Cannot minimize game with alt+tab or winkey+D

[Mike_wth]

After an update was rolled out a while ago, I cannot get back to my desktop using winkey+D or alt+tab.

I googled it and found out, that games can block this function.

I can't even use the start button of windows this way. Not even on a second display.
The only workaround is, to have a link of some other software on a second screen(desktop) or open a second application prior to launching the game.
When a second program is openend, it can be chosen with alt+tab.
Forts will still not minimize, but the other application is accessible.
After that, I can use the start button on a second screen and open other applications there.

Well, this SUCKS, when I have to wait for a lobby to fill up.

Can somebody help out with that?

Thanks a lot,
Mike

[Alex The 2nd]

This happens to me ether so I play the game on widowed for now. Kinda weird to play, but no other solution

[Romerolagus]

What OS versions are you using? I get different behaviors on all of my machines.

On Win 7, I can still alt-tab directly to the desktop

On Win 10, I can't select the desktop directly with alt-tab at all anymore, which has been very annoying. I can select a different application (even a folder) on the main display and it causes the start menu to become visible and I can interact with it. But switching to something on a different display only makes the start menu visible on that display. win+d and win+tab both work as expected though, I can access the start menu on both displays by using either. I do have a Windows update pending so that could potentially change afterwards.

And I'm unable to test on Win 11 at this time.

[Kaiser!? (Ger)]

Originally posted by Romerolagus:

What OS versions are you using? I get different behaviors on all of my machines.

On Win 7, I can still alt-tab directly to the desktop

On Win 10, I can't select the desktop directly with alt-tab at all anymore, which has been very annoying. I can select a different application (even a folder) on the main display and it causes the start menu to become visible and I can interact with it. But switching to something on a different display only makes the start menu visible on that display. win+d and win+tab both work as expected though, I can access the start menu on both displays by using either. I do have a Windows update pending so that could potentially change afterwards.

And I'm unable to test on Win 11 at this time.

It works for me on Win 11.

[Mike_wth]

My issue is under win 10.
still did not find a good solution

[[DEV] BeeMan]

In the last update I made some changes which should allow players to Alt-Tab out of Forts with more reliability. There's also a new option (in the Options -> Video tab) to make Forts minimise when inactive. Let me know if this helps.

[Polonez]

-Fullscreen : cant minimize
-Borderless : cant minimize
-Overlapped : can minimize but its unplayable because i see bar on top and taskbar on the down which cover "materials, Devices, technology and weapons" buttons while playing

[[DEV] BeeMan]

Do you have the 'Minimise when inactive' option mentioned above enabled? And when you say 'can't minimise' do you mean Alt-Tab doesn't work at all to switch to another window, or that the Forts window is always visible under other windows?

[Mike_wth]

With the new option alt+tab works again. Thanks a lot!

[[DEV] BeeMan]

No problem, good to hear!

[Mike_wth]

One more thing:
Whenever I alt+tab out of the game, the game is force-minimized.
It cannot remain open in the background.

I have a triple-screen setup and I host all my games.
So I cannot look at the lobby filling up, when I do anything else.
The moment I click on anything on my second screen, forts automatically minimizes down in the taskbar on the mainscreen.

That makes waiting as a host kind of a pain, since I need to go back and forth all the time to not miss the lobby beeing full.

I am not a programmer.
But I really wonder why you do not go with the standard functionality that any other application under windows uses.
The standard is actually well thought out.

[[DEV] BeeMan]

The standard you're talking about applies to overlapped windows (those with an edge, title bar, minimise button, close button, etc.). Forts should behave as you expect when in overlapped mode: you can minimise, restore, resize and close the window. We just don't support maximise.

I have studied other games to match their behavior in fullscreen mode. For example,

They Are Billions (Fullscreen): (same as Forts with 'Minimise when inactive' on)
Alt-tab: window minimises
Minimise: always minimised, except when active

They Are Billions (Full Borderless Window): (same as Forts with 'Minimise when inactive' off)
Alt-tab: always visible behind other windows or when focused other screens
Minimise: not possible, except for when viewing desktop

Cyberpunk 2077 (Fullscreen): (same as Forts with 'Minimise when inactive' on)
Alt-tab: window minimises
Minimise: always minimised, except when active

Cyberpunk 2077 (Windowed Borderless): (same as Forts with 'Minimise when inactive' off)
Alt-tab: always visible behind other windows or when focused other screens
Minimise: not possible, except for when viewing desktop

It sounds like you want 'Minimise when inactive' off so it remains visible when you're using your other screen. When this is off it's normal that you can't minimise the window, except for when on the desktop (Win + D). Forts is consistent with the other games I've inspected, at least. You can also use overlapped mode and either adjust resolution, or resize the window so you can see the tabs on the HUD.