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Windows shortcuts to minimize and maximize don't work in Thunderbird

panini worker
panini worker
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Using Thunderbird 91.9.1 (latest as of typing this).

Steps: 1) Open Thunderbird. 2) If not already maximized, maximize the Thunderbird window using the button in the title bar. 3) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 4) Thunderbird will restore down as per the shortcut (Good). 5) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 6) Thunderbird does nothing (Bad - Should minimize). 7) Use shortcut Windows Key + up arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 8) Thunderbird does nothing (Bad - Should maximize).

In steps 5-8, Thunderbird does not respond to either minimize or maximize. These same steps work in any other application (Firefox for example).

What have I tried? I updated Thunderbird (wasn't on the latest, but I am now). I've closed and re-opened Thunderbird. I've restarted my laptop. Uninstalled and re-installed Thunderbird. Nothing has worked.

Using Thunderbird 91.9.1 (latest as of typing this). Steps: 1) Open Thunderbird. 2) If not already maximized, maximize the Thunderbird window using the button in the title bar. 3) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 4) Thunderbird will restore down as per the shortcut (Good). 5) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 6) Thunderbird does nothing (Bad - Should minimize). 7) Use shortcut Windows Key + up arrow (or swipe gesture if touchpad setup). 8) Thunderbird does nothing (Bad - Should maximize). In steps 5-8, Thunderbird does not respond to either minimize or maximize. These same steps work in any other application (Firefox for example). What have I tried? I updated Thunderbird (wasn't on the latest, but I am now). I've closed and re-opened Thunderbird. I've restarted my laptop. Uninstalled and re-installed Thunderbird. Nothing has worked.

Chosen solution

It wasn't a focus issue. I had focus and could use the arrow keys to cycle between mail for example. It's a non-issue though. It seems to have been an invalid state. I unmaximized and resized the window. Now everything works as it should. Seems I had to resize the window to get it to function properly. No idea how it got into that state.

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All Replies (3)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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On Windows 10 Thunderbird version 91.9.1

I checked it out and I'm not having any problems.

Steps: 1) Open Thunderbird - OK 2) I maximized the Thunderbird window using the button in the title bar. OK 3) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow OK restored TB down to original window size 4) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow OK TB minimises to task bar

At this point because I have Firefox browser as the only opened window, it has focus, so 5) Use shortcut Windows Key + up arrow will maximise the 'Firefox browser window which it does OK 6) Use shortcut Windows Key + down arrow restored Firefox down to original window size - OK 7) User 'Alt+Tab' then tab to open the Task Bar options and select Thunderbird. - OK

Modified by Toad-Hall

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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So you can maximise, restore down or minimise because you have focus on the window, but you cannot restore or maximise any item that has been minimised to Task Bar as you do not have focus - use the 'Alt+Tab' as per Windows OS functionality.

panini worker
panini worker Question owner
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Chosen Solution

It wasn't a focus issue. I had focus and could use the arrow keys to cycle between mail for example. It's a non-issue though. It seems to have been an invalid state. I unmaximized and resized the window. Now everything works as it should. Seems I had to resize the window to get it to function properly. No idea how it got into that state.