How to Cascade Windows in Windows 11 (and What to Use Instead)

Windows 11 doesn’t have a Cascade windows option. Microsoft removed it along with the old taskbar menu. To arrange open windows, hover over a window’s maximize button and pick a Snap layout, or press Windows logo key + Tab to see every open window at once.

Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 29, 2026.

Arrange windows with Snap layouts

1. Hover over the maximize button (the square) in the top-right corner of a window. You can also press Windows logo key + Z.
2. Pick a layout and select the spot where this window should go.

3. Snap Assist shows your other open windows. Select one for each empty spot.

To resize snapped windows, drag the line between them. Windows remembers the set as a Snap group, so you can bring them all back together from the taskbar.

See every open window at once

Cascading was often used to find a window hidden behind others. Task View does this better.

1. Press Windows logo key + Tab, or select Task View on the taskbar.
2. Every open window appears side by side.
3. Select the one you want.

Keyboard shortcuts for arranging windows

• Windows logo key + Left or Right arrow: snap the current window to one side.
• Windows logo key + Up arrow: maximize it.
• Windows logo key + D: show the desktop. Press it again to bring everything back.
• Alt + Tab: switch between open windows.

Make your own layouts with PowerToys

Microsoft’s free PowerToys app includes FancyZones, which lets you draw your own window layout, such as three columns or a large main area with smaller side panels. After installing PowerToys from the Microsoft Store, open FancyZones, select Launch layout editor, and pick or create a layout. Then hold Shift while dragging a window to drop it into a zone.

Clear away the other windows

Windows 11 can minimize every window except the one you’re using when you shake it. Turn it on in Settings > System > Multitasking with Title bar window shake. Then grab a window’s title bar and shake it quickly from side to side. Shake again to bring the others back. Windows + Home does the same from the keyboard when shake is on.

If a window opens off-screen or hidden behind others

• Select the app on the taskbar, then press Windows + Up arrow to maximize it on the current screen.
• Press Windows + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow to move it to another monitor.
• Hold Shift, right-click the app on the taskbar, and select Maximize or Restore.
• Use Alt + Tab to bring a window to the front when it’s buried.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Cascade missing from the taskbar menu?

Windows 11 has a new taskbar, and its right-click menu only has Taskbar settings. Cascade, Show windows stacked and Show windows side by side weren’t carried over.

Should I install a tool to get it back?

We don’t recommend third-party taskbar tools. They change how Windows works and can break after updates. Snap layouts and Task View are built in.

How do I split the screen between two apps?

See how to split the screen on Windows 11.

What did Cascade windows actually do?

In Windows 10 and earlier, Cascade stacked every open window diagonally from the top-left corner, each slightly lower and to the right of the last, so you could see all their title bars at once. It was a quick way to find a buried window, which Task View and Alt + Tab now do.

Can I keep one window always on top?

Not with a built-in setting. PowerToys includes Always On Top: once it’s installed, select a window and press Windows + Ctrl + T to pin it above everything else.

Does Snap work with more than one monitor?

Yes. Each screen has its own Snap layouts, so you can arrange windows differently on each one.

Is PowerToys safe to install?

Yes. It’s made by Microsoft, it’s free, and it’s available in the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft’s reference is Snap your windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.