How to Full Screen on PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Full Screen on PC: Everything You Need to Know

Learning how to full screen on PC can significantly improve your viewing and working experience. Whether you’re trying to enjoy a movie, play a game, or focus on a presentation without distractions, going full screen is a simple trick that makes a big difference.

In this article, you’ll discover various methods to go full screen on Windows, including keyboard shortcuts, settings, app-specific tips, and browser techniques. Whether you’re using a desktop, laptop, or external monitor, you’ll find the perfect solution for your setup.

Table of Contents

Why Learn How to Full Screen on PC?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why this feature is useful:

Distraction-Free Viewing: No taskbar, browser tabs, or notifications.
Better Focus: Especially helpful during presentations, video playback, and gaming.
More Screen Real Estate: Ideal for graphic design, editing, or multitasking.

Now let’s explore how to full screen on PC in various contexts.

Full Screen Using Keyboard Shortcuts

One of the easiest ways to full screen an application or window on a PC is by using keyboard shortcuts.

F11 Key (Universal Shortcut)

The F11 key is a universal shortcut that works with most browsers and some applications.

Press F11 once to go full screen.
Press F11 again to exit full screen.

This is especially handy in browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Alt + Enter (For Media Players and Games)

In applications like Windows Media Player or older games, the Alt + Enter shortcut toggles between windowed and full screen modes.

Windows + Up Arrow (Maximize Window)

This doesn’t enable full screen mode but does maximize the window:

Press Windows + Up Arrow to expand a window to full screen size (without hiding the taskbar).
Combine this with F11 or in-app full screen features for a complete experience.

How to Full Screen on PC in Web Browsers

If you’re streaming content or reading a document in your browser, full screen can be incredibly useful.

Google Chrome

Open the browser window.
Press F11 to go full screen.
Alternatively, click the three dots in the top-right corner → Select Full Screen (⛶).

Mozilla Firefox

Hit F11 or go to the menu (☰) and select Full Screen.
You can also customize your toolbar to add a full screen button.

Microsoft Edge

Use F11 or click on the three dots (•••) → Select Full Screen.
Exit full screen by pressing F11 again or moving your mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the menu.

How to Full Screen on PC in Media Players

Whether you’re watching a movie or listening to music, full screen mode can help you get immersed.

VLC Media Player

Play your video and press F11 for full screen.
Alternatively, press F to switch directly to full screen mode.
Right-click on the screen → Select Video → Click Fullscreen.

Windows Media Player

Press Alt + Enter or double-click on the video.
Move your mouse to the top to exit or press Esc.

YouTube Videos

While watching a video, click the square icon (bottom-right of the video) to full screen.
Shortcut: F key.
Press Esc to return to windowed mode.

How to Full Screen on PC While Gaming

Full screen gaming enhances performance and visual experience.

PC Games via Steam or Windows

Most games allow switching between windowed and full screen using Alt + Enter.
Some have options in the Settings menu → Video Settings → Choose Full Screen or Borderless Full Screen.

Fullscreen vs Borderless Windowed Mode

Fullscreen: Better performance, especially in older systems.
Borderless Windowed: Allows easy alt-tabbing, but may reduce frame rate.

How to Full Screen on PC in Productivity Apps

Whether you’re writing, coding, or designing, full screen mode helps minimize distractions.

Microsoft Word / Excel / PowerPoint

Go to the View tab → Choose Full Screen Reading View (Word).
For PowerPoint, start the slideshow (F5) to go full screen.
Excel doesn’t have a native full screen mode, but Ctrl + F1 hides the ribbon for a cleaner look.

Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator

Press F to cycle through screen modes.
Shift + F gives you a presentation-like view.

VS Code / Coding Editors

Press F11 to full screen the entire app.
Press Ctrl + B to toggle the sidebar.
Use Zen Mode in VS Code for complete distraction-free coding.

How to Full Screen on PC Using Windows Built-In Features

Taskbar Auto-Hide

Right-click on the taskbar → Select Taskbar settings → Toggle on Automatically hide the taskbar.

This complements apps that don’t fully cover the screen.

Tablet Mode (for Touchscreen PCs)

Open Settings → Go to System → Tablet.
Enable Tablet Mode for a full screen-like experience across the OS.

How to Exit Full Screen on PC

Knowing how to enter full screen is only half the battle—you also need to know how to exit it.

Common Methods to Exit Full Screen

Press F11 again.
Hit the Esc key.
Use Alt + Enter for apps that support it.
Move your mouse to the top of the screen (browser full screen) and click the restore icon.

Common Issues When Trying to Full Screen on PC

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Here are a few troubleshooting tips.

F11 Not Working

Check if the Function Lock (Fn) is enabled.
Try Fn + F11 if your laptop requires it.

App Doesn’t Support Full Screen

Some apps or websites may not support full screen.
Try browser extensions or third-party tools that force full screen.

Multiple Monitors

Full screen may appear on the wrong screen.
Set your primary display in Display Settings.

Game Performance Drops in Full Screen

Consider switching to Borderless Windowed Mode.
Update your GPU drivers and optimize in-game settings.

Tools and Extensions to Force Full Screen

If the default methods aren’t enough, third-party tools can help.

AutoHotKey

Create scripts to simulate full screen commands.

Full Screen Browser Extensions

Chrome and Firefox offer extensions like Full Screen Anything.

Display Fusion / Actual Multiple Monitors

Manage multi-monitor setups more effectively.

How to Full Screen on PC for Remote Work & Presentations

Zoom Screen Share

Maximize your document, browser, or slides.
Use Alt + F or F11 to hide distractions before sharing your screen.

Google Slides or PowerPoint Live

Click Present or press F5 to go full screen.
Use Presenter View to control slides separately.

Summary: Best Ways to Full Screen on PC

Here’s a quick recap of the most common methods:

Context	Shortcut / Method
Web Browsers	F11
Media Players	F11, F, or Alt + Enter
YouTube	F
PC Games	Alt + Enter / In-game setting
Microsoft Word	View → Full Screen Reading
PowerPoint	F5 (Start Slide Show)
Adobe Software	F or Shift + F
Coding (VS Code)	F11 + Zen Mode

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to full screen on PC enhances productivity, entertainment, and presentation quality. Whether you’re watching a movie, working on an important project, or showcasing a product demo, mastering these simple tricks can elevate your experience.

Try out the various shortcuts and settings in different applications to find what works best for you. Full screen mode is just a click or keystroke away—now you know how to use it like a pro.