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I'm familiar with windows-d to show desktop but sometimes I just want to minimise two or three windows as they become active and not the whole lot.

Running Vista if that makes a difference.


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4 Answers

up vote 20 down vote accepted

I've been using the shortcut Alt+Space followed by N for years. Works on any Windows version, all the way back to Windows 3.0!

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That's Genius ! –  buffer Apr 11 at 15:15
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according to microsoft support, there isn't one, but it is easily scripted in autoit.

EDIT: Below is a very very basic sample of how to accomplish a hotkey to minimize the focused window, fully commented.

#include <WinApi.au3> ;include winAPI library

HotKeySet("!M",'_MinimizeActive') ;sets hotkey to Alt+Shift+m to trigger function

While 1 ;loop to keep alive


Func _MinimizeActive()
    Local $v_Wnd, $w_Wnd ;declare variables
    $v_Wnd = _WinAPI_GetFocus() ;get focused window
    $w_Wnd = WinGetHandle($v_Wnd) ;get handle of focused window
    WinSetState($w_Wnd,"",@SW_MINIMIZE) ;minimize focused window
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Thanks for the quick answer, the link the Microsoft hotkeys, and what looks like a free solution! –  Ionise Sep 16 '10 at 4:35
just added a basic template for what you're looking for, coded in autoit. –  MaQleod Sep 16 '10 at 5:09
Why a downvote? It is a viable solution and also can be customized to do a lot more than just the focused window. In a lot of ways, this can be far superior to the accepted answer, depending on preferences of OP (such as selecting the topmost 3 windows and isolate out certain ones that he/she never wants minimized and minimize the rest). –  MaQleod Nov 1 '12 at 19:44
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In Windows 7 and later you can minimize the currently active window with: Win+Down.

(This may be an Aero feature that works with Vista as well.)

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Note that you have to have Aero Snap enabled for this to work. –  Sasha Chedygov Sep 16 '10 at 5:54
Do you mean this: aerosnap.de/index_eng.htm ? Even with this on vista windows-down arrow only seems to work with about half the windows. alt-space n is a lot more reliable. –  Ionise Sep 17 '10 at 1:11
Doesn't work on any window that is maximised, or snapped to half a screen. –  Coxy Nov 12 '12 at 5:18
@Coxy It's a 2 step process if it's maximized or snapped. First stroke restores it to original form, second stroke minimizes it. Not very comfortable. –  buffer Apr 11 at 15:16
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Windows key + press the down arrow twice.

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What's the difference between pressing once and twice? Pressing this once was already mentioned… –  slhck Sep 20 '13 at 20:11
@slhck I don't think there is a difference. Pressing once minimizes the window that currently has focus, and moves the focus to another window. Pressing again simply minimizes that window, etc. etc. –  John Bensin Sep 20 '13 at 20:16
Actually Ricky is (with condition) right. Pressing Win+Down when a window is maximized will not minimize it, but only restore it down. You have to press Win+Down once more in order to minimize it. –  Otiel Dec 11 '13 at 12:53
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