Gaming is all about immersion. Nothing breaks that experience more than playing in a small window or with black bars on the sides. If you’re on Windows 11 and wondering how to fullscreen a game, you’re in the right place.
This guide will walk you through multiple methods to force fullscreen, troubleshoot common issues, and even optimize your settings for the best performance.
Why Play Games in Fullscreen Mode?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s quickly talk about why fullscreen is better:
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Immersive experience – No distractions from the taskbar or background apps.
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Better performance – Many games run smoother in fullscreen exclusive mode.
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Improved visuals – Full use of your monitor’s resolution.
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Reduced input lag – Faster response times compared to windowed mode.
Types of Fullscreen Modes in Windows 11
Not all fullscreen modes are the same. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Fullscreen Exclusive
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The game takes over the entire display.
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Best performance and lowest input lag.
2. Borderless Windowed
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Looks like fullscreen but technically still a window.
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Easier to alt-tab between apps but can use more system resources.
3. Windowed
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Runs inside a resizable window.
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Convenient for multitasking but less immersive.
Method 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut (Alt + Enter)
The quickest way to switch to fullscreen is by pressing Alt + Enter.
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Launch your game.
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Once it’s running, press Alt + Enter.
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The game should immediately switch between windowed and fullscreen mode.
👉 Works in most games, especially older ones.
Method 2: Use In-Game Display Settings
Most modern games have a built-in option:
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Open your game.
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Go to Settings or Options.
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Look for the Display or Graphics tab.
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Change Display Mode to:
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Fullscreen (best for performance)
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Borderless Fullscreen (best for multitasking)
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Apply changes and restart the game if necessary.
Method 3: Adjust Windows 11 Display Settings
Sometimes Windows interferes with fullscreen mode. To fix this:
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Right-click on the Desktop and select Display settings.
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Scroll to Scale & Layout.
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Ensure Display resolution matches your monitor’s native resolution.
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Set Display orientation to Landscape.
This ensures games launch in proper fullscreen.
Method 4: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Windows 11 includes a feature called Fullscreen Optimizations that sometimes causes problems.
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Right-click the game’s .exe file or shortcut.
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Select Properties.
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Go to the Compatibility tab.
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Check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
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Click Apply and OK.
This forces the game into classic fullscreen mode.
Method 5: Change Graphics Driver Settings
Both NVIDIA and AMD let you adjust how fullscreen works.
For NVIDIA:
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Right-click on the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
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Go to Display > Adjust desktop size and position.
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Under Scaling, choose Full-screen.
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Apply changes.
For AMD:
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Right-click and open AMD Radeon Software.
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Go to Settings > Display.
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Enable GPU Scaling and select Full Panel.
Method 6: Use Game Mode in Windows 11
Windows 11 includes a Game Mode that helps optimize performance.
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Press Win + I to open Settings.
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Navigate to Gaming > Game Mode.
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Toggle it On.
This reduces background activity and helps games run smoother in fullscreen.
Method 7: Override High DPI Scaling
If a game refuses to scale properly:
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Right-click the game executable.
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Select Properties > Compatibility.
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Click Change high DPI settings.
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Under Override high DPI scaling behavior, choose Application.
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Apply changes.
This can fix games that display in tiny windows or with borders.
Method 8: Force Fullscreen with Launch Options
Some games support special launch commands. For example:
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If using Steam, right-click the game and select Properties.
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In Launch Options, type:
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Launch the game.
This forces fullscreen mode on startup.
Common Problems When Fullscreening Games
1. Black Bars on the Side
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Fix: Change scaling mode in NVIDIA/AMD settings to Full-screen.
2. Game Stuck in Windowed Mode
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Fix: Use Alt + Enter or check the in-game display settings.
3. Game Crashes in Fullscreen
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Fix: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and run as administrator.
4. Resolution Doesn’t Match Monitor
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Fix: Set resolution in both Windows settings and in-game settings to your monitor’s native resolution.
Pro Tips for Better Fullscreen Gaming on Windows 11
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Update drivers regularly (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
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Close background apps before gaming.
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Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling for smoother performance.
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Use Borderless Windowed if you frequently alt-tab.
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Check V-Sync or G-Sync/FreeSync for screen tearing issues.
When to Avoid Fullscreen Mode
While fullscreen is great, sometimes it’s not ideal:
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Streaming – Borderless windowed makes switching apps easier.
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Multitasking – If you need to monitor other apps, use windowed mode.
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Older Games – Some don’t support fullscreen on modern hardware.
Conclusion
Fullscreening a game on Windows 11 is usually simple—whether you use Alt + Enter, tweak in-game settings, or adjust Windows display options. For stubborn cases, disabling fullscreen optimizations or forcing settings via your GPU control panel usually does the trick.
By following this guide, you can enjoy your games in true fullscreen mode, unlocking a more immersive and responsive gaming experience.
FAQs
1. What’s the best fullscreen mode for gaming on Windows 11?
Fullscreen exclusive offers the best performance, but borderless fullscreen is great for multitasking.
2. Why won’t my game go fullscreen even after pressing Alt + Enter?
It may be locked in windowed mode—check the game’s display settings or disable fullscreen optimizations.
3. How do I fix black bars in fullscreen games?
Change your GPU scaling mode (NVIDIA/AMD) to Full-screen.
4. Does fullscreen improve FPS on Windows 11?
Yes, fullscreen exclusive mode often gives higher FPS and lower input lag compared to windowed.
5. Can I make all games fullscreen by default?
Not automatically, but you can use launch options or change each game’s display settings.