How to hide the console window of a C program?

Question

I've been looking around but I couldn't find the solution to my problem, even with some supposedly solved problems that resemble mine.

I want to hide the console window when my C program runs.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <windows.h>
#define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0500

int main(){   
    HWND hWnd = GetConsoleWindow();
    ShowWindow( hWnd, SW_MINIMIZE );  //won't hide the window without SW_MINIMIZE
    ShowWindow( hWnd, SW_HIDE );
}

This is what I tried but the compiler gives me

initialization makes pointer from integer without a cast

and the fatal one which actually stops the compiling:

undefined reference to 'GetConsoleWindow'

PS: I've checked wincon.h and the GetConsoleWindow() function is defined.

This could help you: How to hide Console Window with WinAPI? — Omar
– Omar, Commented Aug 4, 2012 at 21:43
Ken, I am using C not C++ and that thread solves a different problem, not this one. I already tried it out. — Athropos
– Athropos, Commented Aug 4, 2012 at 21:53
@Steve314, you're right. Going back and reading in more depth, it isn't. Removing my comment - can't undo the close vote, but don't want to direct others the wrong way. Thanks for the correction. :-) y Orionis, my apologies. — Ken White
– Ken White, Commented Aug 4, 2012 at 22:00

Matteo Italia · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-04 21:43:48Z

17

Your

#define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0500

(which is needed to use GetConsoleWindow - see the documentation) must be before

#include <windows.h>

That #define is used by windows.h to know which version of Windows you are targeting (and thus which declarations it has to provide/which additional fields it has to add to structures/other magic that may be related to that linker error); if you define it after you include windows.h it will be useless.

answered Aug 4, 2012 at 21:43

Matteo Italia

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Comments

aaaaaa · Accepted Answer · 2025-04-13 16:14:59Z

0

if you want to remove it, even without windows.h, you can SIMPLY just add -mwindows to your compiler flags (gcc), so
gcc examplefile.c -mwindows -o example.exe

edited Apr 13 at 16:14

answered Apr 13 at 16:12

aaaaaa

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