How to Full Screen on Windows 11 PC with Shortcut?

Maximize your Windows 11 experience instantly with full-screen mode. Quickly learn the simple shortcut for full-screen mode to toggle full screen both in your personal and professional work:

Windows (or Microsoft Windows or Win) operating system allows users to view and store documents, browse the internet, play games, watch movies, and run software.

It is a platform on which billions of people rely for their professional work and personal enjoyment. Statista shows that Microsoft’s Windows had around 72 percent of the market share of desktop operating systems globally as of February 2024.

Full Screen Shortcut: A Complete Windows Guide

Windows 11 is the latest version of the Microsoft operating system. It was released on October 5, 2021, as a successor to Windows 10, released in 2015.

Since its launch, Windows 11 has become globally popular due to its new look and several outstanding features that provide a seamless user experience. Statistics revealed that Windows 11 has a 29.71% market share worldwide as of June 2024. One of these most notable features is the full-screen shortcut.

Whether you want to edit a document, browse the internet, or watch a streaming service, this feature makes everything quite handy for you. However, many people are unaware of how to go full screen on Windows.

Are you one of them? Don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll tell you the best possible ways to go full-screen on Windows 11, along with full-screen shortcuts. Let’s kick off!

Suggested Read => Windows 11 Features, Download and Price

How Do You Go Full Screen on Windows 11

If you want to go full-screen mode on your Windows 11, follow these ways, which I tried before sharing with you. Rest assured, these are the top-notch techniques to fullscreen on a PC.

Option #1: Use a Fullscreen Keyboard Shortcut

The best option for Windows full-screen shortcuts is keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11. This option was quite easy for me, and I hope it will work for you.

To expand your window and make it full-screen, follow these steps:

Tip: Remember, the “F11” hotkey doesn’t work in all applications. In that case, you can try pressing the “Fn + F11” fullscreen shortcut, which works in many applications. To exit full-screen mode in Windows 11, you can press the “Esc” or “F11” key again.

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Option #2: Use the Full-Screen Shortcut Window 11 While Using File Explorer

If you want to go into full-screen mode of the file explorer in Windows 11, then follow these steps:

Step #1: Using the “Windows + E” key, open Windows File Explorer.

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Tip: Getting back to the normal preview also requires pressing the F11 key.

Option #3: How to Full Screen on Windows 11 Microsoft Office Apps

If you’re using Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to create and edit documents, data in spreadsheets, or presentations and want to view them in a full screen on Windows 11.

Follow these steps:

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When you click on the auto-hide ribbon, all the toolbars and tabs will hide. This option provides a full-screen view and a distraction-free experience in all Office apps in Windows 11.

You can also use the “Show Tabs” option, which shows only tabs and hides all toolbars. To restore all menus, press the “Show Tabs and Commands” option.

If you’re using Microsoft PowerPoint, select the “Slideshow” option in the top-left corner to go to the full-screen shortcut in Windows 11. Press the “Esc” tab to exit from full-screen mode.

Tip: Use the fullscreen keyboard shortcut: Press “Alt + V”, followed by the “U” key. Or, click on the “Toggle Full Screen View” command at the top of the window. These tips only work on Windows Word and Excel. If you want full-screen mode on PowerPoint, then press the “F5” key.

Option #4: Use the Full-Screen Shortcut in Google Sheets and Docs on Windows 11

If you want to get full-screen mode in Google Sheets and Docs, follow these simple steps:

Tip: If you don’t remember this, then pressing F11 or Fn+F11 works as well to go into full-screen mode while using Google Docs and Sheet. Press back the same keys to exit the full-screen mode.

Option #5: Hide the Taskbar for Full Screen View Experience on Windows 11

The taskbar is where you can add your toolbar, and the best part is that you can hide this taskbar automatically to go full screen on your Windows 11 for both apps and Windows. Follow these steps to get an immersive full-screen experience:

Option #6: Use Edge, Firefox, and Chrome Full Screen Shortcut on Windows 11

If you want to expand your screen in Chrome on Windows 11 on your PC, follow these steps:

The same steps must be followed in Microsoft Edge.

In Firefox, you need to open the “hamburger” menu in the top-right corner and then click on the “Full screen” button.

Tip: In Windows 11, you can also use the “F11” or Fn + F11” shortcut keys to enter or exit full-screen mode.

Option #7: Go to Full-Screen Mode in Streaming Websites on Windows 11

If you’re wondering how to full screen on Windows while watching content on Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, etc., then you can follow the following steps:

Tip: You can also use the fullscreen keyboard shortcut: Windows + Shift + Enter. Press the “Esc” key or “F” key again to exit full-screen mode.

Option #8: Use Oracle VM VirtualBox (VB)

To the unaware, VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product. It is used for testing software, running multiple operating systems concurrently, and creating isolated environments for development and testing.

Without going into too much detail, this is used to run two OS at the same time, meaning you can use Windows 11 on Mac or Linux OS. So, this keyword shortcut is for those people who are using Windows 11 through Oracle VM Virtual Box on another OS.

To enter the full-screen mode, follow these simple steps:

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Step #5: This step is optional. You can click on the View menu in the VM and select the Auto-size Guest Display option.

By following the procedure, the guest operating system will change its resolution to full-screen mode.

Tip: If your VM is already maximized, click on the Restore Down button and then the Maximize Button again to allow VirtualBox to change its resolution automatically. Also, you can use the Right Ctrl (Host) Key + F keyboard shortcut to enter full-screen mode.

Further reading => How to upgrade to Windows 11

Common Issues With Full Screen on Windows 11

Although Microsoft Windows 11 full-screen mode is one of its greatest features, it also streamlines our daily tasks. Sometimes, you might encounter full-screen-related problems.

Some of the most common are mentioned below:

#1) Games Won’t Go Full-Screen Mode

A full-screen view is crucial for gamers. It enables games to run more smoothly, with better frame rates and graphics quality. However, certain games might be difficult to play in full-screen mode, such as when your display scale on Windows 11 is set to more than 100%.

Also, overlays, like Discord, Steam, or GeForce Experience, are responsible for causing issues with full-screen mode. It is suggested that you should disable these overlays while playing the game. You can even try running the game in Windowed mode. It will allow you to resize the window to fill the screen.

The best method that has worked for most games is to disable Display Scaling by right-clicking on the game’s shortcut. Then, click on Properties, select the Compatibility Tab, and check the Disable Display Scaling on the High DPI Settings option. Most games do not support Display Scaling, and they cannot run in full-screen mode if it is enabled.

#2) Sudden Minimization of the Full Screen

Another problem faced by gamers is the sudden minimization of the full screen. The exact reason isn’t clear yet, but it can be frustrating for a user while playing games. However, you can fix this issue by scanning your computer and updating drives and Windows.

#3) Unable to go to Full-Screen Mode for Streaming Platforms

Many users reported that their streaming platforms, like Netflix and Disney Plus, won’t go full-screen shortcut in Windows 11. This condition is also annoying, but it can be fixed by adjusting the display setting on your PC.

Suggested Reading => Top Movie Streaming Platforms

#4) Full Screen Won’t Work on Browsers

Users won’t be able to go into full-screen mode on browsers on Windows 11. This is due to the interface of the antivirus, firewalls, and other applications running in the background, hindering Chrome’s ability to expand content in full screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In this detailed guide on how to go full screen on Windows 11, I have shared the 9 most effective ways to maximize your screen while using different platforms, such as Microsoft Office apps, different browsers, or streaming platforms. You will get everything in this guide that you need to expand your Windows 11 screen.

After going through this, some of you might want to try any of these options to enhance your viewing experience. Whether you’re using a fullscreen keyboard shortcut or other options to go into full-screen mode on Windows 11, it provides users with better clarity and focus. It’s a great way to avoid distractions while performing daily tasks.