The fastest way to full screen a game

Most games enter full screen mode through a single keystroke: press Alt + Enter while the game is running. This works in the majority of modern games and many older ones. The game window will expand to fill your entire monitor, and your taskbar and desktop will disappear.

If Alt + Enter does not work, look for a full screen toggle in the game's settings menu. Open the game, pause it, and navigate to Settings, Options, or Graphics. Look for a field labeled "Display Mode," "Screen Mode," or "Window Mode." Change it from Windowed to Full Screen, then restart the game or explore the change when ready depending on the game.

Some games require you to exit completely and restart after changing this setting. If the game asks you to restart, close it fully and launch it again from your desktop or Steam.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Alt + Enter while a game is running to toggle full screen mode when ready in most games.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, open the game's settings menu and change the display mode from Windowed to Full Screen.
  • Full screen mode hides your taskbar and uses your monitor's native resolution for better performance and immersion.
  • Some games require a full restart after you change the display mode setting before the change takes effect.
  • If full screen mode causes stuttering or crashes, switch to borderless windowed mode as an alternative.

Finding the display settings in different games

The location of display settings varies by game engine and developer. In most modern games built on Unreal Engine or Unity, pause the game and look for a Settings or Options button on the main menu. Click it, then find Graphics, Display, or Video settings.

In older games or those using custom engines, the settings menu might be harder to find. Look for a gear icon, a wrench icon, or text that says Preferences. Some games hide settings behind an in-game menu that only appears when you pause. If you cannot find settings while playing, try accessing them from the game's launcher before you start playing—many games have a configuration window that opens before the game loads.

Steam games often have launch options you can set before starting. Right-click the game in your Steam library, select Properties, and look for Launch Options. You can type commands like -fullscreen or -windowed to force the game to start in that mode, though this works only in games that recognize these commands.

Borderless windowed mode as an alternative

If full screen mode causes problems—stuttering, crashes, or difficulty switching between the game and other windows—try borderless windowed mode instead. This mode removes the window frame and taskbar but keeps the game running in a window, which can improve stability on some systems.

To enable borderless windowed mode, open the game's graphics settings and look for "Borderless Window," "Windowed (Borderless)," or "Fullscreen Window." Select that option and explore the change. The game will still fill your screen, but you can now alt-tab to other windows without the game minimizing, and you can move your mouse to a second monitor without the game losing focus.

Borderless windowed mode uses slightly more system resources than true full screen, so if your PC struggles to run the game smoothly, full screen is still the better choice. However, the difference is usually small enough that you will not notice it on modern hardware.

Adjusting resolution when you go full screen

When you switch to full screen, the game automatically uses your monitor's native resolution—the resolution your monitor is designed to display. This is usually the best choice for image quality and performance. However, some games let you choose a different resolution even in full screen mode.

If the game looks blurry or stretched after going full screen, open the graphics settings and check the resolution field. Make sure it matches your monitor's native resolution. You can find your monitor's native resolution by right-clicking your desktop, selecting Display Settings, and looking at the "Resolution" field under Windows. On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Displays, and check the resolution marked "Default."

If you want to play at a lower resolution for better performance, you can change it in the game's graphics settings, but the image will appear smaller or stretched depending on your monitor. Most modern monitors look best at their native resolution, so only lower it if you need the performance boost.

Fixing full screen problems on multi-monitor setups

If you have two or more monitors, full screen mode can behave unexpectedly. Some games will full screen on your primary monitor and disable your other monitors, while others might full screen across all monitors at once. This depends on how the game handles multi-monitor systems.

If the game is full screening on the wrong monitor, check the graphics settings for a "Display" or "Monitor" field and select the correct one. If the game is spanning across all your monitors and you want it on just one, look for a setting that says "Single Monitor" or "Primary Display Only."

If you cannot find these settings in the game, try changing which monitor Windows considers your primary display. Right-click your desktop, select Display Settings, and look for a monitor labeled "1." Click it, scroll down, and check the box that says "Make this my main display." Then restart the game.

When Alt + Enter does not work

Some games do not respond to Alt + Enter, particularly older games, indie games, or games running through compatibility mode. If the shortcut does not toggle full screen, your next step is the settings menu inside the game itself.

If the game has no settings menu and Alt + Enter does not work, try right-clicking the game's .exe file on your computer, selecting Properties, and clicking the Compatibility tab. Check the box for "Run this program in fullscreen optimizations" or "Disable fullscreen optimizations" depending on your Windows version, then click explore and OK. Restart the game and try Alt + Enter again.

If that still does not work, the game may straightforward not support full screen mode. In that case, borderless windowed mode is your best alternative. You can also try third-party tools like Borderless Gaming or Fullscreen Windowed Borderless, which are free programs that force any window into borderless full screen mode, though results vary by game.

Performance differences between full screen and windowed modes

Full screen mode typically performs better than windowed mode because the game has exclusive control of your graphics card and does not have to share resources with Windows or other programs. This means fewer frame drops and more stable performance, especially on older or less powerful PCs.

Windowed mode forces your graphics card to render both the game and your desktop, which uses extra memory and processing power. Borderless windowed mode sits between the two—it performs better than regular windowed mode but slightly worse than true full screen.

On modern gaming PCs with powerful graphics cards, the difference is usually small. On older PCs or laptops, switching to full screen can noticeably improve frame rates. If your game is stuttering or running slowly, try full screen mode first before adjusting graphics settings or resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my game look stretched or distorted in full screen?

Your game is probably running at a resolution that does not match your monitor's native resolution. Open the game's graphics settings and change the resolution to match your monitor's native resolution. You can find your monitor's native resolution in Windows Display Settings or Mac System Preferences. If the game does not offer your monitor's native resolution as an option, try the closest resolution available.

Can I use full screen on a laptop?

Yes, full screen works on laptops the same way it does on desktop PCs. Press Alt + Enter or change the display mode in the game's settings. On a laptop, full screen mode will use your laptop's built-in screen. If you have an external monitor connected, the game will full screen on whichever monitor you launched it from.

What is the difference between full screen and borderless windowed?

Full screen gives you better performance and hides everything except the game. Borderless windowed removes the window frame and taskbar but keeps the game in a window, so you can alt-tab smoothly and use multiple monitors without the game minimizing. Full screen is faster; borderless windowed is more convenient.

Why does my game crash when I try to go full screen?

Full screen crashes are usually caused by graphics driver issues or incompatibility with your monitor's resolution. Try updating your graphics drivers first. If that does not work, try running the game in borderless windowed mode instead, or lower the resolution in the game's graphics settings and try full screen again.

Does full screen mode reduce input lag?

Yes, full screen mode can reduce input lag slightly because the game has direct control of your graphics card without Windows processing in between. The difference is usually small on modern systems, but competitive gamers often prefer full screen for this reason. If you play fast-paced games and want every advantage, full screen is the better choice.