Force windows to remember size and location in Windows 11

Question

Force windows to remember size and location in Windows 11

Terion 5

In the earlier versions of win11, I was able to close a window and the OS would remember its size and location (sometimes after several closes). Now it doesn't do the function at all.

On an HP Envy laptop. Drivers have been updated.

I've tried holding Ctrl X while closing, making sure there are no other windows open when I close the window, restarted.

Help.

Terion 5 Reputation points

2025-10-16T20:16:29.2166667+00:00

PS: also have checked off the box in system "Remember window locations based on monitor connection". Still didn't work.
Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-17T02:44:02.7833333+00:00

Are you referring to the Explorer window? If so, it's possible that some third party app is causing the problem. This is a known issue with the app "Smart Backup (x64)" which comes with computers with a Gigabyte motherboard, but I've never heard of this issue with an HP laptop.
Hasse B 5 Reputation points

2026-04-25T05:04:23.9133333+00:00

This has been a standard in previous versions of windows as long as I can remember.

Its pretty stupid to have it like it is now. For example when copying files from one folder to another. I dont want the copy popup windows to be on top of the file explorer Im working in. I should be able to move and have windows remember where I want the window.

2 answers

Your answer

Terion 5 Reputation points

2025-10-16T20:16:29.2166667+00:00

PS: also have checked off the box in system "Remember window locations based on monitor connection". Still didn't work.
Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-17T02:44:02.7833333+00:00

Are you referring to the Explorer window? If so, it's possible that some third party app is causing the problem. This is a known issue with the app "Smart Backup (x64)" which comes with computers with a Gigabyte motherboard, but I've never heard of this issue with an HP laptop.
Hasse B 5 Reputation points

2026-04-25T05:04:23.9133333+00:00

This has been a standard in previous versions of windows as long as I can remember.

Its pretty stupid to have it like it is now. For example when copying files from one folder to another. I dont want the copy popup windows to be on top of the file explorer Im working in. I should be able to move and have windows remember where I want the window.

Answer 1

Restee Miranda 14,095 Independent Advisor

Try to use the Shift key when closing the window.

You need to hold down the Shift key on your keyboard while clicking the same button. This trick helps the Windows operating system remember the window position.

eruoiewruoire 0 Reputation points

2026-05-24T19:11:13.67+00:00

This doesn't work. I just tried it with Notepad in Windows 11.

Answer 2

Michael Taylor 61,236

That is not what that setting actually does. Opening an application and having it go back to where it was before is a feature of an application, not Windows. Any application that wants to support this feature has to implement it and not all applications do. For example Notepad does persist its position so it opens back up where you put it before. Most, if not all, the standard Windows applications do as well but other applications may not. It is pretty standard code but each app has to implement it.

The setting you refer to has a different purpose. Unfortunately it is badly named. That setting is used for situations where you have multiple monitors and then one of the monitors goes away, for example when you undock a laptop. The windows will get moved to the available monitor. When you dock your laptop back and the original monitor comes back then Windows will try to move the application back to where it was before. That is controlled by this setting.

You didn't specify which app you are having an issue with so it is hard to provide guidance here. Most applications store their position in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER. I would search there for the application that is not behaving properly. Clean up the position entries and then start the application again. Some applications may instead store the position in a data file under your AppData Local or Roaming settings. Unfortunately it depends on the application where things are stored.

G Russell 0 Reputation points

2026-02-10T07:16:13.1566667+00:00

This comment refers to using a laptop or desktop computer with NO external or second monitor being used.

In previous versions of Windows, I was able to resize and reposition an open window of almost ANY app/program, close it by clicking on the X in the upper right, and then upon opening that app later it would open at the same position and in the same size that as when I had closed it. This worked not only for Notepad, but for MS Office apps, media players, browsers, most games running in windowed mode, and so on. If the app's window could be resized and repositioned, I can't think of any situation where the new size/position would not be remembered upon closing and re-opening. I NEVER had to mess with the registry or any configuration files for ANY app to have this happen.

I checked and it seems that this ability is still available for Notepad, but this is the ONLY app that this still works for. I just checked PowerShell, and no matter what I do it will still reopen in EXACTLY the same position and size, regardless of how I try to change the position or size.

I have tried ALL the suggested "fixes", including but not limited to changing settings under Display, registry tweaks, and holding Shift or Ctrl when closing a window, but NOTHING works.
eruoiewruoire 0 Reputation points

2026-05-24T19:12:40.76+00:00

Take Notepad as an example.

I open Notepad, I move the window from its current location to a new location, I close the window, I open Notepad again, and it's at the old location instead of the new location. This is bizarre behavior, unlike the behavior one expects in Windows.