How to Change the Default Window Size in Windows 11

Windows 11 doesn’t have one setting that controls the default size of every window. Instead, most apps remember the size and position they had when you last closed them. To change an app’s default window size, open it, resize the window to the size you want (drag an edge or corner), move it where you want it, and then close it normally. The next time you open the app, it should open at that size. To make an app always open maximized, right-click its shortcut, choose Properties, and set Run to Maximized.

This guide covers every reliable way to control how big windows open in Windows 11, including File Explorer, shortcuts, Snap layouts, display scaling, and app-specific settings, plus fixes for windows that open too small, off-screen, or at a different size every time.

Method 1: Resize and close to save the size

1. Open the app.
2. If the window is maximized, click the Restore Down button (two overlapping squares) in the top-right corner.
3. Drag the window’s edges or corners to the size you want. Drag the title bar to move it.
4. Close the app with the X button (not by ending it in Task Manager).
5. Reopen the app to check that it remembers the new size.

This works for most desktop apps, including File Explorer, Notepad, Settings, most browsers, and Office apps. If an app has several windows open, the last one you close is usually the one it remembers.

Method 2: Set a shortcut to open maximized or minimized

1. Right-click the app’s shortcut on your desktop and choose Properties. For a Start menu app, right-click it, choose More > Open file location, and then right-click the shortcut there.
2. Click the Shortcut tab.
3. Open the Run dropdown and choose Normal window, Minimized, or Maximized.
4. Click OK.

This setting only applies when you open the app from that shortcut. Some apps, especially modern Store apps and apps that manage their own windows, ignore it. Store apps don’t have a traditional shortcut with a Run option.

Method 3: Use Snap layouts for consistent sizes

Snap layouts let you quickly size windows to halves, thirds, or quarters of the screen.

1. Hover over a window’s Maximize button, or press Windows + Z.
2. Pick a layout and a zone for the window.
3. Use Windows + Up arrow to maximize, Windows + Down arrow to restore or minimize, and Windows + Left/Right arrow to snap to a side.

Turn on Snap options in Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows. Windows 11 can also remember snap groups and restore them on external monitors when you reconnect.

Method 4: Adjust display scaling and resolution

If every window opens too big or too small, your display settings may be the cause.

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Under Scale, choose the recommended value, or a smaller percentage to fit more on screen.
3. Check that Display resolution is set to the recommended (native) resolution.

Method 5: Use the app’s own window settings

• Terminal – open Settings > Startup and set Launch size (columns and rows) and Launch mode (default, maximized, full screen, or focus).
• Command Prompt (classic console) – right-click the title bar, choose Defaults, and set the window size on the Layout tab.
• Browsers – most browsers remember the last closed window’s size. Close extra windows first, then close the one sized the way you like.

Fix windows that won’t remember their size

• Close apps normally – ending an app from Task Manager or shutting down with it open can skip saving its window size.
• Multiple monitors – if you disconnect a monitor, apps may move to the main screen and forget their size. In Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays, turn on Remember window locations based on monitor connection.
• Window opens off-screen – click the app on the taskbar, press Alt + Space, choose Move, press an arrow key, and move the mouse to bring the window back. Or use Windows + Left/Right arrow.
• File Explorer resets – close all File Explorer windows, open one, resize it, and close it. If it still resets, restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager and try again.
• Tablet posture – on 2-in-1 devices, some apps open maximized when the keyboard is detached.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a registry setting for default window size?

There’s no single registry value for all apps. Each app stores its own window position, and editing those values isn’t recommended, so resizing and closing the app is the safest method.

Can third-party tools force window sizes?

Yes. Window management utilities, such as the FancyZones tool in Microsoft PowerToys, can define custom zones and help you place windows at consistent sizes.

Why do some apps always open maximized?

Some apps are designed to open maximized, or were last closed while maximized. Restore the window, resize it, and close it to change that.