How to Full Screen a Game on PC — Easy Steps & Smart Fixes

We’ll walk through how to go full screen, why sometimes games refuse, and what to do when things go off track. Consider this your “make the game fill your monitor and mind” guide — no fluff, just practical steps.

Step 1: Use the In-Game Display Settings

Most games have this option tucked away in their settings menus — look for Display, Video, Graphics or something similar. Here’s what to check:

• Find the “Display Mode” dropdown — change it to “Fullscreen” (not “Windowed” or “Borderless Window”).
• Ensure the resolution matches your monitor’s native resolution (for example — 1920×1080 on a Full HD screen).
• Apply changes and restart the game if prompted.

Often this alone fixes the window problem. But if the game still opens small — keep going.

Step 2: Use the Quick Keyboard Shortcut

Here’s a neat trick: press Alt + Enter — yes, while the game is running. Many PC games support this shortcut to toggle between fullscreen and windowed mode. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

If that works — hooray. If not, let’s dig into what might be stopping full-screen mode.

Step 3: Check Your Graphics Card & Scaling Settings

Sometimes, the game settings are fine — but your GPU or Windows settings are fighting you. Here’s what to check:

• Right-click your desktop → Graphics Properties or Control Panel (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• In NVIDIA for example: Display → Resize and reposition desktop → set Zoom mode to “Full Screen”.
• In AMD: Display → Disable GPU scaling (if enabled) because this can interfere with games trying to fill the screen.
• For Intel integrated graphics: Monitor or Display tab → scaling “Full Screen without Borders”.
• In Windows: Settings → System → Display → Scale & layout → make sure it’s 100% (or the recommended value) — scaling can mess up fullscreen. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Step 4: Shortcut Tweaks & Compatibility Fixes

Sometimes, the game refuses because of how it was launched or compatibility quirks. Here are two quick fixes:

• Right-click the game’s shortcut → Properties → Shortcut tab → Run: select “Maximized”. Then go to Compatibility tab → check “Override high DPI scaling behaviour” → Choose “Application”. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• If the game offers a launch option (e.g., via Steam) you can add: -fullscreen or -windowed -noborder in the launch parameters. Some guides mention this. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Why It Still Might Not Go Full Screen (and What To Do)

Okay — so you’ve tried settings, shortcuts, scaling. Something still feels off. Here are the usual suspects:

• The game doesn’t support true fullscreen mode — some older titles only run windowed or borderless window. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Display scaling or multiple monitors causing conflicts. For example, if you have 2 monitors the “main” one might confuse the game. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Overlays (like Discord overlay, GeForce Experience) sometimes interfere with fullscreen. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Graphics drivers are outdated or corrupted. When fullscreen fails, refreshing your GPU driver often fixes the problem. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

When these tips still don’t stick — consider launching the game windowed at your monitor resolution and enabling “borderless window” mode if available. It’s basically fullscreen visually, but avoids some of the true fullscreen quirks.

Major Platform Tips (Steam, Windows Store, Game Launchers)

Here are platform-specific notes that can elevate your fullscreen game experience.

• Steam: In your Library → right-click game → Properties → General → Set Launch Options: add -fullscreen or -windowed -noborder. Some games ignore this if the in-game settings conflict. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Windows Store / Xbox App: Use the game’s options to change display mode; also ensure Windows display scaling is correct. Some titles default to windowed if a non-native resolution is forced.
• Using Multiple Monitors: Make sure the correct display is set as “Main display” (Settings → System → Display). Some games launch on the wrong screen and fail full screen because they think it’s a second monitor. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Quick Troubleshooting Table for “Not Full Screen” Games

Cool Bonus Tips to Enhance Your Full Screen Experience

Since you’re aiming for full screen anyway — why not polish the experience a little?

• Use Borderless Window Mode if you tabl-out often; gives near-full screen without display interruptions.
• Update your GPU drivers regularly (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) — many fullscreen bugs vanish with an update. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Close overlays or disable them temporarily to avoid conflicts (Discord overlay, FPS counters, etc.).
• If you play on a laptop with an external monitor, ensure the game and display settings match the monitor’s native resolution. It makes a world of difference.
• Enable V-Sync or variable refresh rate (if available) to avoid tearing when in true fullscreen mode — especially for competitive or high-motion games.

Final Word — You’re Just a Few Clicks Away from Immersion

Let’s circle back: you asked “how to full screen a game on PC,” and now you’ve got the roadmap. From in-game display options, to handy keyboard shortcuts, to graphics driver tweaks — you can solve this. And when your game finally fills the screen? The difference is real. More immersion, fewer distractions. Your world suddenly gets bigger.

So take a moment, check those settings, press Alt+Enter, apply those driver updates. And then press play — fully. Your screen has been waiting.

After all, the best view is the one that doesn’t show your desktop at the edges.