Windows 11 doesn’t have an “undo close” for windows. How you get one back depends on what it was. For a browser window or tab, press Ctrl + Shift + T or open History. For a folder or file, right-click the app on the taskbar and pick it from the Recent list.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Edge and Windows help pages on October 10, 2026.
First, check that it’s really closed
A window can hide instead of closing. Press Alt + Tab or Windows logo key + Tab to see every open window. If it’s there, select it. If an app’s icon on the taskbar has a line under it, the app is still open.
Reopen a browser window or tab in Microsoft Edge
- Press Ctrl + Shift + T. Edge reopens the last closed tab or window. Press it again to go further back.
- Or select History (the clock icon, or Ctrl + H) and choose Recently closed.
- Select the window or tab you want.
Most other browsers use the same Ctrl + Shift + T shortcut.
In Chrome and Firefox
- Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + T works the same way, and reopens a whole closed window with all its tabs. You can also open the three-dot menu, point to History, and pick from Recently closed.
- Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + T reopens tabs, and Ctrl + Shift + N reopens a closed window. The History menu also lists Recently Closed Windows.
Recently closed lists only go back a limited way, and they’re emptied when you clear browsing data. If a page isn’t there, search your full history with Ctrl + H.
To have your tabs come back every time you open the browser, turn on Continue where you left off in Chrome (Settings > On startup) or Open previous windows and tabs in Firefox (Settings > General).
Reopen a folder or file from the taskbar
- Right-click the app’s icon on the taskbar, such as File Explorer.
- Select the folder or file under Recent.
You can also open File Explorer and look under Recent on Home.
Reopen a document in an app
Most apps keep a list of recent files. In Word, Excel, Notepad and similar apps, select File and look for Recent or Open recent.
If the app closed before you saved, open it again. Many apps, including Microsoft Office, offer to recover unsaved work. See how to recover an unsaved Word document.
Get back a group of snapped windows
If you had several windows snapped side by side and one got minimized or covered, point at one of those apps on the taskbar. Windows 11 shows the snap group as one thumbnail; select it to bring the whole layout back at once.
You closed a virtual desktop
Closing a desktop in Task View doesn’t close its apps. Its windows move to the desktop next to it. To split them out again, press Windows + Ctrl + D to make a new desktop, open Task View with Windows + Tab, and drag the windows onto it.
Get back unsaved work
If you closed a document without saving, all is not always lost:
- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint: open the app, select File > Info > Manage Document (or Manage Workbook), and choose Recover Unsaved Documents.
- Notepad: the Windows 11 version remembers open tabs, including unsaved ones, and brings them back the next time you open it.
- Websites: forms you were filling in are usually lost, but browser history in Ctrl + H gets you back to the page.
Have windows come back after a restart
Windows can reopen your apps and folders for you after an update or restart:
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn on Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
- For File Explorer, open See more (…) > Options, go to the View tab, and check Restore previous folder windows at logon.
- In Edge, go to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs and choose Open tabs from the previous session.
If the window is open but you can’t see it
Sometimes the taskbar shows the app is open, but the window is nowhere on screen. It’s usually stuck off the edge or on a monitor that’s no longer connected.
- Select the app on the taskbar, then press Windows + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow to move it to another screen.
- Hold Shift, right-click the app on the taskbar, and select Maximize. The window fills the main screen.
- Press Windows + P and choose PC screen only if you recently unplugged a second monitor.
Frequently asked questions
Can Task View bring back closed windows?
No. Task View only shows windows that are still open. It can’t restore closed ones.
How do I keep a folder easy to reopen?
Pin it. See how to change Quick access settings in Windows 11.
Is there an undo for closing a window?
Not for Windows itself. Ctrl + Z only undoes actions inside an app or File Explorer, like moving or deleting a file. For closed windows, use the app’s recent list, the taskbar’s Recent list, or Ctrl + Shift + T in a browser.
Can I stop windows from closing by accident?
Many apps ask before closing if there’s unsaved work. In Edge, go to Settings > Appearance and look for the option to ask before closing a window with multiple tabs.
Microsoft’s reference is How to reopen closed tabs in the Microsoft Edge Learning Center. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.