Something was downloaded to my computer while I was away this week. (My husband probably thought it was ok.) Now when I open an email thru Outlook it’s huge – it goes way off the screen to the right. I don’t know how to resize this or fix this.
Can you please tell me in simple one and two syllable words just what to do?
Oh, those husbands. Can’t leave ’em alone for a minute, much less a week.
The too-wide window could be the result of a download, but it’s also possible that it’s not his fault. Even though it’s not supposed to, sometimes it can happen for other reasons. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to fix.
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Normally, of course, you can resize a window by using the mouse and clicking on and dragging the border of the window. In a case like this, though, the border is off the screen, and there’s no way to move the mouse over to click on it. The result is that we have to use the keyboard interface.
When you’re in one of those too-wide windows, do the following.
- Type ALT+spacebar: this should pop up a menu at the upper left of the window that should look something like this:
- Click on Size (or just type s): the cursor should change to a 4-pointed compass
- Press the right arrow key (or the key that “points to” the window border that is off the screen): the cursor should jump to that window border – which of course you can’t see right now, since it’s off the screen.
- Press the left arrow key (or the opposite of whatever key you pressed in the previous step) to resize the window: the edge of the window should move in the direction you’ve chosen.
- Press Enter when done resizing.
I believe it’s still the case that while a mouse is technically listed as a requirement for Windows, there is a keyboard interface for everything. (Sadly, while Windows meets this criteria, not all applications do.) It’s not always elegant, and sometimes downright cumbersome, but in cases like this it can be quite handy to at least have some familiarity with it.
I am running XP SP. I encounter gigantic windows regularly on Microsoft’s website. I tried the recommended procedure. After I do Alt+Spacebar, s, I do not get a compasss. I pressed the arrow, but the page merely scrolls. I have used View/Text/ to reduce text size but it is still way to big.
My suggestion is that you can try to decrease the screen size
1) Open Display Properties in Control Panel.
2)Click the Settings tab.
3)If you are using multiple display support, click the icon for the monitor whose settings you want to change.
4)Reduce the size of your desktop by moving the Screen Resolution slider to the left.
5)Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.
All the best.
Winston Jayasinghe
Thanks so much for the instructions they really helped
Please help me.i am using windows 8.1 and the problem is that all the things and text has become so larger that i cannot make it small.My window shows your resolution is lower than 4800*3600.some items might not fit on your screen. Please help me.I shall be very thankful to you for that.
Follow the instructions in the article to change your resolution back to the recommended setting for your screen.
I’m having the same problem. Was there an answer to this issue of 4800*3600 screen resolution?
my resolutions is fine, it’s just that the window wont fit onto my moniters screen and the instruction in the answer don’t seem to work, i have tried deleting and reinstalling the program but it still doesnt work. Any pointers?
The instructions were very helpful and right on target. Thank you.
I’m here today after searching “View other files with Win Picture and Fax Viewer” and finding the “Simple Answer” ~ Thanks Leo…
Re: some Windows and IE7 not displaying properly…
I recently had a problem when viewing my banking [3 different sites], the information and content was way too big for the window in “IE7” ~ I did not have the same problem in Firefox or in Maxthon browsers…! But, other sites were also affected in IE7.
However I also had a problem with Restore Point window [which should be a fixed size window], having content too big for the window that opened, and showing scroll bars both ways which I had to use to acquire the Next Step button…!
Finally, or at least, the only other problem that I
Greetings.
I have Windows XP, at 600X800 resolution. Due to health and incompatibility problems, we cannot alter this resolution.
However I have some softwares whose windows are HUGE. Too big for the screen resolution. And these softwares do not offer the users any possibility of resizing the window. There’s no maximize buttons, and when we press alt+space the options ‘size’, ‘maximize’ and ‘restore’ are grey (meaning: unavailable.)
How do I resize the window ANYWAY? Is there a command to be added in the shortcut that ‘forces’ the window to the size I need?
Is there any solution whatsoever?
Thanks for your time!
No. Some applications are simply (IMHO poorly) designed to a higher resolution only. I can think of no way to resize only the offending window or dialog without shrinking eveverything else on your screen as well.
Best I can offer is to use the keyboard interface to slide the window arround on the screen to see those portions which do not fit.
Hey Leo,
Thanks– this is very helpful. How about this one: I recently moved to a smaller display, and I’m having the problem you describe. Your solution works for most apps, except for the Windows Command Prompt. Alt+Spacebar doesn’t do anything in this case. Any ideas?
Huh. ALT Spacebar works for me for command prompt as well. Anyway, try right-clicking on the command prompt item that shows up in the taskbar when it’s running.
Leo…Leo…this is Lynn’s computer, help me before her husband ends up throwing me through the window!!! Upon downloading some microsoft updates and restarting, I loaded up looking something like safemode. But when an attempt was made to change my resolutions to 32 bit, they can’t hit the apply button on the bottom of the window because they can’t get to it! Tried your resizing tips, but it doesn’t work in properties menu. How can we apply the new resolution and screen without actually clicking the button???? Please save me from certain destruction….
this looks good. However! How do I get the screen to shrink overall? Even the desktop is too big for the screen. This computer is not hooked up to the internet at all and I know that no updates were installed on it (A different computer, obviously). What do I do?
Hi I run windows 2000 and I have the oversize problem with just one site…AVG “you type” alt +spacebar but no words appear anywhere but when I press the keys ALT+spacebar the small popup appears but Size is greyed out! just what I don’t need
Ron
i have just brought a new monitor samsung syncmaster740nw everything on my screen is too large i have tried altering the resolution but it wont let me move the little slider can anyone help
please.
I tried your Alt+space ‘x’ with no help. My window is too big for my screen and I can’t print what I need to print. I can’t see the ‘OK’. I defaulted my larger print with no help, as well as restored point[if that is what it is called] I tried the DPI back to 96 from 192, to no avail. I have tried everything I know on this Windows Vista which I realize is minimal. Please help me Leo!
Barbs
This is related to the issue, but reversed. my windows are supposed to be bigger (the info runs off the page) but i can’t enlarge the windows! Please help!
I have the oversize problem, but when I press Alt & Spacebar the box appears but the SIZE is grey so I cannot re-size. Is there any other way of re-sizing apart from minimizing? The sliding around does not work either.
I have the same problem as Mike (April 2007) even the desktop is too big, extending slightly off the top of the screen.
Maybe Nvidia automatically updated the drivers on my computer? I have not changed anything and I have not downloaded anything intentionally.
Since I keep my start bar at the top of the screen (I was used to Mac before Windows) at first I thought it had simply disappeard. I have moved it back to the bottom but now program windows and icons are cut off at the top.
There are a few people saying that their desktop is too big for their monitor on the Net but there do not seem to be any solutions other than changing desktop resolution which was not a solution.
Solution:
I think that when I turned off my screen I pressed the auto resize button by mistake.
The autoresize button tries a variety of sizes and then choose the best one. But it seems to require that I keep my finger pressed on the auto-resize button for the duration of the process.
But I think that I pushed the button for too little time and the screen resized to an incorrect screen size, and did not have time to realise that the size was incorrect. So the screen got stuck at the wrong size.
All I needed to do to correct the issue was to keep my finger pressed on the auto resize.
I am using a LG Flatron L1953T screen.
I hope that this information is useful to someone else.
Silly me.
The resize or the Restore icon in the windows are greyed out. It happens with all the applications I open.. If there is a setting in the registry to reset the “Windows Frame” values to default, please let me know…… :(
my window is too large, wider than my screen–I did the alt+spacebar–menu popped up–but the ‘SIZE’ is not in Bold, and does not respond–please help!
window too large…followed your directions but stop after finding f4 point cursor..When I move it with right and left arrow keys nothing happens so therefore I can’t hit enter and be done..can you advise?
my screen is too large, i cannot get it to minimize, all of the info is at the top. i tried the alt and spacebar it only want to move it around. i need everything smaller
The option above didn’t help me. The size option is greyed out on mine as well. So try this. First hit Alt+V. Then you can select text size. Select the size you want from the 5 options. It fixed my problem. Good luck.
nothing happened on ALT+V
ALT + v worked for me. Thank you James and good luck to others. Keep at it!
I use Firefox browser and had the same problem.
On the VIEW menu, click PAGE STYLE, you’ll see
“No style” and “Basic page style”.
Click “no style”. The text page now fits the screen just fine.
The image on the screen is too large, I tried what you said, going to Alt+Spacebar, but when I click on size nothing happens, please help
Here’s how I just fixed mine. Right click anywhere on your desk top wall paper (anywhere there are no icons to open) – Click Properties – Choose the SETTINGS tab – Move your resolution tab UP a notch and click OK to save. Mine was set at 600 x 800, and I moved it up to the next highest numbers, or one notch. Everything immediately shrunk back to normal.
I was told that playing a computer game before shutting down is often the culprit.
FINALLY My pages got way too big from screwing around with trying to re-size the pop-up windows that up-load images – only in Firefox.
Google Chrome is now doing it too! I was using the tab key and hitting enter randomly and that helped but this is much better — there ARE other keys to try!
:) Yippee!
P.S. Hide developer tools from non-geeks and nerds. They can be dangerous in the wrong hands — no, not me??!! (lol)
I have tried everything that everyone has said to do. When I get into my setting tabs and go to click on the screen resolution button it won’t let me do anything. I just got a new hard drive and this is my newest problem. If someone knows how to solve this problem please let me know.
23-Feb-2009
I play a game, and my laptop is tiny, usually when I play a game the loading page allows me to change the screen size, but this game doesnt, and the window is now too big for me to change it in the game! it wont let me make is smaller or scroll down! and i really want to play! what do i do!?
I fixed it by right clicking the desktop and navigating by hitting alt tab and using the scroll on my mouse then i played with the tab button using alt f4 to close what I didn’t want to open. WHat a pain in the ass.
I have ubuntu will I be able to correct the resolution of my screen the same way as windows?
I had the same problem when viewing a web page (that I had developed), on the Internet, even though it fitted my screen in Internet Explorer in development in my PC. After trying many of the solutions offered above – unsuccessfully, I noticed, by chance, that there is a zoom button in the bottom right of my screen. It had been set to 120%. Resetting to to 100% fixed the problem.
I am also having the screen picture too big
but only on Netscape..Safari..Internet Explorer
are fine..but I use Netscape a lot and
it really bothers me when I can’t see
the images on my screen background. I
tried that alt/spacebar but nothing happened.
This didnt work for me. what i did was went to PROPERTIES then i went to SETTINGS
…buy a larger monitor? (lol)…seriously, that would fix the problem, wouldn’t it?
Happened to me twice. One time I just changed resolution, and moved window. The other time, I just went into video control panel and changed the center of the screen. (french benefits of a $500.00 video card – even tho it’s seven years old)
What is plan B ? alt-space bar got the little box menu but wouldn’t let me change anything.
I can not make my screen smaller and letters are oversize. I tried alt+spacebar and nothiong pops up. Llease help. t.u.
I have the same problem and when I pressed alt plus the spacebar the window popped up, but the size option was not available to me. What else can I do?
I figured it out thanks to brenden go to the bottom right, still in the internet explorer and there is a zoom button, click 100%
ctrl + or – should change it.
Ihave done the alt+spacbar thing does not work. What is this Zoom button people are talking about? I sure cannot find it.
This worked for me. I figured it out thanks to brenden go to the bottom right, still in the internet explorer and there is a zoom button, click 100%
How do I get Netscape 7.2 to go back to it’s
normal size? I don’t like the full screen
mode I am in..and am use to having the icons
on my desktop showing on all 3 sides of my
computer screen. I downloaded an image
today that was too big and I have not
been able to get back to the normal size yet.
Not only the window is too large but the letters are huge too. I also tried the alt + spacebar deal and the SIZE option wasn’t available. So I’m still stuck with a screwed up screen!
images on screen are too large
My window is too large and wider than my screen. I cannot see the top of my screen and Ctrl Alt does not work.
Please help.
This was so needed! My screen was showing HUGE letters! The bottom right next to the magnifying glass is where I did need to go to change my 150% back down to 100%. Charming!
The screen is too wide and cannot read on the information at the right side…I did the zoom and was on 100% and still the screen remains the smae…
I did what you recommend and still is too wide
Thats not my answer to find something, it’s something different and its like, when i logged into my acc, the icons, and HUGEEE, the desktop is normal, but everything just grew bigger, about the size of my thumb! please, help… my son was playing this game called “maplestory”, and now there’s this mess…
I have read all the comments but I still can’t get my screen smaller. Pleas help
i needed to fix language problem in mail program, opened options under tools and went to spelling options.I marked correct options but when I went to mark apply and ok I found the bottom of page off screen and neither option appeared. I have tried suggestions but none work. How do I get bottom of paage to appear and the apply and ok options. Thanks Betty I never could get the 4 point compass to appear
The ALT + Spacebar worked for fixing the window problem but it does not work when I open “My Computer” or “My Pictures.” I get the popup menu but the “size” option is greyed out. I have Windows XP SP3 with Internet Explorer 6 installed. How can I fix this?
cant made my msn main screen smaller
When I press Alt & Space, the window pops up but the size option is not in black, it’s in gray and I can’t click on it. Please help! It’s so frustrating!
(this is not a comment)……(i just need help
)umm…..i have homework 2 do and cant beacuse my computer is acting retarted. but thats not the point my screen is fine and every thing but the pictures,letters,ect.are bigger than what it useto look like so please if you have any recomandations than please tell me i wanna fix this………=(
When I press Alt & Space, the window pops up but the size option is not in black, it’s in gray and I can’t click on it. Please help! It’s so frustrating!
I followed your suggestion without success. The SIZE is grayed out and does not act the way you suggest. How do I get the screen size back to normal?
Ok , another way that will work ..i tried it
when you poen your computer , don’t touch anything . Right click and go to PERSONALIZE . Scrool down and you can see DISPLAY SETTINGS .
Then when i opens , you can see two black screens labled 1 and 2 . Click on 2 and then click on resolution . and put it all the way to high . Then at the side , you see colours . If you don’t want to change it to the Medium one , youcan still leave it there . Then click ok , TADA … your screen will be back again to normal !
I use windows 7. Out of the blue, my homepage window and every other window was too large for the screen. Here’s how I fixed it: click ALT and SPACEBAR. At the top of the menu click “restore” and Hey Presto, or Voila, all is well and Bob’s your uncle AND, even, Fanny’s your aunt. To cut a long story short THE WINDOW FITS!
If you don’t mind me plugging my own program, I’ve written a little utility called Borderline to move offscreen windows back onscreen. It’s completely free (as in beer) and has no spyware or other gotchas: http://www.taenarum.com/software/
Similar problem on some applications i.e. Windows 7 the screen is way too large and the contents are by comparison minuscule so I can’t even read it on the large monitor attached to my Toshiba Net-book. I adjusted it on my Eudora which I keep using (sorry they have stopped upgrading) but there seem to be nothing like that to deal with Windows 7. It is nothing to do with screen resolution as I have tried diff variants and changing the font size is very limited as well. The only thing that helps is using CTRL key and + or – signs to make the screen smaller or bigger. However, as I said, since the contents sometimes are so small on the big size screen making the screen smaller does not help.
Would appreciate some input.
Exasperated girl.
PS the Restore option on the pop-up window is gray and not available, resizing the screen is not a solution to this problem since the contents on the right side on the page are not visible and I have to resort to space bar to be able to read it. Most unsatisfactory.
“I followed your suggestion without success. The SIZE is grayed out and does not act the way you suggest. How do I get the screen size back to normal?”
Had the same problem and just hit restore and everything went back to normal
To Catherine who posted about alt + space and then restore – THANK YOU. this solved my problem!!
I have this same problem plus text is huge. I tried alt+sb but ‘Size’ option is grayed out. Now what? Can’t change my text size [under view tab] either. Please Help!! Thanks.
same problem as bill the size is grey cant use how do i get my home page to fit the screen
Same problem here with Win 7. All the alert popups now show up max screen … and there are no controls on these popups. No resize commands, often the only is “move”.
Any ideas on how to reset these programs alerts back to normal size ?
Been looking at the problem and think it might be related to the Explorer information box. The one that displays during a “delete file” operation.
The window seems to default to “maximum information” which fills the screen. If I can select the “minimal information button” then the screen returns to normal size.
Wonder if there is a common setting for these dialog/popup boxes from Explorer?
Hey! I’m having a similar problem, only it’s not just safari, but the whole computer! I try to use iMovie but have to manually move the wondow to see everything. Same goes with Garage Band and Safari… in fact my whole computer display seemed to go ‘jumbo’. any way I can fix this?
What if the size part doesn’t allow you to click it?
as per BMurph above, the Size doesn’t allow me to click it, plus there is a “check” mark at the “hide”, which you do not mention in the above window, whenever i try to fix it the screen freezes, is there something else to try? Thanks
the size option won’t evenn alow me toooo clickk it , LAMEE . ;
Here’s something to check. If you’re using IE8, go to ‘page’ at the upper right hand side of your screen, click & select zoom. Reset to 100% (or whatever you’d like) and you should return to normal size.
Here’s something to check. If you’re using IE8, go to ‘page’ at the upper right hand side of your screen, click & select zoom. Reset to 100% (or whatever you’d like) and you should return to normal size.
Skip “size” *** Bob-o is right on -or look down in the “RIGHT” corner on the status bar. You will see a % sign.
Set it at 100 to fit exactly if thats your goal
nothing worked my hole screen got big even my desktop thats what i need help with not my internet only..duhh
try ie tools tab
internet options
advanced
acceessibity
check reset zoom level for new window&tabs
I’m with Taylor. Not only internet screen but my desktop too. Tried what Will said, didn’t work. Help. thanks.
I’ve had this same problem and none of the above works. I will say though that this all started when I started using a Vizio 32 ” HDTV as a monitor. I can resize the window manually so that the scrollbar shows, but there must be a fix for this. Windows 7 Home Premium, IE 9 Beta.
Hi all,
I followed the alt+space instructions (when in properties trying to getting my screen back to normal size), but my cursor kept moving with the window and wouldn’t let me hold it in to a position in which I could click apply.
Racked my brain and solved it by counting the number of commands like 0k, cancel, tell me more etc until I would get to apply. Blindly clicked 6 times an pressed enter and hey presto it all went back to normal.
Also if you find your screen is too big AND sideways -start with alt+up cursor. That will at least get it the right way around so you can get to work with the rest of the fixing :)
Sorry, just to be clear – click tab 6 times to get the cursor to be ready to select the apply button. Then press enter
Also I couldn’t see this slider to move up and down on screen resolution, but I clicked the general scale at the far right end and it still worked.
I tried this but my computer won’t let me click Size and when I press S the options go away. Do you know anything about this?
My mouse is making my pages get larger and larger. I can’t fix it because the page is too large and I can’t getto anything right now. What do I do and how can I keep it from happening again. I don’t like the mouse on my laptop at all. The pointer will disappear off the page and I want it to stay steady until I want it to move. Right now I have to tap the mouse and I don'[t like that at all. I want to be in charge of the cursor not the cursor in charge of me. Do you understand what my problems are or did I make no sense. I’ll be waiting for your reply. Thank you so much. K. Camburn
Perfect! I tried everything and could not get the top of my window view back in my screen for me to see or even click on. Thank you so much!!!!!
I had the same problem as Belle – when I tried the ALT + space bar, the “size” option was grayed out on the pop up menu. However, on the top right of the menu bar, where you find the house icon (to go to your home page), if you click on the “Page” pull-down menu, it will let you adjust the page size.
I think that this has got it sorted. THANK YOU
i have screen is to large is it dpi or resalution causing this
my screen became wider so music player looks wider plz help me i use windows xp –
Yes thanks! I have google chrome and had to go to the tool option in the top right hand corner, the zoom option is available right in the pull down list!
my window is surnk on both sides and i dont know how to et it back o full size
Hey leo! Thank you for your wisdom. Heres a new one! I have same problem, but the Alt +Spacebar and up down arrows will get me to the place where i can resize the window, however when i touch the screen with the mouse ANYWHERE it automatically puts the mouse to the center of the window at the top and i cant see the bottom anymore. I have XP and a small 8.9″ screen. No other programs are doing this just one called Mixxx (Dj sofware) HELP!
when i open itunes the screen is to big i have windows xp
Thanks Leo, this cured my problem which was really annoying me for the last few days.
The post from Brendon fixed my problem, someone had changed my zoom level in the bottom right corner of my page in Internet Explorer. Thanks Brendon
Hey Leo
You solved my problem. Many thanks
Bruce
Hey, it’s not working for me. I have Windows 7, I want to play the game ‘metin2’ but I the screen is too large for my laptop.
It only happens when I play metin2. And I can’t press Alt + Space when playing it :S. Hopefully you know somehow I can change how big the screen is or something?
Thanks, Noah.
Great, fixed a problem that had been worrying me for years.
Thanks Leo! Fixed my too-large window problem!
Regards,
Dan
I did alt+space bar while playing a game on XP but the ‘size’ option will not work, it is coloured grey instead of black( which means I cannot click it obviously). Please help me on this,
Tom
This is the problem I am having also.
Tom try using a different alt key on your keyboard. I tried that and the size came up highlighted. Unfortunately, my problem was not fixed this way, but I was at least able to try using the steps Leo provided.
The text on my computer was made too large and now I cannot use it at all. Is there any way to revert it back to normal without using the windows?
These two articles can help you with that. The first one talks about making text larger and smaller, and the second one explains screen resolution.
http://askleo.com/how_can_i_make_the_text_on_my_screen_larger/
http://askleo.com/how_does_screen_resolution_work/
Hi Leo! I have the same problem, only it was my little one who downloaded a game. I tried your steps but when the first menu comes up “size” is not highlighted so I am unable to click on it. Any thoughts? Thank you so much in advance for your response!
Ok I played around with it a little longer and by pushing a different alt key the “size” did come up. I went through all of the other steps you provided but unfortunately, it did not solve the problem. It moved around a bit but did not return to the normal size. Any other ideas? Thank you so much!!
If size is not available, then the window you’re trying to resize is not designed to be resizable.
so everytime i turn off my computer the revolution changes and when i try to fix it .. its not working and everything is just to big can you help !!
My computer is normal sized except when I play a game. Then it’s so huge, it all won’t fit on the screen. Help!! I have a Dell XPS 8700.
Just a tip. I you really want an answer to your question it would be helpful to mention what type of computer you are using, and what type of game, perhaps even the game’s name. In fact, some games are played online in a browser, and some are programs on your computer. Changing the screen size would be very different depending on all those details. But, perhaps this article will help you:
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_make_this_browserbased_online_game_bigger.html
I have the same issue, I solved the issue by CTRL + 0 or adjust by CTRL+ + or –
BIG THANKS – at last I can resize a window where the controls are off screen!
I used to have a key at the bottom right of my screen which let me increase or decrease the screen content and it has disappeared. How can I get it back please???? (Windows 7)
I just wanted to say thank you – I had made my “save as” window in Word full screen and it has been driving me nuts but alt+space bar trick meant I could finally fix it up. Thanks!
a large number of windows pages are automatically opening as i switch on laptop..and computer is stuck..kaspersky scan shows some threat called outbox browser a potentially harmful software..but am not able to delete it..its automatically saying action aborted by user..plz help
I’d suggest trying software dedicated to potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) such as AdwClearemoving ner and Malwarebytes.
https://askleo.com/how-do-i-remove-pups-foistware-drive-bys-toolbars-and-other-annoying-things-i-never-wanted/
thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!
Your solution worked perfectly!!!! Thank you!!!
I just want to say thank you – because every other search insisted it was my resolution and I knew it wasn’t. I had just hit some shortcut by accident and had no clue how to fix it. Especially since the standard ctrl +, ctrl – wasn’t working. Thanks again
Thank Leo !
My file is too large to save i want 2make 2be small.
All of a sudden, my IE8 font size and pictures doubled. After browsing this thread, someone mentioned the zoom concept. I went tools, and sure enough, there is a zoom option, which was set to258%. Put it back to 100% and things are good. No idea how it got changed in the first place.
Thanks for the tip. I must have hit something, my screen got large and I had to find a way to reduce it. Your tip helped. Thanks again.
The screen on top left after pressing ALT+Spacebar looks a bit different then shown with Size grayed out. I tried some of the other options as suggested by other readers, nothing worked. By the way only SOME of the incoming mails have larger area, bigger than screen, not all.
Leo,you’re a genius!You simplified the “”screen too large” instructions where 10 others couldn’t. Thanks so much. Walt
The computer has been formatted and set up new windows 7 installation. After that Open new window example some program which use for my job, window is large and wider. And i can not fix the size and its now working according to above advise. What should i do Sir ?
I’m running a new MS Surface Pro 4 with 2 additional Dell 24″ monitors. Windows 10. The two dell monitors are identical. For some reason, one monitor had a problem with the display being a bit wider than the monitor. I used this solution and it worked perfectly. Thanks for posting.
Sir. My name is puran. My laptop icon is very
large and desktop screen is short. Songs video display in half screen. Plz tell me about this. I want normal every all. I hope you would help. Thanks.
Perhaps this article on screen resolution will help: https://askleo.com/how_does_screen_resolution_work/
There is also a possibility that the screen is broken. Hardware does break. Here’s an article with a great audio from Leo on that: http://ask-leo.com/hardware_can_break.html
Thankyou so much. Just tried this and it worked.
Thank you very much for the information about controlling the size of the window on the screen (click ALT+space bar, choose “size,” and push right arrow key to bring the margin back into sight on the screen.)
[FIX]
For those who need or choose to have a lower screen resolution you can simply modify whichever program(s) you’re having an issue with the following procedure:
1) Right-click on the program’s icon and click properties. (If it’s pinned to the taskbar, right click again on the program’s name).
2) Under the compatibility tab, click the checkbox labeled “Disable display scaling on high DPI settings”. Now your app will run without any scaling in effect, regardless of system-wide settings.
There are also several other settings if needed but this should generally fix the sizing issue with most programs.
hi, my computer screen bottom bar (specially for a single case when i am using staddpro ,building design software ,,) is out of screen so i cannot command as “finish” ,i have followed your routes by pressing alt+space but it shows only move and close icon,there is no icon named size ,so i unable to resizesd it if i try to move by keyboard when i press enter showing the finish icon it goes as before withour obeying the command…….i will be very grateful to u plz…ans
after fighting with this problem for years off and on you finally give me the answer that works first time
tried the open new and resize and close all hundreds of times and this worked first tims
plus it is so simple and straightforward
i’m surprised no one ever posted it before
Thanks for the advice in your blog. After studying the various advice, i tried and found that ctl alt, right click on desktop or icon Properties, settings in control panel, clicking resolution didn’t work. So I opened windows and clicked on icon “view” and clicked “zoom” where I could adjust the % size of the screen (bigger or smaller).
I only thought of it after blending all your suggestions together.
thanks leo dear,i have written down what you said and i shall get my daughter to sort it out tomorrow.i am not so good on my laptop as to understand a great amount of the comp speak.i was at my wits end,but you have helped far more easily and sensibly than other sites i looked at.one lot got $5 us from me and then i learned i was to pay for just about each word.lol.thanks again.
I am using Windows 7. My problem in my yahoo email is that I can’t drag pictures over anymore because when I minimize my yahoo screen it becomes a very small rectangle. If I maximize it, the large screen comes right back, but I cannot slide a picture from my screen to my email as it is only a rectangle. With music I can share as I cut and paste, but not with pictures. How can I minimize the screen, but not have a small rectangle?
Leo, The vertical spacebar in Windows 10 Edge is too narrow. (About 1/2 as wide as the one on
my right) Also the arrowhead at the bottom right is too dim.
Is there anything I can do about the size and the arrowhead?
Great article, but doesn’t help in the case where the program in question is designed such that moving the border won’t scale down its contents but just push more contents outside the border. Especially if that program window has no scrollbars to see what’s over said border. I have been struggling with this issue recently; it’s particularly painful if you are using custom-designed software or are remoting in to another PC with a bigger screen than your laptop. I would ask for pointers but I guess it’s pointless (no pun intended) because I have a feeling this is not solvable. The only solution I could find was to (somewhat farcically) put my laptop in portrait mode (sideways screen) which allowed me to access the buttons at the bottom of said program window. But it would be nice if you could comment on why Windows 10 doesn’t simply allow reduction in the size of all objects within a screen?? Surely that would be an obvious feature? Before you say “it does”, the default sizing is 100% and Windows 10 doesn’t allow you to slide below this, for some reason – only above it. Thoughts?
Thanks leo it was driving me nuts the window was too long for my screen, it worked like a charm.
You name it and I have tried it and still cannot fit all text on the screen on lastminuteauction.com then click on the United States flag icon at top right. I have been on this site a million times and now this happens. I have been dealing with this for 2 days. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m using Windows 8. Toshiba satellite laptop. Please Help!
Thank you so much. I was really struggling with not being able to move my screen. Thank you for your efforts to help us.
Thank you. My computer screen often goes to the “big” setting . Fortunately I found your website and your instructions on how to reduce the computer screen size. Your instructions were perfect…easy to understand. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Leo,
After wasting my time with several searches in a vain attempt to correct this annoying problem, you were the only one who offered a genuinely simple, fast and accurate solution.
Thank you so much!
tm
I can’t comment until I have had a chance to try your minimize suggestion, but reading comments of others is encouraging also. May I ask: this keyboard is new to me and I find letters missing that I thought I typed, especially c’s, h’s, n’s. Is there an exercise I can practice that will help me have better “balance” on the keyboard?
It might be that the keyboard is defective. You might want to bring it back to the shop and have it checked out while it’s still under warrantee.
When I share something like a petition on FB, it always does this. I can’t see the ‘share’ button and it won’t minimize on any side, even the ones I can get to. It just pops back to the same size when I let go. I figured out I can highlight the link on top and rotate through the ‘tab’ button till it comes back to it, then tab around again one time less and presume it’s on ‘share’, then hit enter.
I just tried the thing on this page with the window and it still snapped back to the original size! Stupid FB.
I have Windows 10. Something happened a while back and my MSN.com will not fit my computer screen. All of my other favorites are just fine, except for this one. I can’t seem to fix it. I’ve tried your advice of Alt/space bar etc. from previous advice you’ve given. Any other suggestions?
MSN is simply a website. Its size can be controlled in the browser by clicking CTRL along with the minus key to make the contents of the browser smaller which should make the contents of the browser fit the browser window. You can increase the size of the contents of the browser window by clicking CTRL along with the plus key
Leo I love you! I had used your sight several years ago and was afraid I could not find your sight again. You are still here. Thank you for providing help to others. A wonderful service.
I could not reduce size of screen. Tried alt space bar and typed S
it stopped there
I think it’s happening, you are just not seeing it as it is very obscure. So don’t look, just do the steps.
1. Type Alt+spacebar
2. Type s
3. Type the right-arrow key
4. Move your mouse and you’ll see that you are hooked onto the side of the window and able to move it.
You can hook to the top of the window as well by typing the up-arrow key in step 3.
Leo ! I think you are GREAT ! regards fixing my window size plus many other things over the years which I have not thanked you for……… God bless and Kind Regards, Will
Another option to resize application windows is to use the Windows option to “cascade” or “stack” all open windows. Right click on the taskbar (in Win 10, do this near the date/time display) and select the “cascade” option. This will bring back windows that are “off screen” and resize the windows to fit on screen.
In Windows 10 you can also use the “Snap” keyboard shortcuts to bring the current window on screen and to resize it. Use the key to move the application window around. It may take a couple of key presses in same direction to get the application back, and you may have to try a couple of different directions.
I have the same problem but with only one application – Epson Scan. Epson can’t fix it (brand new printer, works great otherwise.) Microsoft can’t fix it. No “size” option on the Alt space bar option. Cascade didn’t work either. Windows 8.1 HP Laptop. Oh how I’d love to be able to use this software instead of Windows Scan or Windows Fax and Scan, neither of which give me the desired options.
A real answer without going insane! In real world speak even! It worked! Thank you from a real person to a real person (sort of kind of in cyberworld). I can now see my tabs, and menu bar without having to beg margin with cursor. You are forever in my Bookmarks!
Brilliant, have been trying to find a way to solve this problem for months
Hi,
I had same problem and finally I could solve it, hope it helps:
-Type ALT+spacebar: this should pop up a menu at the upper left of the window
-Click on…. “Move “…..
-Press the arrow key in opposite direction of which the window border is off the screen
the edge of the window should move in the direction you’ve chosen.
Thank you. I have Windows 7. The right side of my tab was too wide and wouldn’t display. But I had to go to the right top of the page to reset it. I tried the arrow key and that didn’t work, but after a few tries, I tried it at the very top right corner and got it to fit the monitor. I don’t know why it happened and was ready to do a system restore to fix it. Just wanted to say thanks!
I followed your instructions about how to resize the image of my email account, however, it did not work. When I clicked on “size” the cursor did not turn into a 4-arrow directional image. What do I do now?
What email program or interface do you use?
Thanks You So Much!. This has been wreaking my head for ages. I’ve tried various google searches trying to find a resolution. The task of wording the search right took some doing as well, but finally thanks to your good self it’s sorted!!!
I tried everything to get my computer screen back to its original configuration. My screens went oversize after a recent Windows 10 update. I tried a ton of solutions presented here and else where to fix the problem but nothing worked. After wrestling with the problem for over a day, I decided that the problem was related to a Windows 10 update to my graphics card. So I did the following to remedy the problem:
With no applications running, (1) RIGHT CLICK on your screen. A small menu will pop up and then
(2) CLICK on “Intel Graphics Display” in this menu. After several seconds an Intel Control Panel Screen will appear.
(3) CLICK on “Display” in the lower left hand corner on this screen and a new screen with data about your computer display will appear.
(4) Check the data listed to see that it matches your current display device. If yes, go to Step 6.
(5) If not, input the Display Model and Product Number you have, then change the Resolution and Refresh Rate to match your display. Next under Scaling select “Maintain Aspect Ratio”; under Picture Aspect Ratio select “16:9”, under IT Content select “Enable” and under Quantization Range select “Default Range”.
(6) Lastly, go to the upper right hand corner of the screen and click on the X. (DO NOT SET UP A PROFILE AS SHOWN).
Your screen will now go automatically back to its original configuration after you click on the X.
Simple solution for a frustrating problem. Worked for me and I hope it works for you.
Wow! Worked great and fixed the problem. Thanks very much.
Thanks , this worked for me, using the 4-pointed arrow to resize a window that seemed permanently maximized.