The fastest way to minimize a game
Press Alt + Tab to switch away from your game and back to your desktop or another window. This is the quickest method on almost every PC, and it works whether your game runs in full-screen or windowed mode.
If Alt + Tab does not work—some games lock keyboard input—try Alt + Enter to toggle your game from full-screen to windowed mode, then click the minimize button (the dash icon) in the top-right corner of the window. Once minimized, you can click the game's taskbar button to bring it back.
A third option is to press the Windows key alone, which brings up the Start menu and minimizes whatever is in front. Click your game in the taskbar to restore it.
Key Takeaways
- Alt + Tab is the fastest way to minimize most games and switch to another window without closing the game.
- If your game is in full-screen mode and Alt + Tab does not work, press Alt + Enter to switch to windowed mode, then click the minimize button.
- Pressing the Windows key alone will minimize your game and show the desktop.
- Some games pause automatically when minimized, while others keep running in the background—check your game settings if you want to change this behavior.
Why some games do not minimize smoothly
Games running in exclusive full-screen mode take over your entire display and can be slow to minimize because they have to release control of your graphics card back to Windows. This is why Alt + Tab sometimes feels sluggish or does not work at all in full-screen games.
Switching to windowed mode or borderless windowed mode makes minimizing when ready, because the game no longer has exclusive control of your screen. The trade-off is a small performance hit—your game may run a few frames per second slower—but for most players the faster minimize is worth it.
You can change this in your game's graphics settings. Look for options labeled "Display Mode," "Screen Mode," or "Full Screen." Choose "Windowed" or "Borderless Windowed" instead of "Full Screen" or "Exclusive Full Screen."
Minimizing without losing your place in the game
When you minimize a game, it keeps running in the background by default. Your character stays where you left them, timers keep counting down, and online matches continue without you. This is true whether you use Alt + Tab, the minimize button, or the Windows key.
If you want your game to pause when you minimize it, check the game's settings menu. Some games have an option like "Pause on Focus Loss" or "Pause When Minimized"—turn this on if it exists. Not all games offer this feature, especially online games that cannot pause for a single player.
For single-player games, pausing before you minimize is the safest approach. Press your game's pause button (usually Esc or P) before you switch away, so you do not lose progress or get killed while you are gone.
Using the taskbar to switch between game and desktop
Your game appears as a button in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, even when the game is running full-screen. Right-click that button to see options: you can minimize the game, close it, or jump back to it when ready.
Left-clicking the game's taskbar button will restore it to full-screen or bring its window back to the front. If you have multiple windows open, you can click and hold on the game button to see a preview of the window before you click it.
Keyboard shortcuts that work in most games
| Shortcut | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Switches to the next open window or desktop | Works in most games; fastest option |
| Alt + Enter | Toggles between full-screen and windowed mode | Use this if Alt + Tab does not work |
| Windows key | Opens Start menu and minimizes the game | Works in almost all games |
| Alt + Esc | Cycles through open windows | Alternative to Alt + Tab; slower but reliable |
What to do if your game freezes when you minimize
If your game freezes, stutters, or crashes when you minimize it, the problem is usually a graphics driver issue or a conflict with your game's full-screen settings. Try switching to windowed mode first—this solves the problem in most cases.
If windowed mode does not help, update your graphics driver. Visit the website for your graphics card manufacturer (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel) and read the latest driver for your card. Restart your PC after installing, then test the game again.
If the game still freezes, try disabling any overlay software you have running—Discord overlay, Xbox Game Bar, or streaming software can interfere. Check your game's settings for an option to disable overlays, or close the overlay software before you launch the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does minimizing a game close it?
No. Minimizing hides the game window but leaves it running. Your progress is saved in memory, and you can restore the window by clicking its taskbar button. To actually close the game, you must quit it through the menu or press Alt + F4.
Will my game pause if I minimize it?
Most games keep running when minimized. Single-player games may have a "Pause on Focus Loss" setting in the options menu that will pause automatically. Online games almost never pause, because the server does not know or care that you minimized your window.
Why does Alt + Tab not work in my game?
Some full-screen games lock keyboard input so Alt + Tab does not register. Press Alt + Enter to switch to windowed mode, which usually restores Alt + Tab functionality. If that does not work, press the Windows key to show the desktop, then click another window.
Can I minimize a game without losing performance?
Switching to windowed or borderless windowed mode makes minimizing when ready and smooth, but your game may lose a few frames per second during gameplay. For most players this trade-off is worth it. If performance matters more, stay in full-screen mode and accept that minimizing will be slower.
What is the difference between minimize and pause?
Minimize hides the window but the game keeps running—enemies move, timers count down, and online matches continue. Pause stops the game entirely. You must pause manually through the game menu; minimizing does not pause unless the game has a "Pause on Focus Loss" setting turned on.