To go full screen on Windows 10, press the F11 key on your keyboard. This method instantly fills the screen with your active application or browser, and pressing F11 again exits full screen mode.
The fastest way to go full screen in Windows 10
The most common way to go full screen in web browsers (like Chrome, Edge, Firefox), Microsoft Store apps, Microsoft 365 apps, File Explorer, Command Prompt, Control Panel, and many media players is by pressing the F11 key. On some laptops, if pressing F11 alone doesn't work, you may need to press the Fn key simultaneously with F11 (Fn + F11) due to function key remapping. To exit, press F11 again or press the Esc key.
Use the full screen icon inside apps
Many applications, especially browsers and media players, include a dedicated full-screen icon (often a square or diagonal arrows) within their user interface or settings menu. You can identify and click this icon, typically found in the upper-right corner of the window, to instantly switch to full screen mode. Click the same icon again or press Esc to return to windowed mode.
Maximize any window with the Windows key
For a quick way to make any window fill the screen without entering true full screen mode, press the Windows key + Up arrow. This maximizes the active window to cover the entire desktop, leaving the taskbar visible. To restore the window to its previous size, press Windows key + Down arrow. This is useful when you want to maximize screen real estate while keeping access to the taskbar.
Toggle full screen with Alt + Enter
The Alt + Enter keyboard shortcut is a widely recognized method to toggle full screen mode in specific applications. It works in Command Prompt, older games, and some media players. Press Alt + Enter to switch the active window to full screen, and press the same combination again to return to windowed mode.
Make the Start menu full screen
You can make the Start menu fill the entire desktop in Windows 10 by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Start and turning on the "Use Start full screen" option. Once enabled, clicking the Start button or pressing the Windows key will display the Start menu across the whole screen, which can be especially helpful for touchscreen devices or users who prefer a larger interface, much like how you can display Safari full screen on iPad for a similar streamlined view.
Force all apps to run full screen with tablet mode
In Windows 10, enabling Tablet Mode (found in Settings > System > Tablet Mode, or via the Action Center) causes all apps to run in full screen by default, optimizing the interface for touch. When Tablet Mode is on, every app opens maximized to fill the screen, and the taskbar switches to a touch-friendly layout. To exit, disable Tablet Mode through the same settings or Action Center.
Adjust display settings for a better full screen experience
To fix black bars or blurry content when going full screen, adjust your display settings. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings. Here you can change the resolution to match your monitor's native resolution for sharp visuals, and adjust scaling to ensure text and apps appear at the correct size. These tweaks eliminate distortion and provide a cleaner full screen experience across all applications.
