Windows 10 taskbar programs won't maximize unless the Ctrl key is pressed

Let me be more specific.  I own an engineering business where we do extensive hardware and software work.   So this is not an instance of a user not knowing how to use the taskbar.

The first thing I do when I set up a PC is set the takbar to always show, never combine as I can't stand combined taskbar icons.

And as another follow up, this issue will apply itself to one program at a time.  It is randomly every program, but if it's say Chrome that won't maximize, none of the chrome taskbar icons will maximize, but all of the other taskbar programs will.

Is it possible that there is more than one running instance of the program(s) you are trying to "maximize"?

If so, then just clicking the taskbar icon will not usually restore the previously minimized window because it doesn't know which one you want. For example, if you are running two File Explorer windows and minimize them both, AND if there is not much room on the taskbar (many other programs perhaps) they will occupy the same taskbar position, and you cannot restore those windows with just a mouse click. In this state, the taskbar icon is said to represent a "group" of windows. Here are some keyboard plus mouse shortcuts that may help in this and similar cases. The Ctrl + <click> that you are using is a special case of the first one:

When the taskbar button represents a group of windows:

(a) Hold the Ctrl key down: repeated left-clicks of the mouse on the taskbar button will cycle through each window in the group.

(b) Pressing the Shift key while you right-click the taskbar button will bring up a menu of choices for rearranging all of the group's windows.

When the taskbar button represents just one window:

(a) The same Ctrl + <click> shown above will just restore the window.

(b) The same Shift + <right-click> shown above will bring up a very different menu - the one with "Minimize", "Maximize", "Restore" etc.

(c) Shift + <left-click> will bring up another instance (fresh copy) of a program that is already running.

(d) Ctrl + Shift + <left-click> will do the same thing but the new instance will run with Administrator privileges.

But if your issue is NOT due to multiple instances or a nearly full taskbar then .... Never mind!

Hi John_Tsouris and thanks for reaching out. My name is Joseph. I'm an independent advisor. I'll be happy to help you out today.

Perform a clean boot to determine what is causing the problem.

You may try following these steps. Check this article for detailed instructions. It is written by Windows Support, so it is safe.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ph/help/929135...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let me know how it goes.

Thank you!

That's the opposite of what most of the interwebs says to do about this, but I agree with you as an easy and good troubleshooting step. I'll try all three of the other modes.

This is far too small a problem to throw this kind of energy at it, and it is a strong possibility it isn't even a program causing this.