Fix: Minimize, Maximize and Close Buttons are Missing in Windows

Throughout the year, Windows has witnessed some major UI changes. But even then, some things have remained constant, the minimize maximize and the close buttons being a part of it. Well, its usefulness is no hidden secret as such. But quite a few users have started facing issues with all these three buttons. Across many applications, they are reporting that the minimize maximize and the close buttons are missing. These include the Chrome browser, Firefox browser, and many other Windows applications.

There could be many reasons for the said issue. To begin with, it could be due to some issues with the Desktop Window Manager, or an older version of the drivers or the app itself. Likewise, we have also seen this issue arise due to the Projection Mode, Tablet Mode, or conflicting nature of some other third-party apps. In this tutorial, we will list out all the possible methods to fix the aforementioned issues. This will then fix the minimize, maximize, and close buttons missing issues on your Windows PC. Follow along.

How to Fix Minimize, Maximize and Close Buttons Missing Issues in Windows

In order to fix the above issue, we would be mentioning around 8 different types of fixes. However, there isn’t any universal fix for the same. You will have to try out all the mentioned tips until you achieve success. With that said, here are the required fixes.

Fix 1: Restart Desktop Window Manager

The Desktop Window Manager manages all the user interface and visual effects on your PC. So if there is an issue with this program, you are bound to face UI issues, including the missing buttons. So the best bet in this regard is to restart the said process. Follow the below steps for that:

windows manager

Right-click on the Windows button and select the Task Manager option. Or you could also make use of the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut key combination.
Now under the process section, look out for Desktop Windows Manager. Right-click on it and select End Task.
It will then restart the Manager and you should fix the minimize, maximize, and close buttons missing issues on your Windows PC. If not, refer to the next method given below.

Fix 2: Update Graphics Drivers

If you are using old and outdated graphics drivers, then also you might face the said issue. Therefore we would recommend you to update the graphics drivers to the latest version. Here is how it could be done.

Head over to the Start menu and search for Device Manager.
Click on the Display Adapter option to expand the menu.
Right-click on it and select Update Drivers.
In the next pop-up that appears, select Search Automatically for updated graphics drivers. Windows will then go online, search for the latest drivers, and will apply the update as well.
Once that is done, restart your PC. See if the issue related to the missing minimize, maximize, and close buttons are fixed or not.

Fix 3: Switch to Standard Windows Theme

There are a plethora of themes available for your Windows PC. While the ones present in the official store are well and good, the same couldn’t be said with others download from third-party sites. There are quite a lot of themes that seem to offer many UI tweaks but at the same time doesn’t seem to be fully compatible with the OS. And the same issue could be with your setup as well. So in such a case, we would recommend you revert to the Standard Windows Theme.

Minimize Maximize theme

For that, right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
Then click on Themes from the left menu bar.
Subsequently from the right-hand side, select either of the Windows, Windows Light, or the Windows 10 Themes.
Once that is done, give your PC a restart. When that is done, the minimize, maximize, and close buttons should no longer be missing on your Windows PC.

Fix 4: Remove Third-Party Apps

If you are facing this issue after installing any third-party apps, then it might conflict with the user interface of your desktop. The case further worsens if that app is related to the UI tweaks or visual interface. Although it isn’t possible to pinpoint the exact app that might have caused this issue. But you should generally have an idea or two as to the recently installed apps after which you have started facing this issue. As a result, we would recommend you to uninstall these apps.

uninstall Minimize Maximize

To do so, head over to the Search menu and type in Control Panel.
Then go to the Add or Remove Program section and search for the recently installed apps.
Select that app and hit the Uninstall button. See if it fixes the minimize, maximize, and close buttons missing issues or not.

Fix 5: Disable Tablet Mode

Windows 10 comes with a tablet mode that proves to be quite useful for touch-screen devices. The option, however, is present for all the PC and laptops. However, enabling this option also hides the said buttons from many Universal options. So you should consider disabling it right away.

disable tablet mode

For that, you will have to use the Action Center. There are many ways of accessing it, Windows+A being the easiest one.
Once the Action Centre is opened on the right-hand side of your screen, see whether the Tablet Mode is disabled or not.
If it is highlighted, then the said option is enabled and you should disable it right away.
After this, the minimize, maximize, and close buttons shouldn’t be missing now on your Windows PC.

Fix 6: Check Application Settings

Many apps have prebuilt options to disable all three buttons. According to them, it gives a more immersive experience to the user. While it is debatable, what isn’t is the fact that you might have accidentally enabled the said feature and then forgot to turn it off. If that is the case, then head over to that app’s Settings page and look out for the Appearance, UI, or similar options. There you might find the option to disable the said feature.

Fix 7: Extended Mode

Some users have reported facing this issue when they have projected their PC screen. In that case, there are four different options to choose from. These include PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second screen only. We would recommend that you switch over to the Extend option. Doing so will extend the single screen across your PC and the projector, but it seems to fix the issue as well.

extend Minimize Maximize

So use the Windows+P shortcut key combination and launch the Project Menu.
Then click on Extend from the menu.
The minimize, maximize, and close buttons should now be visible across any one of the screens, and the missing issues should be fixed.

Fix 8: Update Windows

Microsoft regularly releases updates for its OS that fixes quite a lot of bugs and stability issues. And the aforementioned issue could very well be rectified by updating your PC to the latest available version. Here is how you could check for the pending updates and apply it right away onto your device:

windows updates

Head over to the Settings page from the Start menu. You could also use the Windows+I shortcut key combination for the same.
Then go to the Update and Security option.
Click on the Check for Update button and if there is any pending update, download it right away.
Once the update is applied, restart your PC. The issues with the buttons should no longer be there.

So with this, we conclude the guide on how to fix the issues with the missing minimize, maximize, and close buttons on your Windows PC. We have shared eight different fixes for the same, any one of which should give out fruitful results. Do let us which one worked out for you. Rounding off, here are some iPhone Tips and Tricks, PC tips and tricks, and Android Tips and Trick that you should check out as well.