Unable to reduce size of app window

I am using Internet explorer 11 with Windows 10 pro 64 bit.

I am referring to the controls in the upper right corner of the webpage window (the minus sign, the overlapping squares and the "X" symbols). The minus sign and the X do what they are supposed to do. The overlapping squares symbol is completely inert when it is clicked. Thus all I have is a full screen or no screen at all. I thought this was a browser issue, but I got the same dead overlapping squares when I used a third party browser. So I am thinking this is an operating system problem, perhaps the new Universal Windows Platform. I have been using Windows 10 since August. This inability to reduce a page window size started three days ago. Could have been an update or perhaps something I did.

Can you advise me how to activate the window size reduction control?

Sorry just not getting what you mean by overlapping squares. Then full screen or no screen at all. Anyone to take a screen capture of what you are noticing and post here ?

If you look up in the extreme right hand corner of this display screen you will see what I am
talking about. The minus sign hides this screen, the X deletes the screen and the symbol between the two is overlapping squares which is supposed to reduce the page's window. My problem is nothing happens when I click the overlapping squares. I am left with a full page window or nothing.

Cliff S said:

Bill grab an edge of the window and pull/slide it to size when the 2 squares are a single one.

You know i thought of saying that, but assumed they knew how to do that or was not what he meant exactly .

Cliff S said:

For some it might not be so obvious, The question was written quite non-techy, so I gave it a shot. I have gotten frustrated once, then remembered I had maximized the screen by dragging, and couldn't get a "grip" on an edge, then finally remember I could use Aero-snap(+).

Yes, definitely not explained well, have to wait for a response. Did not realize this worked on Windows 10 Aero snap, same as Task View if you check .

jds63 said:

Yes, definitely not explained well, have to wait for a response. Did not realize this worked on Windows 10 Aero snap, same as Task View if you check .

I don't know how to use these forums, so I didn't do this quote right.....
"I am referring to the controls in the upper right corner of the webpage window (the minus sign, the overlapping squares and the "X" symbols). The minus sign and the X do what they are supposed to do. The overlapping squares symbol is completely inert when it is clicked. Thus all I have is a full screen or no screen at all. I thought this was a browser issue, but I got the same dead overlapping squares when I used a third party browser. So I am thinking this is an operating system problem, perhaps the new Universal Windows Platform. I have been using Windows 10 since August. This inability to reduce a page window size started three days ago. Could have been an update or perhaps something I did."

From Julie:
I totally understand what Bill is saying. I've been using Windows 10 for several months, and last week everything changed. Like Bill, I was making some changes to Chrome, managing Bookmarks, syncing Google products to work on all computers/browsers, no matter where I was, and also during that time there was an update that took place, so I don't know what caused the problem. Here is a screen shot:

We are talking about the boxes in the red square. It is locked in "maximize" or full screen and there is no way you can resize the screen by dragging any arrows, or the Aero thing you talked about above.

Also at the same time this happened my whole desktop changed from having icons on the front to a grid view like below.



This is a pain in the neck.... I feel like my hands are tied and I can't get anything done.

Do you know of a GOOD remote service, that I could have remote into my computer to fix it? I have a TON of work to do, and can't make things work like normal. Actually, all of my programs look a little different.

Thanks for your help.

julie said:

I don't know how to use these forums, so I didn't do this quote right.....
"I am referring to the controls in the upper right corner of the webpage window (the minus sign, the overlapping squares and the "X" symbols). The minus sign and the X do what they are supposed to do. The overlapping squares symbol is completely inert when it is clicked. Thus all I have is a full screen or no screen at all. I thought this was a browser issue, but I got the same dead overlapping squares when I used a third party browser. So I am thinking this is an operating system problem, perhaps the new Universal Windows Platform. I have been using Windows 10 since August. This inability to reduce a page window size started three days ago. Could have been an update or perhaps something I did."

From Julie:
I totally understand what Bill is saying. I've been using Windows 10 for several months, and last week everything changed. Like Bill, I was making some changes to Chrome, managing Bookmarks, syncing Google products to work on all computers/browsers, no matter where I was, and also during that time there was an update that took place, so I don't know what caused the problem. Here is a screen shot:



We are talking about the boxes in the red square. It is locked in "maximize" or full screen and there is no way you can resize the screen by dragging any arrows, or the Aero thing you talked about above.

Also at the same time this happened my whole desktop changed from having icons on the front to a grid view like below.



This is a pain in the neck.... I feel like my hands are tied and I can't get anything done.

Do you know of a GOOD remote service, that I could have remote into my computer to fix it? I have a TON of work to do, and can't make things work like normal. Actually, all of my programs look a little different.

Thanks for your help.

And I know what you mean too ... Very frustrating I used to be able to reduce the page size as per the very clear description above! before the " update" last week But now clicking on the double squares does nothing so cannot have two reduced pages open side by side. Pulling the edges does not work. .... Help please

julie said:

Also at the same time this happened my whole desktop changed from having icons on the front to a grid view like below.

Welcome to TenForums @julie

You appear to have switched to tablet mode. Click on the Action Center at the right hand end of the taskbar. Click on the 'Tablet mode' tile to turn it off, your desktop will then return to normal - Option Two in this tutorial.

Turn On or Off Tablet Mode in Windows 10