Windows 10 - How to move window to other monitor by using keyboard shortcuts?

I try to switch a window from my second monitor to the first, because my OS always opens some windows where they were last closed. E.g. if I open up VLC Player to watch a video and then move the window to monitor B, close it and reopen it, then it is opened on monitor B the next time.

This is obviously very annoying, especially if monitor B is not on.

Is there a shortcut so I can move the windows easily to monitor A again if it has focus?

I tried to give the window focus and press

Windows+SHIFT+→ or: Windows+SHIFT+←

But nothing happens.

Black

Posted 2016-10-08T15:58:14.597

Reputation: 3 900

60Windows+SHIFT+→ works for me on four monitors. – Peter Hahndorf – 2016-10-09T16:42:10.243

Thanks for your Feedback! Thats weird, shouldn't it work for me aswell then? – Black – 2016-10-10T06:10:00.727

1I would think so, if it doesn't, there may be third party tools intercepting keyboard calls. Not sure. – Peter Hahndorf – 2016-10-10T06:14:52.950

I will check for any external software. It didn't worked before i upgraded from windows 7 to windows 10 either. – Black – 2016-10-10T06:35:11.280

1For me it's just Windows+Cursor Keys to move windows across desktops by switching them through various sizes. – Seth – 2016-10-10T07:31:47.630

@Seth thats also neat, but i try to switch the window between multiple monitors. I already suspect an external software (monitor switcher) which prevents this, i will check if that software is the cause if I am at home. – Black – 2016-10-11T07:01:40.420

Answers

I solved it by unchecking the box which you can see in the following screenshot.

Go to Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Make the Keyboard Easier to Use

Then search for the setting "Make it easier to manage windows" and un-check "Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen"

After unchecking this option, it works again.

Black

Posted 2016-10-08T15:58:14.597

Reputation: 3 900

4English screenshot. However this also disables snapping (dragging windows to edges or Windows+left/right) – phuclv – 2017-10-20T09:54:01.440

Go to Settings -> System -> Multitasking

The first section in the Multitasking settings is called Snap. I had the first four items in the list set to Off. When I changed them to On, it (moving windows with Windows+Shift+→ / ← (Right / Left arrow key) started working again.

^{(Click image to enlarge)}

stormmaker

Posted 2016-10-08T15:58:14.597

Reputation: 141

An alternative method of moving desktop applications using the keyboard, is to open the application system menu by pressing ALT + Space and then press m to select move. Then you can use the arrow keys to move the application window. I regularly use this to move applications that are placed outside my desktop.

Note that this will not work if "move" is disabled in the application. Which will be the case if the application is maximized.

This method also works when "Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen" is checked in the control panel.

staaleh

Posted 2016-10-08T15:58:14.597

Reputation: 71

"Note that this will not work if "move" is disabled in the application. Which will be the case if the application is maximized." In that case, Windows will boing at you to let you know it's not working; then Alt+ Space then R will restore the window to non-full screen and THEN you can ALT + Space, M arrowkey to move it. – Steve Rindsberg – 2018-11-06T15:44:49.413

You save my life! It is midnight now and I have to do some urgent work on remote PC. Since I have 2 monitor and Google remote desktop only support single screen. Visual Studio is opened and unsave work on 2nd monitor, so I have to move to primary screen. The ALT+SPACE is works, and classical method always work! – Cheung – 2019-01-19T17:56:22.853

Alt+space does nothing in my Win 10. Why? – Pedro77 – 2019-12-25T19:22:41.547

1@Pedro77 Alt+space opens the window menu of the active application. The application has to be made active first. Applications can disable this behaviour. – staaleh – 2019-12-27T11:26:04.257

A couple things that can prevent this key combo from working are:

Filter Keys is turned on.

Open the "Ease of Access Keyboard Settings" page and disable this feature.
GPO: "Turn off Windows+X hotkeys" is enabled.

Do the reverse of what this article details. This is less likely to cause the issue, as having this enabled did not prevent the hotkey from working in my tests, but I suppose it's theoretically possible.

I may add additional causes if I discover any, but I hope this helps resolve your current issue. :)

Chiramisu

Posted 2016-10-08T15:58:14.597

Reputation: 233

Thank you, I am currently not at home and can't try it, but i will do and report back :). I already solved it though it was indeed a windows setting. I will report asap how I solved it. – Black – 2017-03-10T10:03:15.097

1This totally worked for me, but I had "Filter Keys" already turned "off" but I also had to disable "Allow the shortcut key to start filter keys" since it was blocking the <shift> key from working. – DH4 – 2019-09-30T02:16:28.083

Up votes are always appreciated mate. Cheers. – Chiramisu – 2019-09-30T03:23:17.980