KDE Mover-Sizer New Logo, in large 256 pixel size. KDE Mover-Sizer

Move and resize Windows windows just like Linux Windows!

An essential add-on for Windows XP, 2K, Windows Server, Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1.
Yeah, okay, and Vista!

Here is a page about my KDE Mover-Sizer. Okay, it's not entirely mine, not even mostly, but I've added enough code to call it mine, and it's too damn essential to not have a page of its own somewhere, so here it is..

What does it do?

KDE Mover-Sizer is a background application that emulates the behaviour of KDE, which is a rather good Linux desktop environment. Actually, Gnome and other Linux window managers also do it these days, but that wouldn't make for such a funky name. Essentially, you hold down the Alt key, and Left-click to move a window, Right-click to resize it; and from anywhere inside the window. That's it. And once you use it for a few minutes, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The utility itself is coded with AutoHotKey, originally a fork of AutoIt, and highly useful in its own right. The original script (which I snaffled from the AutoHotKey forum, the best of many similar scripts) did all the above, but was missing something essential, that is; window snapping. So I added that, and gave them it back.

The window snapping is important for at least two reasons; 1) it enables you to place a window, as if by magic, exactly at the edge of your desktop. If, like me, you like to keep your main document windows in the centre of your screen, and leave lots of folder windows open up and down the sides of your desktop (I have a widescreen monitor now, which makes this even more effective) then you will find it invaluable. And 2) it enables you to resize the window from the edge of your screen. This is easier to do than to explain, though I'm going to attempt that anyway, with a couple of how-to style tips..

Cool Tricks..

I've gotten into a couple of habits thanks to the KDE Mover-Sizer. The first is a quick one-two action where I first Alt-Left-click a window and throw it roughly into place (off the edge of the screen), and then do a single Alt-Right-click to snap it back into perfect view. I've already had a week-off with all the time this good habit has saved me.

The new version can also snap directly to the edge during regular Alt-Left-Click moving - so long as you are within the snap distance, it will lock against the edge of your desktop. You can also constrain movement along the X or Y plane by holding down the<SHIFT> key, very nice!

The second habit of one of resizing windows from the edge. First, I get them there, as in tip 1, then I grab a corner (anywhere in the quadrant is fine) with an Alt-Right-click, and drag-resize them while the two opposite edges (one of which is bang up against the edge of the desktop) stay put. This isn't so much a time saver, as a sanity saver. I'm very particular about the amount of white space that shows in folder windows, and it they don't look right, I couldn't leave them open. Leaving them open is what saves time.

Another thing I've started doing, is sliding windows up and down the edge of my desktop by Alt-Left-click+drag (at the very edge of the desktop). The snap keeps them from moving left and right - it's like they are on rails! Very handy. And remember, it works on windows behind windows, too, and without bringing them to the front.

Try it!

You need to play with it to fully appreciate the beauty of KDE Mover-Sizer. Fortunately, I have a precompiled Windows executable which you can simply download and run. There's no installer, and it doesn't use the registry. The only settings are in a regular plain text ini file, which lives right next to KDE Mover-Sizer.exe, so it's completely portable. When running, a cute tray icon enables you to exit, if required (unlikely!), as well as a few other options. Drop a shortcut into your startup folder, and then you're cooking with KDE!

Then forget about it..

KDE Mover-Sizer uses very little resources to work its magic, and works on all desktop windows, even windows that aren't at the front, even those daft fullscreen installer windows. It will even sneak inside a Sandboxie and work there. It also enables you to resize windows that don't normally allow resizing, which can be a real bonus with certain dumb dialogs (cough *FirefoxSearchPlugin* cough). In no time, it feels perfectly natural, and you're throwing windows around with a whole new level of precision and abandon!

Like I say, I "couldn't live without it", and I'm fairly certain that if you use it for a wee while, you will feel the same way. At any rate, it's free; so why not try it and see..

KDE Mover-Sizer Download

download

KDE Mover Sizer for Windows

click to see zip archive contents

LIVE MD5+SHA1 Multi-Hashes..
# made with checksum.. point-and-click hashing for windows (64-bit edition). # from corz.org.. http://corz.org/windows/software/checksum/ # #md5#KDE Mover-Sizer for Windows.zip#2014.09.10@11.15:30 b14b27a7556b2c2e7dd8a1fff9b2a107 *KDE Mover-Sizer for Windows.zip
download

KDE Mover Sizer for Windows x64

click to see zip archive contents

LIVE MD5+SHA1 Multi-Hashes..
# made with checksum.. point-and-click hashing for windows (64-bit edition). # from corz.org.. http://corz.org/windows/software/checksum/ # #md5#KDE Mover-Sizer for Windows x64.zip#2014.09.10@11.15:34 34d40215c5023ebeb8dfdc86b4bdd82f *KDE Mover-Sizer for Windows x64.zip
NOTE: Multiple monitors are now supported! Thanks to some sterling work by Matthias Ihmig.

While I'm about it, the next time KDE Mover-Sizer saves you time and sanity navigatin' your mouse to a 1 pixel wide border or incy title bar or corner handle, feel free to whisper "Thanks Bud!" under your breath to the following good people who all had their grubby mits on KDE Mover-Sizer at some point..



If you want to check out the source (with fuller credits), perhaps customize it to your own requirements, even add some new feature and your name to the above list, or whatever, the code is freely available, here..

Another of AutoHotKey's tragically poor icons
View the Source Code


Have fun!

;o) corz.org

p.s. KDE Mover-Sizer works inside a Sandboxie sand box, without having to load a separate instance. KDE Mover-Sizer also works inside CoLinux, e.g. Portable Ubuntu. In fact, it would be quicker to list the places it doesn't work, if I knew of any.

Welcome to the comments facility!


previous comments (fourteen pages)   show all comments

Aadi Sahni - 11.12.20 4:12 pm

H, I was wondering how to use the double alt with the windows key set as my window resize, moving and maximize shortcuts. I've never been able to get it working.


Matthias - 26.03.21 5:45 pm

Follow this sequence

Snap-to-grid:

1) Push&Hold Alt
2) Push&Hold Left or Right Mousebutton
3) Release Alt (keeping Mousebutton pressed)
4) Push&Hold Alt again
5) Move Mouse (while still keeping Mousebutton pressed)
-> Window will moved and resize, snapping to grid


Double-Alt - Actions are current only implemented as "quick-event"-actions. This means, they can trigger actions like "Maximize/Restore", "Close", "Minimize", but not used for "longer" actions like resizing and moving.

For example, to maximize/restore a window:

Do steps 1-3 quickly (by default within 400ms). Otherwise, the "Double"-Action is not recognized.

1) Push Alt
2) Release Alt
3) Push(&Hold Alt)
4) Press&Release Right mousebutton

Have fun,
Matthias


Aadi Sahni - 15.04.21 11:21 am

Hi, I'm Wondering how could I remap the hotkey to CapsLock


Saverio - 02.07.21 4:21 pm

Hi, is there any possibility to use a key combination to put in background (not minimize but in background) a window that currently is on foreground?

For example f you click on Alt (hotkey) + LMB on titlebar of the window: it goes in background.

Thanks in advance


Matthias - 13.07.21 10:53 pm

@Aadi Sahni: didn't try it, but have a look here:
https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=63496
https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/KeyList.htm#IME

@Saverio: Putting in background, you mean like Alt+Esc ?



Lockszmith - 11.03.22 7:27 am

Awesome tool.

Came here to say thanks.

Also to report an issue with Windows 11 and Alt+Tab, when I close the tool, I can select a window in Alt+Tab, but when the tool is active, Alt+Tab + mouse click doesn't work.

I'm thinking M$ might have changed something, because users of other tools are reporting this issue.

I reference this issue here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/taglde/comment/i06e3cg/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3


trace - 14.04.22 12:57 am

I'm willing to pay you to make this handy program work on fullscreen browser windows again. There's gotta be a way...


Petr Tichý - 07.06.22 4:31 am

Hi Cor,
please please update this excellent utility also for Win 11. I promise I send you my donation again.
Petr
Czechia



Wilhelm - 21.09.23 10:50 pm

Hello,

if KDE-Mover-Sizer for win is not longer used,
how can I uninstall the program or get rid if it in any way ?


Thanks !


bunny - 09.12.23 10:45 pm

Hi. I wanted to leave a message to thank you for this great software. Still running well on Windows 11.

Thank you!


mike - 03.04.24 4:39 pm

What an INCREDIBLE program. I've been using it for at least 2 years.

I cannot imagine ever grabbing a titlebar or edge of a window again.

I use a mouse with 12 thumb buttons. One of them is like an ALT key. So, without ever moving anything but the mouse, I'm able to hold a button with my mouse thumb and move the mouse to either move or resize the window.

Who knows how many hours (days???) of my time has been saved by not moving the mouse to the titlebar.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

-mike



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