Background Knowledge

When opening an application one may desire to have the application maximized or minimized. The solutions listed below are the most reliable means to achieve this for all Microsoft Windows versions.

Solution #1 – Shortcut

Create a New Shortcut

1. Right mouse click on an empty area of the desktop.
2. Left mouse click on “New” -> “Shortcut”.
3. Left mouse click on the “Browse…” button and select a desired application.
4. Once you have selected your desired application, left mouse click on the “OK” button.
5. Left mouse click on the “Next” button.
6. Type in the desired name of the shortcut and left mouse click on the “Finish” button.
7. Continue on to the “Edit Existing Shortcut” instructions below.

Edit Existing Shortcut

1. Right mouse click on a shortcut and left mouse click on “Properties”.
2. Left mouse click on “Shortcut” tab.
3. Under “Run”, select desired window setting, “Normal window”, “Maximized” or ” Minimized”.
4. Left mouse click on the “OK” button.

Note: If you do not have the “Run” property on the shortcut, then follow the “Create a New Shortcut” instructions.

Solution #2 – Command Line

Maximize

1. At the command line type without double quotes, “start /max c:\Windows\notepad.exe”. Replace “c:\Windows\notepad.exe” with desired application.

Minimized

1. At the command line type without double quotes, “start /min c:\Windows\notepad.exe”. Replace “c:\Windows\notepad.exe” with desired application.