How do I allow split windows to collapse completely to just their status line?

Explanation

By default, Vim enforces a minimum window height of 1 line, which means you can never fully collapse a split. Setting winminheight=0 removes this floor, allowing windows to shrink all the way down to just their status line. This is particularly powerful when combined with <C-w>_ (maximize current window height) — you can effectively zoom into one window while keeping the others accessible as thin strips.

How it works

• winminheight controls the minimum number of text lines each window must maintain
• The default value is 1, preventing full collapse
• Setting it to 0 allows any window to be reduced to 0 text lines (only the status line remains visible)
• <C-w>_ maximizes the current window to use all available height
• <C-w>= restores all windows to equal sizes

Example

Add to your vimrc:

set winminheight=0

Then open several splits:

:split file1.txt
:split file2.txt
:split file3.txt

Press <C-w>_ to maximize the current split. The other windows collapse to just their status lines, giving you maximum editing space. Navigate to another window with <C-w>j and press <C-w>_ again to zoom into it.

Tips

• Combine with set winminwidth=0 for the same behavior on vertical splits
• Use <C-w>= to restore equal sizing when done
• A useful vimrc pattern pairs this with <C-w>_ mapped to a convenient key for quick zoom/unzoom
• This setting does not affect the active window — only inactive ones can collapse