# Is there a keyboard way to make windows Maximize, Minimize, or Restore? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924 "2000-10-14T21:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924/21 "2000-10-17T04:19:50Z")
Mac user with incidental / occasional Windows experience chiming in here. Get QuicKeys for Windows. If you can do it with a click or a series of clicks, or a keystroke, or a mixture of keystrokes and clicks, or series of keystrokes, or compile it from the built-in process menus, you can set it up as a macro and then assign it a keystroke, and, furthermore, decide whether or not the keystroke should work globally or be confined to the specific application in which you think you’ll mostly use it. Maximize windows: tell QuicKeys to record. Click the maximize window deelybobber. Click the stop record button. Assign it a global keystroke. Minimize windows: same process except click the minimize window deelybobber. Minimize window and check email in background email application and, if there ain’t none, go back to original app and maximize its window, otherwise open email, maximize first unread message: yeah, you can do that kind of thing too. PS: If you’re a Mac user with QuicKeys, you may be able to get a discount on QuicKeys for Windows, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924/22 "2000-10-17T04:40:01Z")
\>\> If you’re watching a Quicktime movie and hit “Ctrl - left arrow” the movie plays at normal speed in reverse! How odd. Well, it must be specific to whatever player you are using because it does not work with MS Media Player ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924/23 "2000-10-18T00:43:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\* \>\> If you’re watching a Quicktime movie and hit “Ctrl - left arrow” the movie plays at normal speed in reverse! How odd. > > Well, it must be specific to whatever player you are using because it does not work with MS Media Player \*\* Um, yes. That would be a Quicktime movie using the Quicktime player… ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924/24 "2000-10-18T00:57:57Z")
There is a freeware utility called [winkey](http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-1461989-100-913626.html?tag=st.dl.10000_103_1.lst.td_913626) that lets you define your windows key to do any shortcut you want. I use it and love it myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keyboard-way-to-make-windows-maximize-minimize-or-restore/36924.md?page=1)