How to Go Full Screen on Windows 10

To go full screen on Windows 10, press F11 in your browser or File Explorer. Press F11 again to exit. For other apps, maximize the window with Windows logo key + Up arrow or the Maximize button in its top-right corner.

Applies to: Windows 10. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so a PC without Extended Security Updates no longer receives security fixes; that program runs until October 12, 2027.

Use F11 for true full screen

F11 hides the title bar, tabs, and taskbar in apps that support it, such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and File Explorer.

• Press F11 to go full screen.
• Press F11 again, or Esc in some apps, to exit.
• On many laptops, the F keys control volume or brightness by default. If F11 doesn’t work, hold Fn and press F11.

Maximize any window

A maximized window fills the screen but keeps the taskbar and title bar.

• Select the Maximize button (the square) in the top-right corner of the window.
• Press Windows logo key + Up arrow.
• Double-click the window’s title bar.

To go back, select Restore Down (the same button) or press Windows logo key + Down arrow.

Full screen in other apps

• Microsoft Store apps: press Windows logo key + Shift + Enter to switch many of them between full screen and a window.
• Games: press Alt + Enter, or choose Fullscreen or Borderless in the game’s display settings.
• PowerPoint: press F5 to start the slide show in full screen. Press Esc to stop.
• Word: select View > Focus to hide everything except your document.
• Videos: double-click the video in most players, or press F on YouTube.

Get more space for every app

• Hide the taskbar: set it to hide automatically in Windows 10 so windows can use that space.
• Make the Start menu full screen: select Start > Settings > Personalization > Start and turn on Use Start full screen.

Exit full screen

Press F11 or Esc. If you can’t find the controls, move the mouse to the top of the screen, where many apps show an exit button. Alt + Tab switches to another window if an app seems stuck in full screen.

If full screen doesn’t look right

• The taskbar still shows on top: open Task Manager, select Windows Explorer, and select Restart. Then go full screen again.
• Black bars on the sides: the app or game is using a different screen shape. Choose your screen’s recommended resolution in the app, or check the scaling option in your graphics software.
• It opens on the wrong monitor: exit full screen, press Windows logo key + Shift + Left or Right arrow to move the window, then go full screen again.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my window fill the screen?

Check your display resolution and scaling. Picking the recommended setting when you change the resolution in Windows 10 usually fixes it.

How do I make a game full screen?

Most games have a Display mode or Fullscreen option in their own video settings, and many support Alt + Enter.

Can I make an app always open maximized?

For apps you open from a shortcut, yes. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, set Run to Maximized, and select OK.

What’s the difference between full screen and maximized?

A maximized window fills the screen but keeps its title bar and the taskbar. Full screen hides those too, so the app or page uses every pixel.

Does full screen work with two monitors?

Yes. The app goes full screen on the monitor it’s on. You can keep using other apps on the second screen.

Is full screen the same in Windows 11?

Yes. F11, Windows logo key + Up arrow and Windows logo key + Shift + Enter all work the same way in Windows 11, and going full screen in Windows 11 covers the few differences.

What if I can’t get out of full screen at all?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager on top, or Alt + Tab to switch away. As a last resort, Alt + F4 closes the app, so save your work first if you can.

More shortcuts like these are listed in Keyboard shortcuts in Windows.