How to reverse 'screen tiling' and prevent key sequences causing it?

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Periodically, I’ll be working in Windows 10 with a lot of windows open, folders + documents + browser windows etc., and suddenly a whole lot of the windows get resized to ‘little rectangles’, a fraction of the size I’d individually set. I then have to manually set them all back. This is really annoying.

I don’t know what Microsoft call this ‘feature’, but I’ll call it ‘screen tiling’ until someone tells me the correct Microsoft term. The trouble is, when I google ‘screen tiling’, there are so many results about Start menu tiles that I doubt I can find a solution that way.

I think the ’tiling’ issue would be caused by me accidentally pressing some command key sequence (presumably Windows key, Ctrl key or whatever, and one or more other keys.)

I know that I can maximize windows, but I want a better solution than that.

So does anyone know how to disable this unwanted ‘screen tiling’ feature completely, and/or how to ‘reverse’ the tiling when it happens? Also, does anyone know the key sequence that causes it?

Asus N53SM & N53SN 64-bit laptops (Win7 Pro & Win10 Pro 64-bit multiboots), venerable HP Pavilion t760 32-bit desktop (XP & Win7 Pro multiboot), Oracle VirtualBox VM's: XP & Win7 32-bit, XP Mode, aged Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2019s (8" & 10.1"), Blu-ray burners, digital cameras, ext. HDDs (latest 5TB!), AnyDVD, Easeus ToDo Backup Home, Waterfox, more. Me: Aussie card-carrying Windows geek.

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Sounds like “Show windows side by side”, but I’m not sure what key sequence would do that.

If you clicked this context menu item accidentally, there is a quick method to undo the layout. Right click the taskbar once again and select Undo Show all windows side by side from the context menu.

How to Show Windows Side by Side in Windows 10

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BigBadSteve

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Have you tried right clicking on the taskbar and see if it has an item ‘undo side by side (or similar)?

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BigBadSteve

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Hi Steve, I agree this looks like a general Windows 10 question. However, more input may come from more specifics. These may seem obvious to you, but you have not written for us to know:

Are you running a “stock” installation of version 1809? 1903?
Do you have any Windows based accessibility features turned on?
Are you using any third party shells, desktop tweakers, or other Improvements on the way Windows handles the desktop environment?

I also do not know a shortcut key sequence designed to do this. Shooting in the dark, a conjecture: If you are in the habit of “parking” the cursor outside of the active window in order to reduce errant actions; you might be in the habit of parking it on the taskbar. If you then have a sensitive touchpad, or hold your thumbs or palm heels precipitously close to the touchpad; you might accidentally select a new focus, even a drop down menu box. Third if, if this happens while you are actively typing along; you may select a function from that menu without even noticing it occurred.

I know it is an edge case, made up, “what if” kind of theory. The Undo function recreates this path to rectify it. But I took your post as an inquiry of how it happens in the first place. Then you could change your behavior to avoid the annoyance in the future.

Please, if you do learn the initial cause, would you be kind enough to return and mention it here. It might be the kind of shortcut someone would like to use, rather than taking hands off the keyboard to reach for the mouse.

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[zeddy]

Hi

If you have a touch-screen it might be that you have accidentally swiped in from the left-edge of your screen (or mousepad). This will view all your currently open apps in task view (small tiles).

Just tap your touch screen again to cancel this view.

You can adjust this setting. Search for..

How to Enable or Disable Screen Edge Swipe in Windows 10

zeddy

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• This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by zeddy.

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