It’s incredibly frustrating when your game suddenly vanishes because you clicked over to a second screen. This guide provides the immediate fix and explains the technical reasons behind the issue, ensuring you can solve it for any setup. The core answer is that Minecraft minimizes because it’s running in Exclusive Fullscreen mode, and switching to Borderless Windowed mode in the video settings will stop this behavior for good.
Changing Minecraft to Borderless Windowed Mode
The fastest and most reliable way to stop Minecraft from minimizing is to change a single setting inside the game itself. This method works for both the Java and Bedrock editions, providing a universal solution that addresses the root cause of the window deactivation.
Open the in-game menu and navigate to ‘Options’ and then ‘Video Settings’. From there, locate the ‘Fullscreen’ option, which is often set to ‘On’ by default, and change it to ‘Borderless Windowed’. Applying this change will immediately allow you to click on your other monitor without causing the game window to minimize or lose focus, solving the primary issue directly.
The Technical Reason Windows Minimizes Games
Understanding why this happens is key to troubleshooting not just Minecraft, but any game on a multi-monitor setup. The problem originates from a fundamental Windows feature called ‘Exclusive Fullscreen’, which is the mode activated when you press F11 in most games.
In Exclusive Fullscreen mode, the game application takes complete, singular control of your graphics output to maximize performance. Consequently, when you click on another monitor, Windows interprets this as a command to switch focus away from the application that has exclusive control, forcing it to minimize so the desktop and other windows can be accessed.
Fixing Minecraft Minimizes When I Click on Second Monitor for Your Setup
While the Borderless Windowed fix is universal, the exact steps can vary slightly depending on the tools and version you are using. This section helps you apply the correct solution based on your specific Minecraft configuration, ensuring a smooth multi-monitor experience regardless of your setup.
For Vanilla Minecraft Java Edition
If you play the standard, unmodded Java Edition from the official launcher, the solution is precisely as outlined in the first section. The in-game video settings menu is your direct control panel, and switching from ‘Fullscreen: On’ to ‘Borderless Windowed’ is the definitive fix.
After making this change, your game will no longer minimize when you interact with a second monitor. This setting allows the game to run in a borderless window that Windows can manage without requiring exclusive control, seamlessly integrating with your desktop for easy multitasking.
If You Use Badlion Client or Other Mod Launchers
Many players use clients like Badlion for performance boosts and built-in mods, which have their own graphics overlays. If the standard in-game setting doesn’t work, it’s likely because the client is overriding it with its own fullscreen management.
For Badlion Client users, press the RShift key to open its settings menu, navigate to the ‘Graphics’ section, and look for an option labeled ‘Borderless Fullscreen’ or ‘Prevent Window Deactivation’. Toggling this on will achieve the same result as the vanilla setting, stopping the game from minimizing when you click away.
For Maximum Performance with Multiple Monitors
Some users want the absolute best frame rates while still having quick access to other screens, which can seem contradictory. A powerful method is to use your graphics card’s control panel software to force a borderless windowed mode, which can sometimes offer better performance than the in-game option.
You can open the Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, find the program settings for Minecraft Java, and look for display mode options. Setting this to ‘Borderless’ or ‘Force windowed mode’ here instructs your GPU driver to handle the window, which can reduce the minor performance overhead typically associated with borderless gaming.
Balancing Performance and Convenience
A common concern after learning about the borderless windowed fix is whether it will lower the game’s frames per second (FPS). While traditional borderless windowed mode can introduce a slight performance penalty because Windows’ desktop compositor remains active, the impact is often minimal on modern systems and can be effectively mitigated.
To regain any lost performance, consider using optimization mods like Sodium for modern Minecraft versions, which dramatically improves rendering efficiency. Alternatively, OptiFine also includes a ‘Borderless Fullscreen’ option within its own settings that is designed to work efficiently, blending the convenience of borderless play with enhanced performance tweaks.
Windows and Driver Focus Settings
If Minecraft continues to minimize even after switching to borderless windowed mode, the issue may lie with operating system or graphics driver settings designed to manage application focus. These advanced settings provide finer control over how Windows handles games and can resolve persistent problems.
Windows 10 and 11 Game-Related Settings
Windows includes several background features intended to optimize gaming, but they can sometimes interfere. One notable setting is ‘Disable fullscreen optimizations’, which you can apply by right-clicking on the Minecraft Java executable file, selecting ‘Properties’, and navigating to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
Checking this box tells Windows to use an older, simpler method for handling the game’s fullscreen state, which can prevent unexpected minimization. Additionally, exploring the ‘Graphics Settings’ page in Windows System Settings allows you to set Minecraft to ‘High performance’ and can help manage how background processes are handled.
Graphics Card Control Panel Options
Your GPU software includes features that can affect window behavior, especially for recording or streaming. For instance, AMD’s Radeon ReLive or Nvidia’s ShadowPlay might inject an overlay that conflicts with window focus.
Opening your GPU control panel and reviewing the settings for Minecraft can resolve this. Look for any options related to recording, broadcasting, or in-game overlays and try disabling them to see if the minimizing stops, ensuring the game window remains stable when using multiple monitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Borderless Windowed mode lower my FPS in Minecraft?
It can introduce a very minor performance overhead, but for most players the difference is negligible. You can effectively eliminate any performance loss by using optimization mods like Sodium or by forcing the setting through your GPU control panel as described earlier.
What is the difference between F11 fullscreen and Borderless Windowed?
Pressing F11 activates Exclusive Fullscreen, where the game takes over your monitor completely for maximum performance but will minimize if you click away. Borderless Windowed runs the game in a seamless window that Windows can manage, allowing easy clicking to other monitors without interruption.
Why does the ‘Press RShift’ fix not work for me?
The ‘Press RShift’ solution is specific to the Badlion Client’s settings menu. If you are not using Badlion Client, this hotkey will do nothing, and you should instead use the standard in-game video settings or check your own client’s configuration for a similar borderless window option.
How do I stop any game from minimizing when I click a second monitor?
The principle is the same for all PC games: look for a ‘Windowed Mode’, ‘Borderless’, or ‘Borderless Windowed’ option in the game’s display or graphics settings. Switching from Exclusive Fullscreen to one of these modes will allow seamless use of multiple monitors across almost any title.
My Minecraft is already in Borderless Windowed but still minimizes. What’s wrong?
This indicates a conflict with another program. You should check the advanced Windows and graphics driver settings covered in the last section, particularly ‘Disable fullscreen optimizations’ on the game’s executable file, and ensure no recording or overlay software is interfering.
Should I use Sodium or OptiFine to fix this minimizing problem?
While Sodium and OptiFine are performance mods and not direct fixes, they include excellent borderless window implementations that solve the minimizing issue as a side effect. Installing them will both stop the minimizing and give you a significant FPS boost, making them a highly effective two-in-one solution.
Does this fix work the same way on a Mac?
The core technical principle is similar, as macOS also has exclusive and borderless fullscreen modes. The steps to change the setting, however, will be within Minecraft’s video settings on the Mac version, and the result of being able to click between screens without minimizing will be the same.
What does ‘Prevent Window Deactivation’ do in the Badlion Client?
This is Badlion Client’s specific term for its borderless fullscreen feature. When enabled, it stops the game window from losing focus or minimizing when you click on another monitor, functioning identically to the standard Borderless Windowed mode found in the vanilla game settings.
Can I make Minecraft stay fullscreen but also capture it with recording software?
Yes, and this is a key advantage of Borderless Windowed mode. Most screen recording and streaming software, like OBS, can capture borderless windows much more easily than exclusive fullscreen applications, allowing you to record or stream without the game minimizing when you manage your broadcast.
Will these changes affect how other games run on my computer?
No, these settings are almost always application-specific. Changing Minecraft to borderless windowed mode, or adjusting its properties in Windows or your GPU control panel, will not alter the behavior or settings of any other game on your system.
Ultimately, solving the issue where Minecraft minimizes when you click on a second monitor revolves around moving away from Exclusive Fullscreen mode. Whether you use the simple in-game setting, a mod client toggle, or advanced driver controls, the goal is to let Windows manage the game window seamlessly. With the understanding that Borderless Windowed mode is the key, you can now enjoy smooth multitasking across all your monitors without interruption.
