The Easiest Fix for Misbehaving Windows: Using Alt + Space to Resize a Hidden or Tiny Window
Every Windows user eventually runs into that moment: you open an app, and instead of appearing where you left it, the window shows up microscopic, off‑screen, or shaped like a weird sliver you can’t grab. You try dragging. You try maximizing. You try swearing at it. Nothing works.
Fortunately, Windows has a built‑in, decades‑old keyboard shortcut that can rescue almost any mis-sized or misplaced window:
Alt + Space
It’s simple, reliable, and works even when the window looks broken.
Let’s walk through how it works and why it’s such a lifesaver.
How Alt + Space Fixes the Window
Pressing Alt + Space opens the classic Window Menu—a tiny control panel that predates modern Windows UI but still works flawlessly.
From this menu, you can:
Move the window
Resize it
Maximize it
Restore it
Even if the window is invisible or unusably small, the menu still appears and gives you control.
Step‑by‑Step: Resize a Misbehaving Window Using Alt + Space
Here’s the exact sequence that works almost every time:
1. Make sure the window is active
Click its taskbar icon once.
(Even if you can’t see the window, this still activates it.)
2. Press Alt + Space
This opens the hidden Window Menu.
3. Press S to activate “Size” mode
Your cursor will change to a directional resize icon.
4. Use the arrow keys to stretch the window
Try Left, Right, Up, or Down until the window reappears or becomes large enough to grab.
5. Press Enter to lock in the new size
6. Close the window normally
This forces Windows to save the corrected size so it opens properly next time.
Bonus: Move a Window That’s Off‑Screen
If the window is completely invisible:
Activate the window
Press Alt + Space
Press M for Move
Use the arrow keys to bring it back into view
Press Enter to lock it in place
This is especially useful after disconnecting a second monitor.
Why This Trick Is Worth Remembering
Alt + Space is one of those old‑school Windows shortcuts that quietly solves problems modern UI can’t. It works on:
Windows 10
Windows 11
Most legacy apps
Many third‑party programs
And because it doesn’t rely on the mouse, it’s perfect for rescuing windows that are too small to grab or completely off‑screen.
Final Thoughts
When an app window refuses to behave, you don’t need to reboot, reinstall, or dive into the registry. The humble Alt + Space shortcut gives you direct control over any window’s size and position, no matter how badly it’s misbehaving.