Keyboard Shortcut in Windows 7 to Center Window

I find Win-left arrow and Win-right arrow really useful in Windows 7 to make a window take up 50% of the left or right side of the screen, respectively. However, is there any command that will make a window take up 50% of the screen and be centered? Even if it doesn't adjust the size of the window, is there a keyboard shortcut to make a window center itself vertically and horizontally? Thanks.

6 Answers

You should check out WinSplit Revolution; it has what you need and is customizable.

1

This is not exactly for centering, but lets you move the window left and right (and up and down) easily.

  1. Focus a window.
  2. Press Alt+Space.
  3. Press M (for “Move”).
  4. Use the arrow keys to move the window exactly where you want it.
  5. Press Enter when done.
3

The Windows+arrow keys are quite useful here.

  • (Windows)+← (Left) and +→ (Right) cycle through going to the left or right 50% of the screen, and restoring the window to its original size and position.
  • +↑ (Up) maximizes the window.
  • +↓ (Down) restores the window if it is maximized, and minimizes it otherwise.
6

I would suggest using AutoHotkey.
An example script that does exactly what you asked was already provided in an answer to another question.
Here's the code of the script:

#!Up::CenterActiveWindow() ; if win+alt+↑ is pressed

CenterActiveWindow()
{
    ; Get the window handle from de active window.
    winHandle := WinExist("A")

    VarSetCapacity(monitorInfo, 40)
    NumPut(40, monitorInfo)

    ; Get the current monitor from the active window handle.
    monitorHandle := DllCall("MonitorFromWindow", "uint", winHandle, "uint", 0x2)
    DllCall("GetMonitorInfo", "uint", monitorHandle, "uint", &monitorInfo) 

    ; Get WorkArea bounding coordinates of the current monitor.
    A_Left   := NumGet(monitorInfo, 20, "Int")
    A_Top    := NumGet(monitorInfo, 24, "Int")
    A_Right  := NumGet(monitorInfo, 28, "Int")
    A_Bottom := NumGet(monitorInfo, 32, "Int")

    ; Calculate window coordinates.
    winW := (A_Right - A_Left) * 0.5 ; Change the factor here to your desired width.
    winH := A_Bottom
    winX := A_Left + (winW / 2)
    winY := A_Top

    WinMove, A,, winX, winY, winW, winH
}

I made a slight adjustment so the bottom of the window doesn't go beneath the taskbar, and changed the windowWidth from 0.7 to 0.5.

Edit: now working with multiple monitors, and uses the work area for top and bottom values.

On a side note, WinSplit Revolution has been discontinued and replaced by a paid app called MaxTo.
In addition to being very powerful and covering much more use cases, AutoHotkey is also free and open source.

7

Try Sizer by Brian apps. It's free and completely customisable.

I took @vctls solution and made it so the windows+up key would perform this function and maximise/restore the window. If the window is maximised it will restore it to the middle of the screen. If the window is restored it will maximise it. A second press will centre it active. Basically I combined this case and this one. It means you get all the functionality if windows+up with the added bonus of centre Autohotkey script to toggle minimize/restore?

It also fixes the fact that changing the width ( Change the factor here to your desired width) centres the window still

#Up::CenterActiveWindow() ; if win+↑ is pressed

CenterActiveWindow()
{
; Get the window handle from de active window.
winHandle := WinExist("A")

WinGet MX, MinMax, A
If MX {
   WinRestore A
}
Else {
   WinMaximize A
   return
}

VarSetCapacity(monitorInfo, 40)
NumPut(40, monitorInfo)

; Get the current monitor from the active window handle.
monitorHandle := DllCall("MonitorFromWindow", "uint", winHandle, "uint", 0x2)
DllCall("GetMonitorInfo", "uint", monitorHandle, "uint", &monitorInfo) 

; Get WorkArea bounding coordinates of the current monitor.
A_Left   := NumGet(monitorInfo, 20, "Int")
A_Top    := NumGet(monitorInfo, 24, "Int")
A_Right  := NumGet(monitorInfo, 28, "Int")
A_Bottom := NumGet(monitorInfo, 32, "Int")

; Calculate window coordinates.
winW := (A_Right - A_Left) * 0.6 ; Change the factor here to your desired width.
winH := A_Bottom
winX := ((A_Right - A_Left) - winW)  /2
winY := A_Top

WinMove, A,, winX, winY, winW, winH
}

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James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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