Why Does Windows Keep Minimizing the Programs?

When you install a program or a game on your computer, you may notice that the program is minimized without your command. This automatic minimizing of windows can cause inconvenience while playing a game on your computer. There can be multiple reasons for this issue. In this guide, we will discuss why does Windows keep minimizing the programs. We will also discuss various methods to figure out how do I stop Windows from minimizing and how to stop auto minimize Windows 10.

Why Does Windows Keep Minimizing the Programs?

You will get to know why does Windows keep minimizing the programs and how do I stop Windows from minimizing further in this article. Keep reading to learn more about it in detail.

What are the Reasons for Windows Keep Minimizing on Windows 10?

There can be various reasons why the games keep minimizing Windows 10 issues. Some of the more common reasons are mentioned here.

• System bugs and various program errors can cause this issue.
• Bugs within a program can also cause this issue.
• Compatibility issues with the system and program can cause this issue.
• The issue can also be caused by startup permissions for the program.
• Many background processes can interfere with the program and cause it to malfunction.
• A corrupt user profile can also cause this issue.
• Corrupt system and program files can also cause this issue.
• An outdated graphics card driver can also cause this issue.
• A virus or malware attack may also be responsible for this issue.
• An outdated Windows OS is also a common reason for such errors.
• Enabled game mode settings can cause this issue on Windows 10 computers.
• Various system errors are also held responsible for this error.
• Improper taskbar settings can also cause this issue.
• Low CPU priority for the program can cause this issue as well.
• Focus assist notifications can trigger this error with a program on your computer.
• This problem can also be caused by a malfunctioning Windows Error Reporting Service.
• Improper system registry keys can cause this issue.
• Dual-GPU settings in specific GPU drivers can cause this issue.

In this guide, we will discuss various methods to figure out how to stop auto minimize Windows 10 issues.

How to Stop Windows from Minimizing?

Before heading for the more complicated solutions to fix the issue of Windows keep minimizing the program, let’s see some basic troubleshooting methods.

Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting Methods

The following are some of the basic methods that you can use to fix this issue.

Method 1A: Run Program as Administrator

One of the first methods that you can use to fix why does Windows keep minimizing the programs is to provide administration permissions to the program. Running a program as an administrator can resolve various bug issues.

1. Press the Windows + E keys combination to open File Explorer and navigate to the desired program location.

2. Right-click on the program file and click on Properties from the context menu.

3. Switch to the Compatibility tab.

4. In the Settings section, mark the checkbox for the Run this program as an administrator option.

5. Click on Apply > OK to save the changes.

Also Read: 8 Ways to Fix 0x800b0003 Error in Windows 10

Method 1B: Run Program in Compatibility Mode

If running the program as administrator does not help and the issue remains, you can try to change the compatibility mode for your program. This can help your program run smoothly on your computer. You can follow these steps to figure out how to stop auto minimize Windows 10.

1. Press the Windows + E key combinations to open File Explorer.

2. Then, go to the desired program location and right-click on the program file.

3. Click on the Properties option.

4. Navigate to the Compatibility tab.

5. Mark the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for field.

6. From the drop-down options, select Windows 8.

7. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

If this method does not help and the games keep minimizing Windows 10 issues, try the next method.

Method 1C: Repair System Files

Often, the issue can be caused by a corrupt system or program files. If this is the case, these corrupt files can cause serious harm to your device. You can use various in-built scans to locate and repair these files. If the problem persists, you can try repairing files by running system scans. You can check out the How to Repair System Files on Windows 10 guide to learn how to run various scans to repair your system files and figure out how do I stop Windows from minimizing.

Method 1D: Update Graphics Drivers

A common reason why does Windows keep minimizing the programs can be an outdated graphic driver on your computer. You can resolve this issue by updating the graphics driver on your computer. You can check out the 4 Ways to Update Graphics Drivers in Windows 10 guide to safely update the graphics driver on your computer to fix the automatic minimizing issue in Windows 10.

Method 1E: Perform Virus and Malware Scan

A malware or virus attack on your computer can also cause various issues with a program. Sometimes, you can also experience windows minimizing all by themselves.

• If this occurs often, you should scan your computer for a virus to figure out how to stop auto minimize Windows 10 issues. You can follow our guide on How do I Run a Virus Scan on my Computer? to safely search for a virus on your computer.
• If your computer is contaminated by a malware attack, you should immediately take steps to remove it. You can check out the How to Remove Malware from your PC in Windows 10 guide to safely remove malware from your system.

Method 1F: Install Latest Windows Update

Another reason why does Windows keep minimizing the programs could be an outdated Windows update on your computer. Generally, Windows installs updates automatically whenever they are made available. But if you have disabled automatic Windows updates, you should manually check for available new updates. You can check out the How to Download and Install Windows 10 Latest Update guide to install the latest updates on your computer.

Method 2: Boot System in Safe Mode

Booting your system in safe mode can help you diagnose the problem quickly. In safe mode, your computer opens with limited drivers and default programs. This can help you figure out the real cause of why the games keep minimizing Windows 10 issues, and you can quickly take the necessary steps to resolve the issue. If you are not sure how to do that, you can check our guide on How to Boot to Safe Mode in Windows 10 to safely enter the safe mode on your computer. With this, you will be able to figure out how do I stop Windows from minimizing. 

Method 3: Disable Startup Applications

If you have enabled the program to run during startup, sometimes it can cause various issues with other programs. To figure out how do I stop Windows from minimizing, you can try disabling startup applications from the Task Manager. You can check out the 4 Ways to Disable Startup Programs in Windows 10 guide to disable startup programs.

Method 4: End Background Processes

The issue can also occur when multiple background processes are running. These processes can interfere with your game or program and cause it to malfunction. You can resolve this issue by ending all the background processes. You can check out the How to End Task in Windows 10 guide to follow the right steps to end background processes.

Method 5: Create New User Profile

A common reason for this error can be a corrupt user profile. You can resolve this issue by creating a new user profile for your Windows 10 computer. Follow these simple steps to create a new user profile to figure out how to stop auto minimize Windows 10 issues.

1. Press Windows + I keys combination to open Settings.

2. Now, click on Accounts.

3. Here, click on the Family & other users tab from the left pane.

4. Under the Other users section, locate and click on Add someone else to this PC.

5. Now, on the sign-in page, click on the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information link.

6. Now, click on the Add a user without a Microsoft account link.

7. Enter the User Name and Password.

If this method does not help and the games keep minimizing Windows 10, try the next method.

Also Read: How to Get Little Skype Window Back

Method 6: Disable Game Mode

The game mode is an in-built feature on Windows computers. This feature allows users to run heavy programs on low-end computers. However, sometimes this feature can also cause various issues such as issues with program resolution. You can resolve this issue by disabling the Game Mode feature.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I keys combination.

2. From the Gaming section in the left pane, click on the Game Mode option.

3. Here, turn off the toggle for the Game Mode option.

Method 7: Run System Maintenance Troubleshooter

The System Maintenance Troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows computers that scans your computer for errors and repairs them as needed. You can also manually run this troubleshooter to fix various errors that may be causing this issue.

1. Press the Windows + R keys combination to open the Run dialog box.

2. In the Run dialog box, type Control Panel and press the Enter key.

3. From the View by: section in the top right corner, select the Large icons option from the Category drop-down menu.

4. Now, locate and click Troubleshooting.

5. From the left pane, click on View all.

6. Now, locate and click on System Maintenance.

7. Finally, click on Next to start the troubleshooting.

Read this article from the start to learn why does Windows keep minimizing its programs.

Also Read: Fix Windows Scrolling by Itself Issue

Method 8: Enable Show Taskbar to All Displays

Sometimes, this issue can be caused by improper taskbar settings on your computer. You can try to enable the show taskbar to all devices feature to resolve the issue.

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and click on Taskbar settings.

2. Turn the toggle On for the Show taskbar on all displays option.

Method 9: Assign Program High CPU Priority

One of the effective methods to fix this issue is to give the problematic program a high CPU priority. This can help resolve various program errors. You can follow these simple steps to do the same.

1. Open the desired program and press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys combination to minimize the program.

2. Now, press the Windows + X keys combination and click on Task Manager.

3. Here, switch to the Details tab.

4. Right-click on the desired program and click on Set priority.

5. Set priority as High.

Also Read: Fix Microsoft Edge Shortcut Keeps Appearing on Desktop

Method 10: Turn Off Focus Assist Notifications

The Focus assist option in Windows lets you control what applications can send you notifications so you can focus on a particular task at a time. When you get notifications in the background, your program can malfunction and cause auto-minimizing issues. You can resolve this by turning off the focus assist notifications.

1. Press Windows + I key combination to open Settings.

2. Here, click on the System tab.

3. From the left pane, click on Focus assist.

4. Select the Off radio button to turn off all the notifications.

Read this article from the start to learn why does Windows keep minimizing the programs.

Method 11: Disable Windows Error Reporting Service

Windows services can also cause this error when they are not working properly. You can resolve this issue by disabling the Windows Error Reporting Service on your computer.

1. Press the Windows + R keys combination to open the Run dialog box.

2. In the Run dialog box, type services.msc and press the Enter key.

3. Here, locate and double-click on Windows Error Reporting Service.

4. Here, click on the Startup type drop-down field.

5. Then, select Disabled.

6. Finally, click Apply > OK to save the changes.

Method 12: Modify System Registry

The system registry can be modified to resolve this issue effectively. When registry keys are improperly set, they can cause various issues with programs on your computer. You can follow these simple steps to resolve the issue.

Note: Make a backup of registry keys to restore to previous settings in case of manual errors during modification. Check out our guide on How to Backup and Restore the Registry on Windows to learn how to make a backup of the registry.

1. Open Registry Editor from the Start menu.

2. Here, navigate to the following location:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

3. Now, locate and double-click on ForegroundLock Timeout key.

4. Here, set the Base as Hexadecimal.

5. Set the Value data as 30d40.

6. Click OK to save the changes.

7. Restart your computer.

Let’s see a few more methods to fix the Windows keep minimizing the programs issue.

Also Read: What is Windows Spotlight?

Method 13: Disable Dual-GPU (If Applicable)

If you are using an NVIDIA GPU, you can try to disable the dual-GPU setting to fix the issue. You can follow these simple steps to do the same.

Note: You may not be able to disable Dual-GPU on NVIDIA graphics-based laptops.

1. Right-click on your desktop screen to bring up the context menu and click on NVIDIA Control Panel.

2. Then, click on 3D Settings > Manage 3D settings.

3. Then, select the Program Settings tab.

4. Now, select the problematic program from the drop-down menu.

5. Set the dedicated GPU as a preferred graphics processor and Save the changes.

Method 14: Perform Clean Boot of Windows

If none of the previously mentioned methods work and the issue remains, you can try to resolve it by performing a clean boot of your Windows computer. You can check out the How to Perform Clean boot in Windows 10 guide to safely perform a clean boot of your device.

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We hope that you learned about why does Windows keep minimizing the programs and how to stop auto minimize Windows 10. Feel free to reach out to us with your queries and suggestions via the comments section below. Also, let us know what you want to learn about next.