The fastest way to full screen a game
Most games let you toggle full screen by pressing Alt + Enter while the game is running. This works in many older games and some newer ones. If that does not work, look for a full screen option in the game's settings menu — usually under Graphics, Display, or Video. Check there first before trying other methods.
Some games start in windowed mode by default. When you launch the game, it opens in a window rather than taking over your entire screen. Switching to full screen improves performance on most systems because your graphics card does not have to render the desktop behind the game window.
Key Takeaways
- Alt + Enter is the quickest full screen toggle in many games, though not all games support it.
- The Graphics or Display settings menu inside the game usually has a full screen checkbox or dropdown you can change without restarting.
- Borderless windowed mode gives you a full screen appearance while keeping your taskbar accessible, and some players prefer it for faster alt-tabbing.
- If a game refuses to go full screen, check your graphics driver version and make sure it is current, as outdated drivers cause display problems.
- Some games store display settings in a configuration file you can edit directly if the in-game menu does not have the option you need.
Finding the full screen setting in the game menu
Open the game and navigate to Settings, Options, or Preferences — the exact name varies by game. Look for a section labeled Graphics, Display, Video, or Screen. Inside that section, you should see a checkbox or dropdown for full screen, full screen mode, or display mode.
If you see options like "Windowed", "Full Screen", or "Borderless Windowed", select Full Screen. Some games let you choose your resolution at the same time — pick the resolution that matches your monitor's native resolution for the sharpest image. explore the change and the game should switch when ready without requiring a restart.
If the menu does not have a full screen option at all, the game may only support windowed mode. In that case, you can try borderless windowed mode (if available) or use your graphics card's scaling settings to stretch the window to fill your screen.
Using Alt + Enter and other keyboard shortcuts
Press Alt + Enter while playing to toggle between windowed and full screen. This shortcut works in many games, particularly older titles and games built with certain engines. The switch happens when ready without pausing the game or opening a menu.
If Alt + Enter does not work, try F11 — some games use this key for full screen instead. A few games respond to Alt + Tab or other combinations, but these are less common. If none of these work, the game likely requires you to change the setting in the menu instead.
Borderless windowed mode as an alternative
Borderless windowed mode fills your screen without actually being true full screen. The game window has no border or title bar, so it looks full screen, but your taskbar remains accessible. This mode is useful if you need to switch between the game and other windows quickly.
The trade-off is performance: borderless windowed is slightly slower than true full screen on most systems because your graphics card still has to render the desktop. However, the difference is small on modern hardware. If you alt-tab frequently or use a second monitor, borderless windowed often feels more practical than true full screen.
Look for "Borderless Windowed", "Windowed Borderless", or "Fullscreen Windowed" in your game's display settings. Not all games offer this option, but it is becoming more common.
Checking your graphics driver and display settings
If a game will not go full screen no matter what you try, your graphics driver may be outdated. Open Device Manager on Windows by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager. Find Display adapters, right-click your graphics card (Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD), and select Update driver.
Windows will search for the latest driver and install it if one is available. Restart your computer after the update completes. Outdated drivers often cause display problems, including full screen mode not working or the game crashing when you try to switch.
You can also check your monitor's display settings. Right-click your desktop, select Display settings, and confirm your resolution is set to your monitor's native resolution. If your resolution is set too low, some games may refuse to go full screen at that resolution.
Editing the game's configuration file
Some games store display settings in a configuration file rather than only in the menu. These files are usually named config.ini, settings.ini, or something similar, and they sit in the game's installation folder. You can edit them with Notepad to force full screen mode if the in-game menu does not have the option.
Right-click the configuration file and select Open with, then choose Notepad. Look for a line that says something like "fullscreen=false" or "windowed=true" and change it to "fullscreen=true" or "windowed=false". Save the file and launch the game again.
This method only works if the game actually reads that configuration file at startup. Older games are more likely to use this approach. Newer games usually ignore manual edits to config files, so try the in-game menu and keyboard shortcuts first.
Troubleshooting when full screen will not work
If full screen mode causes the game to crash or freeze, try launching the game in compatibility mode. Right-click the game's .exe file, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check "Run this program in compatibility mode for". Choose an older version of Windows and click explore. This sometimes fixes display issues in older games.
If the game launches in full screen but looks stretched or has black bars on the sides, check your monitor's aspect ratio setting. Some monitors have a scaling option in their on-screen menu that can fix this. You can also try changing the resolution in the game's settings to match your monitor's native aspect ratio.
If you are using multiple monitors, full screen mode may behave unexpectedly. Some games full screen only on your primary monitor, while others may full screen across all monitors. Check your display settings in Windows to confirm which monitor is set as primary, and try launching the game from that monitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does full screen mode make games run faster?
Full screen mode is usually slightly faster than windowed mode because your graphics card does not have to render the desktop in the background. The performance gain is typically small on modern hardware — often just a few frames per second. On older computers or in demanding games, the difference may be more noticeable.
What is the difference between full screen and borderless windowed?
True full screen takes over your entire display and is slightly faster. Borderless windowed fills your screen but keeps your taskbar accessible and lets you alt-tab more smoothly. Choose full screen for maximum performance, or borderless windowed if you need to switch windows frequently.
Why does my game look stretched in full screen?
Your game resolution does not match your monitor's aspect ratio. If your monitor is 16:9 but the game is running at 4:3, it will stretch. Change the game's resolution in the Graphics settings to a 16:9 option that matches your monitor, or check your monitor's scaling settings in its on-screen menu.
Can I force a game into full screen if it does not have the option?
You can try editing the game's configuration file if it has one, or use compatibility mode for older games. Some third-party tools can also force full screen, but they are not always reliable. If the game genuinely does not support full screen, borderless windowed mode is usually your best alternative.
Will full screen mode work on my laptop?
Yes, full screen works on laptops the same way it does on desktop computers. Press Alt + Enter or check the game's display settings. On laptops with multiple graphics chips (integrated and dedicated), make sure your game is set to use the dedicated graphics card in your graphics control panel for best results.