shortcut. This command removes windows from full-screen mode, at which point you can click the yellow "Minimize" button in the top-right corner of the window.
  2. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 8How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 8
    Try using the Esc key to exit full-screen mode. It's in the top-left side of the keyboard. The Esc key is ideal for exiting full-screen YouTube videos or photos on your computer. You can click the window's yellow "Minimize" button after disabling full-screen mode.
    1. Pressing Esc while playing a game won't minimize the game.
  3. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 9How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 9
    Press ⌘ Command+M to minimize the current window. Return to it by clicking the new minimized icon in your Dock, next to the Trash icon.
    1. Some programs will simply exit full-screen after using this shortcut, meaning you'll need to click the yellow "Minimize" button to fully minimize the program.
  4. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 10How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 10
    Hide your window by pressing ⌘ Command+H. 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.
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    Toggle off full-screen mode with ⌘ Command+F or ⌘ Command+⏎ Return. If none of the above shortcuts work, one of these key combinations might force the window to minimize.
    1. If you have a game window open, look at the key bindings to see if there is an option for minimizing or exiting full-screen.
    2. If you are playing a game through Steam, the Steam application may interfere with your ability to minimize programs.
  6. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 12How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 12
    Force-quit the full-screen program. If the program is frozen and none of the previous options have worked, press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+Esc, click the program, and click Force Quit.
  7. How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 13How to Minimize a Full Screen Computer Program Picture 13
    Manually shut down your computer. If you're encountering a full-screen program that won't close, press and hold your computer's Power button (or, if it's a desktop, remove the power cable) until the computer shuts down. When you restart your computer, all previously open windows will be closed.
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