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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The most reliable way to fullscreen a game on Windows 11 is to open the game’s Settings, Graphics, Video, or Display menu and change Display Mode to Fullscreen, Exclusive Fullscreen, or Borderless Windowed. If the game is already running in a window, try Alt + Enter. If exclusive fullscreen causes flickering or black screens, Borderless Windowed is usually the safest alternative.
The fastest method: use the game’s display settings
Game menus differ, but the setting is normally found here:
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- Pause the game or return to its main menu.
- Open Settings, Options, or Preferences.
- Look under Graphics, Video, Display, or Screen. You may need to check more than one menu.
- Find Display Mode, Screen Mode, or a similarly named option.
- Select Fullscreen, Exclusive Fullscreen, or Borderless/Fullscreen Windowed.
- Set the intended monitor and a resolution that matches its native or recommended resolution.
- Choose Apply, Save, or Confirm. If a countdown appears, accept the change before it expires.
Some games apply the change immediately; others require a scene change or restart. Microsoft recommends changing a supported game’s resolution through its own Graphics or Display settings: Microsoft’s game-resolution guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTry Alt + Enter
Alt + Enter is the conventional shortcut for switching a compatible DirectX application between windowed and fullscreen modes.
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- Click inside the game so it is the active window.
- Hold Alt and press Enter.
- Wait briefly while the game changes display modes.
- Repeat the shortcut to return to the previous mode.
This is not a guaranteed Windows 11 command for every game. A game can handle the shortcut itself, disable it, or use a different graphics system. Microsoft documents both the normal DXGI behavior and ways applications can disable the default shortcut: DXGI MakeWindowAssociation and Microsoft’s shortcut-key guidance.
On some laptops, function-row behavior can interfere with game shortcuts, but Alt + Enter normally does not require the Fn key. The exact behavior depends on the keyboard and game.
Fullscreen, borderless, and windowed: what is the difference?
| Mode | What it does | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Fullscreen/Exclusive Fullscreen | The game controls the display more directly and may be able to change resolution or refresh rate. Switching applications can cause a brief blackout or display transition. | A single-game setup where the mode works reliably. |
| Borderless Windowed | The game fills the screen without a visible border but remains a Windows-managed window. | Fast Alt+Tab switching, multiple monitors, overlays, recording, and games that do not offer exclusive fullscreen. |
| Windowed | The game remains inside a resizable window. | Troubleshooting, streaming, multitasking, or older games with scaling problems. |
Borderless can look identical to fullscreen while technically being a window. Neither mode is universally faster: performance depends on the game, graphics API, Windows version, driver, monitor arrangement, and overlays.
What F11 and Win + F11 actually do
F11 is not a universal game shortcut
Some games assign F11 to fullscreen, but others use it for another function or do not support it. On compact keyboards, the function row may also require Fn. Treat F11 as a game-specific shortcut and check that game’s documentation rather than relying on it as a Windows 11 standard.
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Win + F11 is different
On supported Windows 11 versions and markets, Win + F11 toggles Windows’ Xbox full-screen experience/Xbox mode. It changes the Windows gaming interface; it does not guarantee that the active game will use exclusive fullscreen. Microsoft describes this feature as available on Windows 11 version 24H2 and later in supported configurations. Availability and labels can vary by version, edition, device, and market: Microsoft’s Xbox full-screen experience documentation.
Turn on Windows 11 optimizations for windowed games
If you choose Borderless Windowed, Windows 11 includes Optimizations for windowed games for compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless modes. Microsoft says the feature can improve presentation behavior and frame latency and enable features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate on supported systems. It does not convert a game into exclusive fullscreen.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System > Display > Graphics.
- Under default settings, turn on Optimizations for windowed games.
- Restart the game.
To adjust one game, find it under the custom options on the same Graphics page, select Options, choose the relevant graphics preference if multiple GPUs are available, adjust the windowed-game optimization setting if shown, select Save, and restart the game. The exact controls vary by Windows 11 version: Microsoft’s windowed-game optimization guide.
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When fullscreen does not work
- Make the game active. Click inside it before using a shortcut.
- Check the actual mode. “Windowed” and “Maximized” are not the same as borderless fullscreen. A maximized window may still show the title bar or taskbar.
- Use Borderless Windowed. This is often the most practical fallback when exclusive fullscreen is unavailable or unstable.
- Match the resolution. Use the monitor’s native or recommended resolution where possible. Borderless games may rely on the Windows display resolution instead of offering a separate resolution control.
- Check the monitor selection. Move the game to the intended display before applying fullscreen. If it repeatedly opens on the wrong monitor, temporarily set that display as the main display or look for a Monitor, Display, or Output option.
- Apply the setting and restart. Some games do not commit the change until they relaunch.
- Check the launcher or developer documentation. A particular game may have its own shortcut, launcher control, or supported launch option.
- Disable overlays one at a time. Test launcher overlays, recording tools, chat overlays, and performance monitors individually.
Do not assume that generic launch commands such as -fullscreen, -windowed, or -borderless work across Steam, Xbox, Microsoft Store, Epic, or other launchers. These options are specific to a game, engine, and launcher.
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If fullscreen causes flickering, a black screen, or crashes
First return to Borderless Windowed if you can. It avoids repeated exclusive display-mode transitions and is often the easiest recovery option.
- Relaunch the game.
- Set it to Borderless Windowed.
- Match its resolution to the display resolution.
- Restart the game again.
- If the problem affects only this game, review its per-app settings at Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Temporarily disable overlays individually.
- Update or roll back the graphics driver only if the problem began after a driver change.
- Check the developer’s support page for known fullscreen issues.
If the screen goes black immediately after a mode change, wait for the confirmation countdown if one is visible. You can also try Alt + Enter, Esc, or Alt + Tab, then close and relaunch the game in Borderless Windowed or Windowed mode. These recovery keys are not guaranteed to work in every game.
Other common problems
The game keeps reverting to windowed mode
Possible causes include an unsupported resolution or refresh rate, a configuration file being overwritten, loss of focus during startup, an overlay changing the display state, an unavailable monitor, or compatibility settings interfering with fullscreen. Start by choosing a supported resolution, confirming the correct monitor, restarting the game, and checking its official support documentation.
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The taskbar remains visible
Confirm that the game is not merely Windowed or Maximized Windowed. Select Fullscreen or Borderless Windowed in the game’s display menu and restart it. Restarting Windows Explorer is an advanced troubleshooting step, not the normal fullscreen fix.
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The picture is blurry or has black bars
Match the game’s resolution and aspect ratio to the monitor before changing Windows scaling or GPU scaling. Black bars can preserve the original aspect ratio and are not automatically a fault. Avoid stretching the image unless you specifically want that result.
The game has no fullscreen option
Some games support only Windowed and Borderless Windowed modes. Windows 11 has no universal setting that can force every game into exclusive fullscreen. Use Borderless Windowed if it fills the display, or consult the game developer for a supported solution.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which mode should you choose?
- Choose Exclusive Fullscreen when the game supports it reliably and you want the game to control display resolution or refresh rate.
- Choose Borderless Windowed when fast Alt+Tab switching, multiple monitors, overlays, recording, or stability is more important, or when exclusive fullscreen causes problems.
- Stay Windowed while troubleshooting, streaming several applications, resizing the game, or dealing with scaling issues.
For most readers, the practical order is: use the game’s own Display Mode setting first, try Alt + Enter second, and use Borderless Windowed when exclusive fullscreen is unavailable or unreliable.
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Why does Alt + Enter do nothing?
The game may disable the conventional DirectX shortcut, use a different graphics system, or require its own Display Mode setting. Open the game’s Graphics or Display menu and select Fullscreen or Borderless Windowed manually.
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Can Windows 11 force every game into fullscreen?
No. Windows 11 cannot universally force exclusive fullscreen. The game must support the display mode, and some games offer only Windowed or Borderless Windowed.
How do I fullscreen a game on a second monitor?
Move the game to the intended monitor before applying fullscreen, or choose the monitor in the game’s Display or Output setting. If it repeatedly opens on the wrong screen, temporarily make that monitor the main display.
Is borderless fullscreen better than exclusive fullscreen?
Neither is best for every game. Borderless is usually more convenient for multitasking and multi-monitor setups, while exclusive fullscreen may provide more direct control over display resolution and refresh rate.
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