Windows Snap and Shake Features

The following help page attempts to answer any questions you have about the Snap feature available in Windows 7 and 10. If you have an additional question, please  send an email to Tech Help or call 937-766-7905. We would be happy to assist you.

What is the Snap Feature?

Snap is an easy and convenient way to organize open windows on your desktop by dragging them to the edges of your screen. Snap can be used to organize windows both vertically and horizontally.

How do I Maximize a Window using Snap?

1. Click and hold the title bar of the window you would like to maximize.
2. Drag the window to the top of the screen. The window will be highlighted in blue, showing how the "Snapped" window will appear.
3. Release the window and it will expand (or Snap) to fill your desktop.

How do I Perform a Vertical Snap?

1. Click and hold the title bar of the window you would like to vertically Snap.
2. Drag the window to the right or left side of the screen. An outline of the window will appear showing how the window will display after it has been “Snapped.”
3. Release the window and it will expand (or Snap) to fill the outline that appeared in Step 2.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with another window to arrange two windows side by side.

How do I Perform a Horizontal Snap?

1. Open all the windows you want to horizontally Snap.
2. Right-click the taskbar.
3. Click “Show windows stacked.”

Can I use the Snap Feature if I am using Dual Screens?

Snap works because the cursor "makes contact" with the last row of pixels on the edge of a computer monitor. Because this last row does not technically exist on the inside of a dual screen, the Snap feature works only on the far left and far right sides, not the sides that touch in the middle.

However, you can use a different method to achieve a feature similar to Snap on the inside of a dual screen:

1. Open the windows you would like to organize.
2. Single-click the top of the page you would like to snap to select it.
3. Press the Windows key. Press the left arrow to snap to the left, or the right arrow to snap to the right.

Using this method, you can have up to four windows in a row arranged on your dual screens.

Can I use the Snap Feature to Organize More than Two Windows at a Time?

The Snap feature technically only works with two windows being displayed side by side vertically. However, you can use other features in Windows 7 and 10 to get similar results with multiple windows.

Organizing More Than Two Windows at a Time Vertically

1. Open all windows you would like organized.
2. Right-click the start bar (not the Windows home button) > Click “Show windows side by side.”
3. To undo the “side by side” vertical organization, right click the start bar > Click “Cascade windows.”

Organizing More Than Two Windows at a Time Horizontally

1. Open all windows you would like organized.
2. Right-click the start bar > Click “Show windows stacked.”
3. To undo the “stacked” horizontal organization, right-click the start bar > Click “Cascade windows.”

What is the Shake Feature?

Shake is a feature in Windows 7 and 10 that allows you to quickly minimize all windows except one. By performing a “shake” you can quickly minimize numerous windows at once, as well as bring them all back.

How do I use Shake?

1. Choose the only window you would like to view.
2. Click and hold the top of the window.
3. Quickly move your mouse to the left and right two or three times.
4. All windows except the one you “shook” should now be minimized. To make them reappear, repeat steps 1-3.

Posted in Computer Help