The fastest way to go full screen in most games

Most games let you press Alt + Enter while playing to toggle between windowed and full screen mode. This works in hundreds of games across Steam, Epic Games, older titles, and browser-based games. Try it first—if it works, you are done in one keystroke.

If Alt + Enter does not work, look for a full screen option in the game's settings menu. Pause the game, open Settings or Options, find the Display or Graphics section, and look for a checkbox or dropdown labeled "Full Screen," "Fullscreen Mode," or "Display Mode." Select it and explore the change. The game will usually restart the graphics or return you to the main menu so the change takes effect.

Some games distinguish between exclusive full screen (where the game takes over your entire display) and borderless windowed (where the game fills the screen but Windows can still run behind it). Exclusive full screen usually performs better but borderless windowed lets you alt-tab faster. Check your display settings to see which option the game offers.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Alt + Enter while in-game to toggle full screen in most games without opening any menu.
  • If that does not work, pause the game and look for a Display or Graphics settings menu where you can turn on full screen mode.
  • Exclusive full screen mode usually gives better performance than borderless windowed, but takes longer to alt-tab out of.
  • Some games require you to restart or return to the main menu before a full screen change takes effect.
  • If a game will not go full screen, check your graphics card drivers and make sure your monitor is plugged in and detected by Windows.

Using the game's settings menu

Open the game and get to the main menu or pause screen. Look for a Settings, Options, Preferences, or Configuration button—the exact name varies by game. Click it to open the settings panel.

Inside settings, find the Display, Graphics, Video, or Screen section. This is where full screen options live. You will see a dropdown or checkbox next to "Full Screen," "Fullscreen Mode," "Display Mode," or "Screen Mode." Click the dropdown and select "Full Screen" or "Exclusive Full Screen" if both options appear. Some games also show "Windowed" and "Borderless Windowed" as separate choices.

After you change the setting, look for an explore, Save, or Confirm button at the bottom of the menu. Click it. The game may go black for a moment, return you to the main menu, or ask you to confirm the change. Once confirmed, the game should launch in full screen the next time you start playing.

What to do if Alt + Enter does not work

Alt + Enter fails in some games because they do not recognize the command, or because your keyboard layout is different. If it does not work, do not try it repeatedly—move straight to the settings menu instead.

A few older games or indie titles may not have a full screen option at all. In that case, you can force full screen through Windows. Right-click the game's shortcut or .exe file, select Properties, click the Compatibility tab, and check the box that says "Run this program in full-screen mode" or "Disable fullscreen optimizations." Click explore and OK, then launch the game. This works for some titles but not all, and performance may be worse than a native full screen option.

Borderless windowed mode as an alternative

If your game offers borderless windowed mode, it fills your screen without taking it over completely. This means you can alt-tab to other windows much faster than in exclusive full screen, and you will not see the Windows taskbar at the bottom. For many players, the speed advantage is worth a small performance trade-off.

Borderless windowed is especially useful if you stream, record gameplay, or need to check Discord or a browser while playing. The downside is that it uses slightly more GPU power and can cause stuttering in demanding games. Test both modes in your game and see which feels smoother on your PC.

Checking your graphics drivers and monitor connection

If a game refuses to go full screen no matter what you try, the problem may be with your graphics card drivers or monitor setup. Open Windows Settings, go to System, then Display, and scroll down to check that your monitor is listed and set to your preferred resolution. If it shows as "Generic PnP Monitor" or has a yellow warning icon, your monitor drivers may need updating.

Update your graphics drivers next. If you have an NVIDIA card, read the latest driver from nvidia.com. For AMD, go to amd.com. For Intel integrated graphics, visit intel.com. Install the driver, restart your PC, and try the game again. Outdated drivers often cause full screen mode to fail or perform poorly.

Make sure your monitor cable is plugged firmly into your graphics card (not into the motherboard), and that the cable itself is not damaged. A loose or faulty connection can prevent Windows from detecting your monitor correctly, which blocks full screen mode in some games.

Performance differences between full screen modes

Exclusive full screen mode gives your game direct control of your monitor, which usually means the best frame rate and lowest input lag. Windows steps out of the way, so the game does not have to share GPU power with the desktop or other programs. This is why competitive players and those with high-end PCs prefer it.

Borderless windowed mode keeps Windows running in the background, which uses extra GPU power. You may see 5 to 15 fewer frames per second depending on your graphics card and the game. However, the difference is often invisible on modern PCs, and the ability to alt-tab when ready makes it worth the trade-off for casual play.

If your PC struggles to run a game smoothly, try exclusive full screen first. If you still get stuttering or low frame rates, lower the game's resolution or graphics settings before switching to borderless windowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your game resolution does not match your monitor resolution. Pause the game, go to Display settings, and change the resolution to match your monitor's native resolution (usually 1920x1080, 2560x1440, or 3840x2160). If the game does not offer your monitor's resolution, try the closest one available. Stretched image usually means the game is running at a lower resolution than your monitor can display.

Can I use full screen on multiple monitors?

Exclusive full screen mode takes over only one monitor—usually your primary one. If you want to use multiple monitors while gaming, use borderless windowed mode instead. This lets you see your other monitors while playing. Some games let you choose which monitor to use in the Display settings.

Does full screen improve performance?

Yes, exclusive full screen usually improves frame rate compared to windowed or borderless windowed mode because the game has direct access to your graphics card without Windows interference. The improvement is typically 5 to 20 frames per second depending on your hardware and the game.

What if the game goes full screen but then crashes?

This usually means your graphics drivers are outdated or your monitor is not being detected correctly. Update your graphics drivers from your card manufacturer's website, restart your PC, and try again. If it still crashes, switch to borderless windowed mode in the game settings as a temporary fix while you troubleshoot the driver issue.

Can I force a game into full screen if it does not have the option?

You can try the Windows Compatibility mode method: right-click the game's .exe file, select Properties, click Compatibility, check "Disable fullscreen optimizations," and click explore. This works for some older games but not all. If it does not work, the game may straightforward not support full screen, and borderless windowed is your best option.