Forum Discussion

ShawnRussell's avatar
ShawnRussell
Steel Contributor
May 20, 2026

Windows 11 frequently minimizes all windows automatically; standard solutions have not worked.

For the past couple of days, my computer has been automatically minimizing all open windows for no apparent reason. This happens whether I'm using a browser, playing games, or running other applications. I've tried the common solutions I found online, but the problem persists. How can I fix this?

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2 Replies

  • AladinH's avatar
    AladinH
    Iron Contributor
    May 25, 2026

    Hi ShawnRussell​,

    This usually points to a background application stealing window focus rather than Windows itself.

    I’d check:

    • recently installed apps or overlays
    • GPU / OEM utilitieclean boot testing (msconfig)
    • Event Viewer for recurring errors

    Also run:
    sfc /scannow
    and
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    I’ve seen similar issues caused by outdated OEM tools and notification overlays.

  • Eimerson's avatar
    Eimerson
    Iron Contributor
    May 21, 2026

    Run a full system scan with Windows Defender or your preferred antivirus. Use tools like Malware bytes (free version) for an additional scan.