Did you ever run into that weird issue on a Windows XP machine (on a more recent Windows version) where an application starts up and nests itself somewhere on the screen where you can’t reach it? Either because it was once started when using an extended desktop and the window was located on the second (now dead) screen? Or by some dragging fluke that causes the title bar to be out of your clicking range so you can’t drag it back down?
It happened to me a few times before, and I just found out there’s an easy way of getting it back by using the cursor keys to move the window. So here’s how you do that:
- Right click the window’s tab in the taskbar and select ‘”Move” from the popup menu. Your mouse cursor should now disappear as it gets automatically located on the windows title bar.
- Now hit one of the cursor keys to move the window in the chosen direction, and move the window back in your desktops area.
After hitting a cursor key, the window also becomes stuck to you mouse pointer, so you can move it like that as well. Try it out with a window that you can still see, it’ll be easier to see what’s happening than when you…. well, can’t see the window.
(Pic “Take This Bill Gates =)” by jamestraceur, some rights reserved)
7 replies on “how to move an unreachable window”
Yeah sorry.
That comment was supposed to be here right? :)
I was able to correct the height value by changing the value in the properties dialog and saving it.
Thanks again. I use it for the Justin.tv channels that I like.
Hmmm, I can see where that is a problem.
I think it’s up to the application itself that hosts the window to manage that properly. Besides trying to restart it (which you probably tried already a dozen times), perhaps reinstalling it will do the trick… hopefully.
Changing your screen resolution might also pop it back into view, as most applications detect if it has changed, and try to put their windows back on the main screen and within view.
Let me know if any of these tips work, as other people could run into this problem as well.
Hmmm, I can see where that is a problem.
I think it’s up to the application itself that hosts the window to manage that properly. Besides trying to restart it (which you probably tried already a dozen times), perhaps reinstalling it will do the trick… hopefully.
Changing your screen resolution might also pop it back into view, as most applications detect if it has changed, and try to put their windows back on the main screen and within view.
Let me know if any of these tips work, as other people could run into this problem as well.
This approach does not work when the window is not shown in the taskbar because it is part of one that does.
I wanted to alter the properties in a Media Monkey title in the Library view and the Properties window is the one whose title is out of range. Have not been able to move it. I can follow your suggestion with the MM tab that shows in the taskbar and the MM window moves, but not with the new Properties window.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
This approach does not work when the window is not shown in the taskbar because it is part of one that does.
I wanted to alter the properties in a Media Monkey title in the Library view and the Properties window is the one whose title is out of range. Have not been able to move it. I can follow your suggestion with the MM tab that shows in the taskbar and the MM window moves, but not with the new Properties window.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks