Manage multiple windows

All open windows are represented by taskbar buttons. If you have several windows open (for example, if you open more than one file in a single program or if you open several instances of a program such as a web browser), Windows automatically groups open windows from the same program into a single, unlabeled taskbar button. You can point to a taskbar button to see a thumbnail preview of the window or windows it represents.

To restore your desktop view, point your mouse away from the thumbnails.

Tip

To open the window you are previewing, click the thumbnail.

If you don't want to group taskbar buttons, you can turn off grouping. But without grouping, you might not be able to see all of your taskbar buttons at once.

For more information about customizing taskbar buttons, see Change how buttons appear on the taskbar.

With Flip 3D, you can quickly preview all your open windows (for example, open files, folders, and documents) without having to click the taskbar. Flip 3D displays your open windows in a stack. At the top of the stack, you'll see an open window. To see other windows, you can flip through the stack.

Switching windows with Flip 3D

Tip

Another way to use Flip 3D is to press Ctrl+Windows logo key +Tab to keep Flip 3D open. You can then press Tab to cycle through the windows. (You can also press Right Arrow or Down Arrow to cycle forward one window, or press Left Arrow or Up Arrow to cycle backward one window.) Press Esc to close Flip 3D.

Note

Flip 3D and taskbar window previews don't work unless your computer's video card can display the advanced visual effects in Windows. For more information about fixing problems with the Aero desktop experience, search Help and Support for "aero troubleshooter."

Another way to quickly change which open window you're working with is to press Alt+Tab. When you press Alt+Tab, you see a list of all your open files.

To select a file, press and hold Alt and continue to press Tab until you've highlighted the file you want to open. Release the keys to open the selected window.

Switching windows with Alt+Tab

Tip

You can also press Ctrl+Alt+Tab to keep the dialog box open. You can then press Tab to cycle through the windows. Pressing Enter opens the selected window. Pressing Esc closes the dialog box.

You can arrange open windows in one of three ways:

• Cascade, which puts windows in a single stack that has been fanned out so that the window titles appear.

• Stacked, which puts windows in one or more vertical stacks depending on how many windows you have open.

• Side by side, which places each window—open, but not maximized—on the desktop so you can see all the windows at once.

Arrange windows in a cascade (left), vertical stack (center), or side-by-side pattern (right)

To arrange your open windows, right-click an empty area of the taskbar, then click Cascade windows, Show windows stacked, or Show windows side by side.

Tip

You can also use Snap to arrange two windows side by side, if you're using a single monitor display. Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears, and then release the mouse to expand the window. Repeat this process with a second window to arrange them side by side. (If you're using multiple monitors, windows will snap to the far left or far right of the area displayed across both monitors.)

To see your desktop without closing your open windows, minimize all of your windows at once by clicking the Show desktop button next to the notification area at the end of the taskbar.

You can also temporarily preview or "peek at" the desktop by just pointing your mouse to the Show desktop button. The open windows aren't minimized, but they fade from view to reveal the desktop. To show the windows again, just move the mouse away from the Show desktop button.

Quickly preview the desktop using Aero Peek

Tip

To use the keyboard to minimize all open windows, press the Windows logo key +M. To restore minimized windows, press the Windows logo key +Shift+M.