Windows – How to restore all minimized windows in Windows 7

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Does anyone know how to restore all minimized windows in Windows 7 to their original positions?

I know I can right click the taskbar to cascade, stack, or display them side by side. I also know that some apps let you right click on their icon in the taskbar and restore all windows for that applications.

I want them back in their original positions and sizes before I hid them to see my desktop.

Is this just not possible? I've done web searches looking for the answer and nobody lists a way to restore ALL minimized windows to their ORIGINAL positions.

Anyone?

[Edited to add: After restoring one of the minimized windows. The normal hide/restore shortcuts only toggle desktop and the restored window. Not all of the minimized windows. I'm looking for a way to restore all minimized windows regardless of how many of them may have been restored individually.]

Best Answer

Shift+RightClick on the button on the taskbar, and click on "Restore all windows" or type R.  It "restores all windows".

Note: "Restore all windows" will appear as a context menu option only if "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" → "Taskbar buttons" is set either to

  • "Always combine, hide labels" or
  • "Combine when taskbar is full " and windows to restore are combined

"Restore all windows" will not appear in the context menu (replaced by "Restore" only the selected window) if "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" → "Taskbar buttons" is set either to

  • "Never Combine" or
  • "Combine when taskbar is full " and windows to restore are not combined

To open "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties":

  • Right click any empty area on the taskbar and select "Properties"     (hint: "Properties" will be at or near the bottom of the menu; the first item under "Lock the taskbar"), or
  • Right click the Windows Start Button, select "Properties", and, in the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window that opens, click the "Taskbar" tab.
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