Often, modern games are automatically adjusted to the display resolution. Those who like to play fairly old arcades or action games may have a question about how to expand the game to full screen.
If the application was created 10, 15 or even 20 years ago, then on modern monitors it will be displayed only partially. In some cases, this question also appears during the launch of modern games.
There are specific reasons why this happens, as well as effective ways to get the game back to normal and run in full screen mode.
Let's consider the simplest way, how the game unfolds in full screen. To do this, just press two keys: "Alt" + "Enter".
The method is effective not only for outdated games, but also for modern ones, for example, WoT.
If necessary, you can use a similar keyboard shortcut to return back to windowed mode.
Changing startup parameters
In some cases, especially when you are playing on someone else's PC, the game starts in windowed mode due to the "-window" parameter set in the shortcut properties.
It can be written in the "Object" line of the properties of the game shortcut.
If this inscription is removed, the standard launch option for the entire monitor will be restored.
A problem may arise if the operating system is incompatible with the installed game. In this case, the "Compatibility" tab is selected in the properties of the application or shortcut and the required operating system is selected.
Quite often, the list of offered operating systems ends with Windows Vista, but for the owner of a modern OS, for example, Windows 10, this option will not help.
Setting up the video card
Some situations of running games in full screen are solved by replacing outdated video card drivers. They either need to be updated or completely reinstalled.
The menus with video card settings for each manufacturer have their own look.
For example, for video cards manufactured by Nvidia, the user needs to go to the Start / Control Panel section.
There you should select "Nvidia Control Panel" and adjust the scaling. When launched, the game must be expanded to fit the screen.
For video cards from ATI, you need to launch the Catalyst Control Center application. If you use integrated Intel Graphics cards, which are often installed on laptops, then you will need to perform a number of steps, which are described separately.
Game settings
Some games on modern operating systems allow you to set the full screen mode in the graphics settings. This feature can be detected after starting the game, which for some unknown reason does not start in the window.
Instructions for solving the problem:
- We go into the settings.
- We find the item that is responsible for launching in full screen or windowed mode.
- Turn on the mode or put a tick.
In some cases, after configuring the game, a restart is required. This is not affected by either the OS version or the screen resolution.
Change of permission
If all of the above methods did not solve the question of how the game starts in full screen, then you can try to change the resolution. Chances are that the game is too old to run in full screen.
It happens that the picture looks indistinct. The only way to fix the problem is to change the screen resolution. After that, other software, more modern and designed for normal parameters, will stop running.
Therefore, after the end of the gameplay, you need to return the monitor to its normal resolution.
If the game requires an extension value of 640x480, and the monitor does not support it, then there is another way. You need to open the shortcut properties in the compatibility section.
This function allows you to automatically return to normal resolution after exiting the game.
Solving the issue on a laptop
If a problem occurs, how the game window is made full screen, not on a PC, but on a Windows laptop, it may consist in incorrectly set values of the integrated Intel Graphics video card.
To resolve the issue, follow the instructions:
- Install software from the manufacturer of this video card.
- We open a menu with graphical characteristics that appear after right-clicking on an empty area on the desktop.
- Find the "Display" menu, open the basic settings. They may not be present if the laptop you are using is already set to maximum resolution.
By decreasing the resolution, we get the opportunity to change the screen parameters. Then you need to set the scaling parameters that are responsible for displaying on the whole screen, save the changes.
After closing the Intel panel, it will be possible to run all the necessary games, which will now stretch across the entire display area.
After the game, you should turn off the scaling, and use the function only for one specific program.
Conclusions and video on the topic
If you know the rules for opening games in full screen mode, then you can significantly simplify the gameplay. Often, all of these methods require little action. Some methods, after making the settings, will allow all games to open in full screen.
Many gamers and PC users are often faced with the fact that they do not know how to maximize the game in full screen. There can be several reasons for this problem - from the launch parameters to the year the game was released. This article discusses several ways to fix this problem.
What is the reason?
Basically, this problem appears when trying to run old games or casual indie projects. Also, the reason may lie in the incompatibility of the latest operating systems with old games. In addition to this, it is worth adding outdated drivers on video cards, which can also prevent the program from starting in full screen mode. Let's see how to expand the game to full screen in several ways.
Keyboard shortcut
If you have a window with a game in a frame, then most likely, it will help you which allows you to maximize all system windows in full screen mode. On the keyboard, simultaneously hold down the Alt and Enter keys and watch the reaction of the game. If this does not help, then move on to another method.
The second way to expand to full screen
After starting the game in windowed mode, do not rush to go to system settings. First, try to find the change of mode in the settings of the game itself. Go to the menu, then go to the "Settings" item. It should have a "Graphics" or "Screen" column (depending on the game, the names may change, but the essence remains the same). Select and apply the changes. In most cases, you don't even need to restart - the system will automatically expand the game to full screen.
Properties
If the above methods did not help, then we use the third method. Sometimes parameters are written into the launch. The postscript window is responsible for launching in the window. Go to the properties of the shortcut and check if it is added to the "Object" field. Next, pay attention to the item "Window". It should contain the words "Expanded to full screen". Now you know how to hide the small screen in games using property settings.
The problems of the game itself
Perhaps the game you need is running at a low resolution, which prevents it from stretching across the entire area of the monitor. In this case, let's turn to the in-game settings again. Select the resolution of the window that is primary on your monitor. In this case, the small screen in games will no longer be a problem for you. Even in windowed mode, the game will be stretched across the entire area. This method will most likely not work for older projects that do not have support for modern resolutions.
How do I expand my game to full screen by setting up the driver?
In solving the problem, proprietary utilities from the manufacturer of the video card will help you. In it, you can update the drivers to the latest version and adjust the game resolution to your screen. This is done by scaling in the properties of the video card. After completing the gameplay, you should return to the default settings.
If the general description of how to expand the game to full screen did not help you, then refer to the forums that specialize in the project you need. Each program has its own characteristics. This is especially true for old games, so the described methods are not a solution to all problems with windowed mode for any case.
In casual or indie games, as well as in older low-resolution games, the question of how to make a full screen is difficult even for experienced users.
Sometimes it is quite easy to expand the game to full screen, you just need to change the resolution, press the keyboard shortcut or uncheck the "windowed mode" option in the game settings, but this does not always work.
In order to run the game in full screen mode, you must first of all update the drivers for the video card. Outdated or built-in VGA drivers may be causing the game to fail to run at normal resolution.
There are several ways to launch the game in full screen. Below we will describe, step by step, all the known ways to run games in full screen mode.
In many applications, you can try pressing Alt + Enter on your keyboard. This can put the game in full screen mode.
Through game settings
In many games, full screen mode can be done through the graphics settings menu. You just need to select the desired mode: windowed or full-screen.
Launch without additional parameters
In order to start the game without additional parameters, you must do the following:
- Right click on the game icon and select "Properties".
- Make sure that there is no -window parameter in the "Object" line of the game address. If it is, delete it.
Setting via the video card driver
The first thing you need to do if you are having problems with the graphical display of the game is to update or reinstall the video card drivers. Then go to the graphics settings menu and adjust the image scaling. Depending on the manufacturer of the card, the menu will look different.
- : Enter the Adjust Desktop Size and Position menu and enable scaling.
- : From the Display Properties menu, select Properties and adjust the scaling there.
- For kartIntegral Intel Graphics: in the "Display" menu, select "Basic Settings" and set the scaling options. If they are not available, lower the screen resolution, adjust the scaling and return the original resolution.
Adjusting the screen resolution
Sometimes old games simply cannot open in full screen mode because the resolution is too low, and even if they are deployed in full screen mode, black bars appear on the sides or the picture looks very bad.
If all the previous methods did not help, you should do the following:
- Look in the game settings for the maximum resolution.
- Set the same resolution through the computer settings.
Of course, the desktop and all programs after that will look worse, visually increase, and other games created for a higher resolution will not allow you to fully enjoy the graphics, therefore, after finishing the work with the old game, the screen resolution must be returned to its original value.
For different video games, changing the display options for graphics is done differently. Most modern 3D graphics applications run on the entire monitor by default. Old 2D games may open in a window. They can be expanded to full size through shortcut properties, changing Windows permission, or customizing the application itself.
Full screen mode in shortcut properties
This method works for most older games that open in a separate window. To make a full screen look for the app shortcut. It is usually located on the desktop. If it is not there, use the search in the upper right corner of Windows Explorer. You can also create a program icon through the context menu of the executable file.
The default location path is "C: \ Program Files \ [name]". Create a shortcut, right-click on it and go to the second tab.
Three methods of launching the program will be available in the "Window" drop-down list:
- Regular sizes;
- Rolled up into an icon;
- Expanded to full screen.
Select the last item and save the configuration by pressing the "OK" button.
Advice! In the future, launch using the created shortcut so that the program opens in full screen.
Setting startup options in the start menu
Some game programs have a start menu where you can specify the launch configuration. As a rule, the graphics parameters are set here, as well as the control method (keyboard or joystick). In addition, you can reassign the control keys in the start menu. Click on the graphic properties tab. If there is a "Fullscreen" or "Full screen" item, check the box.
Advice! If the Windowed or Run in Window option is available instead of activating full screen mode, clear this check box. The game will open in full monitor.
Change the resolution of the entire system
Some games do not have a built-in full screen mode. Also, difficulties may arise with old programs, which have a limited maximum number of horizontal and vertical points. In this case, changing the Windows resolution helps. When you decrease it, all interface elements become larger.
Choosing the same resolution as the maximum size of the game window will allow it to run across the entire monitor. To change this property, right-click on the desktop. Pressing should be done in an empty space, not on icons. To open the required menu, select the line "Screen resolution".
From the drop-down list marked in the screenshot, select the required value. For the game to open in full screen, the resolution must match the size of the window in which the application is launched. To clarify them, create a snapshot using the keyboard shortcut "Alt + PrintScreen", and then paste the picture into Paint. The dimensions will be displayed at the bottom of the utility.
Important! As the number of dots on the monitor decreases, the size of all interface components will increase. For comfortable work at the computer, return the previous parameters after the end of the game.
Tutorial video: How to make a game in full monitor screen
Full screen mode in graphics settings
Newer games allow you to change the display through their interface. Typically, this is done in the graphics configuration. For example, if using Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, go to Options -> Video Settings. In the line "Display Mode" select "Fullscreen" to expand the window to the full monitor.
It often happens that a program does not behave as expected. This happens most often with computer games. For example, to run some games in full screen mode, you need almost shamanic dances.
How do you make a game full screen?
- First, try expanding the window through the game settings. To do this, find two items in the menu: "Window mode" and "Window size". First, tick the first item and if the game does not unfold, set the parameters in the "Window size" to the maximum. This allows you and the program to compromise. The game will technically still run in windowed mode, but will now take up all of the screen real estate.
- Resize your screen. Click on the desktop and select "Properties" in the pop-up window, and then slide the slider down, selecting 800x600. This will enlarge not only the shortcuts on the desktop, but also the game itself.
- Now try a keyboard shortcut. The standard combination in this case is "Alt" and "Enter", but in different games this combination may vary. In order to find out what keyboard shortcut is needed for this game, you should read the readme, ask on the game forum, or use the combination "Alt" and "Tab". Sometimes it helps.
- Check the game parameters, there may be a problem with them. Click pkm on the shortcut of the game and select "Properties, then the field" Object ". If there is no windowed postscript in the address bar, then everything is correct. If there is, delete it. This parameter launched the program in windowed mode.
Video lessons
