How To Drag Window Of Game That Is Too Small

To drag a window of a game that is too small, try pressing Alt + Spacebar, then select “Move” from the menu. You can then use arrow keys to move the window.

Ever been stuck with a tiny game window that seems to be hiding on your screen? It’s a common frustration, especially when you just want to play! You might wonder how to drag window of game that is too small, since the usual method of dragging the title bar doesn’t work. This article addresses that very problem.

We’ll show a quick method using keyboard shortcuts to regain control over those stubborn little windows. This way, you can easily move that mini game to where you want it.

How to Drag a Game Window That is Too Small

Ever been super excited to play a new game, only to find its window is tiny? It’s like looking through a peephole! You can see the game, but it’s hard to actually play it. Sometimes, the game doesn’t let you resize it using the usual corners, and that can be super frustrating. Don’t worry; you’re not alone! Many players face this issue, and there are several ways you can fix it. This guide will teach you some tricks to drag those stubbornly small game windows and make them bigger and easier to play. We’ll look at different methods, explain why this happens, and even give you some troubleshooting tips. Let’s get started!

Why Game Windows Can Be Too Small

Before we get into fixing it, let’s think about why this happens in the first place. It’s usually not a glitch; there are a few common reasons:

The Game’s Settings: Some older games were designed for older computer screens. Those screens were smaller than the ones we use today. So, the game might have a set size that it won’t change. Sometimes the developer simply didn’t include the option to resize the window.
Low Resolution: The game might be running at a very low resolution. Resolution is like how many tiny dots (pixels) make up the picture on your screen. A low resolution means fewer pixels, which can make the game look small. Imagine trying to make a big picture with just a few blocks – it would be small!
Windowed Mode vs. Fullscreen: Many games let you choose between windowed mode and fullscreen mode. Windowed mode is like having the game in a box on your screen. Fullscreen takes over the whole screen. Sometimes, a game might force windowed mode, and the window size is too small.

Simple Ways to Try First

Before we dive into the more complicated fixes, let’s start with some easy things you can try. These might fix your window problem quickly!

Checking for In-Game Resolution Settings

Many games will have a settings or options menu. Here, you can usually change things like how the game looks and plays. Look for options related to display or graphics. You’re searching for something called “resolution.” Try different resolutions to see if one makes the game window larger. Usually higher resolution values make the window larger and display clearer. Remember that not all games have this option.

Here’s how to do it (these steps can vary slightly depending on the game):

Start the game.
Look for a “Settings,” “Options,” or “Graphics” menu.
Inside that menu, try to locate “resolution”.
Click on the dropdown menu showing your current resolution.
Try a higher resolution from the list.
Apply the changes and restart the game if necessary.

Switching Between Fullscreen and Windowed Modes

Another easy fix to try is switching between windowed and fullscreen modes. Sometimes, changing modes can automatically resize the game window to fit your screen. Look for a setting in the game’s options to change this or use these keyboard shortcut to switch between windowed and full screen modes:

Alt + Enter: This is a common shortcut to switch between fullscreen and windowed mode in many games. Press these keys together.
F11: This is another shortcut that some games use for the same purpose.

If those shortcuts don’t work, check in-game settings for the option to switch between modes.

Using Your Computer’s Built-in Tools

If the in-game options didn’t work, don’t worry! Your computer has some hidden tools that can help you control the size of windows.

Using the Mouse to Resize Windows (When it Works)

This is the most common way to resize windows. However, some games disable this functionality, but it’s always worth a try:

Move Your Mouse to the Edge of the Window: Put your mouse cursor on any edge or corner of the game window.
Look for a Double-Sided Arrow: The cursor should change to a double-sided arrow (often looks like ↔ or ↖↗).
Click and Drag: When you see the arrow, click and hold your left mouse button, then drag the window’s edge to make it bigger or smaller.

If you can’t find those double-sided arrows, this means this method won’t work for your specific window.

Resizing with Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows)

Windows has some shortcuts that might help you move or resize the game window, even if it’s not letting you do it directly with the mouse:

Move the Window: Press Alt + Spacebar. A menu will pop up. Use the arrow keys to choose “Move,” then use your arrow keys again to move the window.
Resize the Window: Press Alt + Spacebar. Select “Size” with the arrow keys, then use arrow keys to resize the window.

Try these out. It might need some getting used to, but it’s a great alternative.

Display Scaling (Windows and MacOS)

If the game window is always tiny, you can try changing the display scaling settings. This isn’t resizing the game directly, but instead, it makes everything on your screen (including the game) bigger. You can always set it back to default when you are not playing.

Windows Display Scaling

Right-click on your desktop and choose “Display settings.”
Look for “Scale and layout” settings.
Under “Scale,” there will be a dropdown menu. Try setting it to 125% or 150%..
You can also choose a custom scale of your choice.
See if the game window is larger now. You may need to log out and back into your account to apply this change.

MacOS Display Scaling

Click on the Apple Menu (the Apple logo in the top left corner).
Select “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” on older MacOS versions).
Select “Displays”.
Under resolution you will see several options including “Scaled”, choose the option that makes the screen looks bigger to you, you may need to try different options.

Advanced Tools and Techniques

If the methods above still don’t work, it’s time to try some more advanced options. These might take a little bit more technical skills, but they can be very effective.

Using Third-Party Window Resizers

There are many free software programs available online that are designed to manage and resize windows. These tools can often do things that the operating system can’t do alone. Here are a couple of examples:

Sizer: Sizer is a free utility for windows that allows you to resize any window to a predefined size. Once configured, it is very easy to use and will save you a lot of time.
AquaSnap (Windows) : AquaSnap is a windows manager with lots of useful options. It’s free for personal use and it’s used by many users due to its reliability. It offers more than just resizing of windows, also window snapping, stretching and other very useful options.
Spectacle (Mac): Spectacle is a free window management utility for Mac that allows you to resize and move your windows with keyboard shortcuts.

How to Use These Programs (General Steps):

Search online for a window resizer and download it.
Follow the instructions to install it.
Open the game you want to resize.
Follow the instructions of your new installed program to make the window larger or set a particular size. (They will vary depending on the software).

Important Note: Only download software from reputable sources to avoid getting viruses or malware.

Editing Configuration Files (Advanced)

Some games store their window settings in a configuration file. These files are usually text documents with settings for the game. By editing these files directly, you can sometimes force the game to launch at a specific size or resolution. However, this is the most complicated method and should be done carefully because improper use can cause your game not to work, or to crash, so if you have never edited a configuration file you may want to avoid this step.

How to Do It (General Steps):

Find the game’s folder on your computer. This may be on your “Documents” folder, or where you installed the game.
Look for a file named something like “config.ini,” “settings.ini” or similar. Sometimes these files are hidden, you may have to show hidden files in windows explorer.
Open the file using a simple text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
Look for lines that mention “resolution,” “width,” or “height.”
Change the values to what you want them to be, for example “1920” for width and “1080” for height for a full HD resolution.
Save the file and close the text editor.
Start the game and see if it worked.

Important Notes:

Be very careful when editing config files. Make a backup copy of the file before making any changes. If something goes wrong, you can put back the original file.
Not every game has these files.
If you make a mistake, the game might not start.

Using Virtual Machines

This is the most advanced method and might be overkill for some games. Virtual machines can run another operating system on your computer within a window. This can be useful for making old games work properly. You can then set the resolution of the virtual machine to your desired size.

How it works: You install a virtual machine program (like VirtualBox or VMware), then create a new virtual computer within it. You then install a compatible operating system (like an older version of Windows). Finally, you install your game on the virtual machine.
Why it works: This lets you run older games in a smaller resolution with more flexibility since the virtual machine window can usually be resized freely.
Complexity: It’s the most complex method and requires a deep understanding of how computers work.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you’re still having trouble, don’t give up! Here are some extra things you can try:

Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart can fix lots of problems.
Check for game updates: Game developers often release updates that fix issues.
Update your graphics card drivers: Outdated graphics drivers can cause problems with game display. You can do this by going to your graphics card manufacturer’s website (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel)
Check online forums: Search for the name of the game and “small window.” Other people might have had the same problem and found a solution.
Contact the game developer: If all else fails, contact the game developers for help.

Dealing with game windows that are too small can be annoying, but hopefully, one of these methods will help you get that game window to a comfortable size. Remember to start with the simplest methods first and only try the more advanced options if the first ones didn’t work. Happy gaming!

How to Move a Fullscreen Game Window to Another Monitor in Windows 10 [Tutorial]

Final Thoughts

You can drag a game window that’s too small using Alt + Space, then choosing Move. The arrow keys will then let you shift it. Alternatively, you can try the Windows key + Shift + Arrow keys, sometimes.

These methods allow you to move the window into a viewable space. This technique is very useful when you have display issues. So, that’s how to drag window of game that is too small.