How to center a WPF app on screen?

Question

I want to center my WPF app on startup on the primary screen. I know I have to set myWindow.Left and myWindow.Top, but where do I get the values?

I found System.Windows.Forms.Screen.PrimaryScreen, which is apparently not WPF. Is there a WPF alternative that gives me the screen resolution or something like that?

score 184 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 08 '20 at 10:24

184

xaml

<Window ... WindowStartupLocation="CenterScreen">...

edited Oct 08 '20 at 10:24

Ian Kemp

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answered May 24 '11 at 13:44

Pratik Deoghare

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I prefer using WPF xaml. Thanks! ;-) – James Nov 13 '14 at 12:49
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As simple as that! – Jim Apr 14 '18 at 13:00
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Added to tag and Works Perfectly :) – Junaid Khan Sep 25 '18 at 14:49

score 159 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 18 '11 at 16:30

159

Put this in your window constructor

WindowStartupLocation = System.Windows.WindowStartupLocation.CenterScreen;

.NET FrameworkSupported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0

.NET Framework Client ProfileSupported in: 4, 3.5 SP1

answered Feb 18 '11 at 16:30

Indy9000

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Worked for me (.NET 4) and I also like `WindowStartupLocation.CenterOwner` for some child windows – Stonetip Jan 11 '12 at 18:38
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The default is `Manual`. Ref: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.window.windowstartuplocation%28v=vs.110%29.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396 – CJBS Sep 21 '17 at 18:08

Michael Petrotta · Answer 3 · 2009-06-01T16:44:48.853

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You can still use the Screen class from a WPF app. You just need to reference the System.Windows.Forms assembly from your application. Once you've done that, (and referenced System.Drawing for the example below):

Rectangle workingArea = System.Windows.Forms.Screen.PrimaryScreen.WorkingArea;

...works just fine.

Have you considered setting your main window property WindowStartupLocation to CenterScreen?

edited Jun 01 '09 at 16:44

answered Jun 01 '09 at 16:37

Michael Petrotta

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oh ... i didn't know that one. Thanks. – Marcel B Jun 01 '09 at 16:43
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I was looking for WindowStartupLocation; knew I had seen that before, very useful! – chocojosh Sep 08 '10 at 15:43
@Michael Petrotta Thanks. I should look at the properties more often. – meffordm Oct 08 '11 at 03:34

Mehdi · Answer 4 · 2012-09-06T06:00:42.040

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You don't need to reference the System.Windows.Forms assembly from your application. Instead, you can use System.Windows.SystemParameters.WorkArea. This is equivalent to the System.Windows.Forms.Screen.PrimaryScreen.WorkingArea!

edited Sep 06 '12 at 06:00

answered Sep 05 '11 at 06:53

Mehdi

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score 8 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 04 '09 at 03:34

8

What about the SystemParameters class in PresentationFramework? It has a WorkArea property that seems to be what you are looking for.

But, why won't setting the Window.WindowStartupLocation work? CenterScreen is one of the enum values. Do you have to tweak the centering?

answered Jun 04 '09 at 03:34

Eddie Butt

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Great find :) The problem with center screen for me at least is, my Log in window is small and if user is clickign around while app is opening it often gets unnoticed and goes into the background. But if i can open it on the primary display in the center it works fine. note: most users have 4+ screens – Michal Ciechan Apr 27 '10 at 16:20

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 28 '17 at 11:45

var window = new MyWindow();

for center of the screen use:

window.WindowStartupLocation = System.Windows.WindowStartupLocation.CenterScreen;

for center of the parent window use:

window.WindowStartupLocation = System.Windows.WindowStartupLocation.CenterOwner;

score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Apr 24 '20 at 21:07

3

I prefer to put it in the WPF code.

In [WindowName].xaml file:

<Window x:Class=...
...
WindowStartupLocation ="CenterScreen">

edited Apr 24 '20 at 21:07

David Buck

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answered Apr 24 '20 at 20:29

Jason Robinson

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score 2 · Answer 8 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

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There is no WPF equivalent. System.Windows.Forms.Screen is still part of the .NET framework and can be used from WPF though.

See this question for more details, but you can use the calls relating to screens by using the WindowInteropHelper class to wrap your WPF control.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

Community

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answered Jun 01 '09 at 16:39

Jeff Yates

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How to center a WPF app on screen?

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