The fastest way to go full screen in most games

Most PC games let you toggle full screen by pressing Alt + Enter while the game is running. This keyboard shortcut works in the majority of modern games and older titles alike. If that does not work, look for a full screen option in the game's settings menu — usually under Graphics, Display, or Video settings.

Some games start in windowed mode by default, which means the game window sits inside your desktop with a title bar and borders. Full screen mode hides everything else and uses your entire monitor. The difference matters because full screen usually gives you better performance and removes distractions, while windowed mode lets you alt-tab to other programs without closing the game.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Alt + Enter while playing to toggle between full screen and windowed mode in most games.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, open the game's Graphics or Display settings menu and look for a full screen checkbox or dropdown.
  • Full screen mode uses your entire monitor and usually runs faster than windowed mode.
  • Some games let you choose between exclusive full screen (fastest) and borderless windowed full screen (easier to alt-tab from).
  • If a game will not go full screen, check your graphics driver is up to date and that your monitor resolution matches the game's setting.

Finding the full screen setting in the game menu

Start the game and look for a Settings, Options, or Preferences menu. This is usually on the main menu before you start playing, but some games let you pause and access settings during gameplay. Once you are in the settings, find the section labeled Graphics, Display, Video, or Screen.

Inside that section, look for a checkbox or dropdown that says Full Screen, Fullscreen Mode, Display Mode, or Screen Mode. If you see a checkbox, click it to turn full screen on. If you see a dropdown menu, you will usually have three choices: Windowed, Full Screen, or Borderless Windowed. Select Full Screen for the fastest performance, or Borderless Windowed if you want to keep the ability to alt-tab smoothly without the game minimizing.

After you change the setting, the game may ask you to confirm the change or restart. Click explore or OK, and the game should switch to full screen. If the screen goes black or looks wrong, wait a few seconds — the game is adjusting to your monitor. If nothing happens after 10 seconds, press Escape or click back to undo the change.

Exclusive full screen versus borderless windowed full screen

Exclusive full screen gives the game complete control of your monitor. Your graphics card sends the image directly to the screen without going through Windows, which means faster performance and lower input lag. This is the mode you want for competitive games or when you need every frame of speed. The downside is that alt-tabbing to another program will minimize the game, and it takes a moment to switch back.

Borderless windowed full screen makes the game window as large as your monitor but keeps Windows running underneath. You can alt-tab when ready without the game minimizing, and you can see your taskbar if you move your mouse to the edge. The trade-off is slightly lower performance because Windows is still managing the display. Many modern games default to this mode because it is more convenient for streaming, taking screenshots, or checking Discord while you play.

If your game offers both options in the Display settings, try exclusive full screen first. If you notice stuttering or the game feels slower, switch back to borderless windowed — sometimes the opposite is true depending on your graphics card and Windows version.

What to do if Alt + Enter does not work

Some games do not respond to the Alt + Enter shortcut, especially older titles or games built on certain engines. If the shortcut does not work, your only option is the settings menu. Open the game's settings and navigate to Graphics or Display as described above. This is the most reliable method anyway because it lets you choose between full screen types.

If the settings menu does not have a full screen option at all, the game may be locked to windowed mode. This is rare in modern games but happens with some indie titles or browser-based games. In that case, you can try right-clicking the game's .exe file, selecting Properties, clicking the Compatibility tab, and checking "Run this program in full-screen optimizations." This tells Windows to treat the window as full screen, though it is not the same as true full screen mode.

Fixing a game that will not switch to full screen

If you change the setting to full screen but the game stays windowed, the problem is usually one of three things: your graphics driver is outdated, your monitor resolution does not match the game's setting, or the game has a bug.

First, check your monitor resolution. In the game's Display settings, look at what resolution is selected — for example, 1920x1080 or 2560x1440. Then go to your Windows desktop, right-click an empty area, and select Display Settings. Look at the resolution listed under "Display resolution." If the numbers do not match, change the game's resolution to match your monitor. Once they match, try full screen again.

If the resolutions already match, update your graphics driver. Right-click the Windows Start button, select Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card (usually NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), and select Update driver. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and let Windows find the latest version. Restart your computer after the update finishes, then try the game again.

If the driver is up to date and the resolution matches, the game itself may have a bug. Check the game's support page or community forums to see if other players report the same problem. Some games have a configuration file you can edit by hand — the support page will tell you which file and what to change.

Performance tips once you are in full screen

Full screen mode is faster than windowed mode, but you can squeeze out more performance by adjusting a few other settings. In the game's Graphics menu, look for options like V-Sync, Frame Rate Cap, or Refresh Rate. V-Sync locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate (usually 60 Hz) to prevent screen tearing. Turn it off if you have a high-end graphics card and want maximum speed, or leave it on if you notice the image looks torn or unstable.

If your game feels slow even in full screen, lower the resolution or graphics quality settings. Start by turning off shadows, reflections, or anti-aliasing — these have a big impact on speed. Lower the resolution only as a last resort because it makes the image look blurry. Test each change by playing for a minute or two before making another adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your monitor resolution and the game's resolution do not match. Open the game's Display settings and change the resolution to match your monitor — check Windows Display Settings to see what your monitor supports. If the game does not offer your monitor's native resolution, try the closest one available.

Can I use full screen on a multi-monitor setup?

Exclusive full screen will use only one monitor — whichever one you have set as your primary display. If you want the game to span multiple monitors, use borderless windowed mode instead, though most games do not support this well. For competitive gaming, stick with exclusive full screen on your primary monitor.

Does full screen make games run faster?

Yes, exclusive full screen is faster than windowed mode because Windows does not have to manage the display. The difference is usually 5 to 15 frames per second depending on your graphics card. Borderless windowed full screen is slower than exclusive full screen but faster than a small windowed window.

What if the game minimizes when I alt-tab in full screen?

You are using exclusive full screen mode. Switch to borderless windowed full screen in the Display settings if you need to alt-tab frequently. Exclusive full screen will always minimize when you switch to another program — that is how it works.

Can I force a game into full screen if it does not support it?

Not reliably. Windows has a "Run this program in full-screen optimizations" option in the game's Properties, but it does not work for all games. Your best option is to maximize the game window as large as possible and hide your taskbar by moving your mouse away from the bottom of the screen.