Notepad++ search box has disappeared

I inadvertently detached the search box from the main Notepad++ window. Now that I am using a different multiple display configuration, I can no longer "see" or "find" the search window.
Can someone please tell me how to re-anchor the search window to the main window w/o being able to see it? I am using Windows 7.


If the search box you are talking about is indeed the standard search box you can view when you press Ctrl+F or Search->Find, then one way to regain your window is like you do with every other window in Windows that has default handling:

  1. Press Ctrl+F or Search->Find to assure your find window is in foreground and focussed.
  2. Press Alt+Space to open the Window Context Menu of your Find window.
  3. Press Down and Enter to select the Move entry of your context menu.
  4. Press one of the Arrow Keys at least once.
  5. Move your mouse. The Window should now follow your mouse cursor. Place it wherever you need it, and click.

If that doesn’t help you, please answer what slybloty asked as a comment in your question.


I got the same issue and what I did was to clear-up the %APPDATA% folder.

  1. Close Notepad++
  2. Rename the file %APPDATA%/Notepad++/config.xml to %APPDATA%/Notepad++/config_BAK.xml (or just delete it)
  3. Re-open Notepad++

This will reset your settings.

If you want to re-use some old settings, you can merge them from the copy of config.xml back to the new one created.

I worked for me. Hope it can help others.


Win + left/right arrow keys to rearrange windows.