Games randomly minimizing to desktop? Windows 10

[km_2000]

This past week I have noticed my games minimizing to the desktop by themselves, as if I alt-tabbed out of them. This happens with both Steam and non-Steam games, and it has happened when I have had no other programs open besides Steam. It might happen occasionally or several times within the span of a few minutes.

My first thought was that a program in the background was stealing focus, but I have gone through several steps and can't figure out which program it could be. I have gone through the startup apps and turned off anything that isn't necessary, and I'm sure it's not the antivirus software. In one case though when my game minimized, the "Steam News" window had popped up, so I thought that was the culprit.

It is difficult to replicate the problem as there is no pattern and it tends to happen whenever it wants.

Any possibility that Steam is causing this issue? If so, how do I track down the problem? What other steps could I take?

Thanks!

[Iceira]

you already seem to know the taskout and other app can take focus. ( so i dont go there )

try steam new gui settings.

steam library , turn them off and reboot to see if that even help.

ps.
do reply back if it help or not, that is very hard to ID and i bet thats why noone has reply yet.

some call this safe mode test
do not forget msconfig and check what you start up, dont turn off MS service , but whatever it is i dont know to many missing information and spec and is pc update with newest drivers and bios
most pc has app today that do this.

and do not OC while you testing this. ( same with mods to many can brake game and as you point out, you have a odd issue. ) i only try you get it Original content only and settings. to see if pc get more stable untill you figureout where/what did this. ( and just because i say sounds like msconfig startup issue could be the way, but to proof it from here, forget it, to many possibilities can cause this. but i think you already know it, then i read the topic.

[GuRu Asaki]

AMD Overlay, if you activate Radeon Chill or Anti-Lag, both of these will
cause your Games to Minimize to Desktop, without Warning...

To fix this, don't use them...

Outside of that, I don't know if NVidea would cause the same issues...

Windows Defender sometimes Requires an Accept from your Games
to be Exempt from the Fire Wall, which causes a Warning via Game Minimized...

It could be your Action Center causing it, too? Can't really be sure what
in Action Center would cause it, though...

[Iceira]

thx GuRu Asaki, to point out AMD issue, but OP own faulth, missing spec, this open to many doors, and what if he play on laptop , and make own mistakes with configuration. is funny every time i mention, you play 3D games in balance mode, funny thing is they all deny it, and problem is gone and no reply from them anymore. ( sure not funny , but as i said before insert own profanity word so you never forget it again. ) to many missing info from OP,
point is look like laptop sametime. ( and if it is, user own faulth. )

if op get it fixed rename topic to laptop typical mistakes, so you can help all laptop owners not to do it.

you need to get this laptop owner and desktop owner pc are not same thing.
laptop is build for power saveing, = reduces performance + own seleted balance mode is a huge mistakes. you need FULL performance. to even get out of this return to desktop.
seen it before , but to proof it , hard as hell. most laptop owner will not even know this. )
you laptop if it is that, is strong enough not to crash app, but as i said but drop out and maybe steam new gui settings just trigger this, well gl with it. only OP can clarify spec. and help us to help him.

[GuRu Asaki]

We'll there could be lots of reasons, there are many things that can Cause it...
Even simply hitting Windows Key, can send you to Desktop Mode...
It would Auto-Minimize if you have it weirdly setup like that...

[km_2000]

Publicado originalmente por Iceira:

you already seem to know the taskout and other app can take focus. ( so i dont go there )

try steam new gui settings.

steam library , turn them off and reboot to see if that even help.

ps.
do reply back if it help or not, that is very hard to ID and i bet thats why noone has reply yet.

Thanks for the reply. I don't see the steam new gui settings you are referring to. Where do you access them?

If it helps, I'm currently using an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060.

I haven't had the issue since posting this, so I haven't really been able to troubleshoot it further.

[KentChua]

Publicado originalmente por km_2000:

Publicado originalmente por Iceira:

you already seem to know the taskout and other app can take focus. ( so i dont go there )

try steam new gui settings.

steam library , turn them off and reboot to see if that even help.

ps.
do reply back if it help or not, that is very hard to ID and i bet thats why noone has reply yet.

Thanks for the reply. I don't see the steam new gui settings you are referring to. Where do you access them?

If it helps, I'm currently using an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060.

I haven't had the issue since posting this, so I haven't really been able to troubleshoot it further.

Hi wanna ask did you fix the issue ? anyone knows how to fix it? i have a similar issue here, it randomly minimized itself only when i'm playing games on full screen

Specs > Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 with MAX-Q

[Iceira]

This post is from 2020, laptopuser back then run games in balance mode and some games did not like that and taskout or exit to desktop this is old news, even GPU card driver did this later, and it dont help window Focus option also can do this.

I and other can only asy funny how problem solve itself doing the many Nvidia driver update.

What you should do make sure BIOS and chipset driver is update, and same go with Nvidia driver that match GPU card model and is support ( most do this ) but lately we have seen ppl run drivers because they are new, that's not how it works then card dont support it.

I did not say you did this, and gl with try past GPU driver is that could help.

But GTX 1650 is seen as well test, don't forget re-install them driver if windows get a core update, to make sure gpu driver correct it again.

ps.
And if you have notice alot lesser laptop user today that dont know what Full performance is.
game laptop do mention this alot in user manuel book.


use custom install and make fresh driver then checkbox is there.
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/

[Iceira]

Don't forget VC++ from MS own support page
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

Gamer devs and steam is outdate on this topic.( PC user own problem to know this )

[KentChua]

Publicado originalmente por Iceira:

This post is from 2020, laptopuser back then run games in balance mode and some games did not like that and taskout or exit to desktop this is old news, even GPU card driver did this later, and it dont help window Focus option also can do this.

I and other can only asy funny how problem solve itself doing the many Nvidia driver update.

What you should do make sure BIOS and chipset driver is update, and same go with Nvidia driver that match GPU card model and is support ( most do this ) but lately we have seen ppl run drivers because they are new, that's not how it works then card dont support it.

I did not say you did this, and gl with try past GPU driver is that could help.

But GTX 1650 is seen as well test, don't forget re-install them driver if windows get a core update, to make sure gpu driver correct it again.

ps.
And if you have notice alot lesser laptop user today that dont know what Full performance is.
game laptop do mention this alot in user manuel book.


use custom install and make fresh driver then checkbox is there.
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/

Im a computer/tech idiot , i have no idea what u are saying.... how do i make sure my computer BIOS and chipset are update?

[KentChua]

TBH actually this issue wasnt the first time for my pc , got this same issue a few months ago but then it fixed itself? (i dont remember how already) and now it appears again which is um quite troubling

[Iceira]

Okay let's start from Scrates, you bnoard or Brand name pc has a support web site

name pc ia asus, msi or joe's pizza pc, whatever name.
rest is custom build board brand name know as custom build pc.
they have support not us here, read the board manual, they also explan BIOS update and its Drivers some have cd or digital DL only.

ps.
this is your job to knwo this, many compnay today do not tell or give clues in what the problem is because thatsd not that company problem user do not knwo this.

Today you can end up in the grey zone as i call it and other do this mean's ( user own problem for not knowing )

Same as Microsoft dont update your pc, they are given them Driver from Produvt support.
and worst part of this they dont care if it work or not,as long it dont crash core, and they try avoid BSOD and other things like that.

And as you see this is not support either , we have no clue in what pc you have, or if your pc is even update or not.

to be a pro gamer today require you know alot about it, becuae then things do not work as it shgould many get into trouble then they dont knwo where to start to check up on things here.

[Iceira]

Google them cmd in how to do and what they are doing if you needed it.

Do not have other pc issue.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth
SFC /Scannow
chkdsk c:
chkdsk d:
chkdsk e:

what you hope for it can find and fix it, lets see if you are lucky there.

[Eli]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.