Windows 11 does not have one shortcut that forces every program into true full-screen mode. The correct method depends on the app: F11 works in programs that implement it, UWP apps may respond to Windows + Shift + Enter, and games and media players usually provide their own control.
There is also an important distinction: a maximized window fills the available desktop area but normally keeps its title bar, taskbar behavior, and application controls. Full screen is an app-controlled mode that can hide those elements.
Quick guide: Windows 11 full-screen shortcuts
| Method | Shortcut or command | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Application full screen | F11 or Fn + F11 |
Browsers, File Explorer, and apps that support F11 |
| UWP full screen | Windows + Shift + Enter |
Supported Universal Windows Platform apps |
| App-provided control | Varies by app | Games, video players, Office apps, and remote-session software |
| Windows Terminal full screen | wt --fullscreen |
Launching Terminal without window borders |
| Maximize the window | Windows + Up arrow |
Making a window as large as possible when true full screen is unavailable |
1. Press F11 in a compatible app
Open the program you want to expand, click its window so it is active, and press F11. Press it again to return to the previous view.
- Open the app, browser, or File Explorer.
- Click inside the window.
- Press
F11. - Press
F11again when you want to exit full screen.
In supported apps, F11 may hide the title bar, tabs, address bar, or other interface elements. In File Explorer, Microsoft documents F11 as the shortcut to maximize or minimize the active window. The exact appearance depends on the version of the app.
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F11 is not a Windows-wide command that forces every desktop program into full screen. If nothing happens, the application may not support it, or it may have assigned the key to another function.
When F11 does not work on a laptop
Some laptops use the function row for volume, brightness, or other hardware controls. Try Fn + F11 instead. You may also need to change the function-key mode using the laptop manufacturer’s keyboard shortcut or firmware setting. This is a hardware setting, not a separate Windows 11 full-screen option.
2. Use Windows + Shift + Enter in a supported UWP app
Microsoft documents Windows + Shift + Enter as the command to make an active Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app full screen.
- Open the supported UWP app.
- Click the app so it is the active window.
- Hold the
WindowsandShiftkeys. - Press
Enter.
Use the same shortcut to leave the mode when the app supports toggling it. This command is conditional. It is not guaranteed to work in every app downloaded from the Microsoft Store, and it generally will not affect conventional Win32 desktop programs.
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3. Use the app’s own full-screen button or menu
For many programs, the built-in control is the most dependable choice. Look for a button with four outward-pointing corners, a monitor icon, or the label Full screen.
Common examples
- Video players: Select the full-screen icon in the playback controls, usually at the lower-right corner of the video.
- Web browsers: Press F11 for browser full screen, or use the browser’s menu if you need a different presentation.
- Games: Open the graphics or display settings and choose Full screen. Some games also support
Alt+Enter. - Microsoft 365 apps: Full-screen reading or presentation commands vary between Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and their web versions.
- Remote desktop and virtual-machine apps: Look in the connection or View menu for a full-screen command.
- Terminal and console programs: The application may define its own shortcut, so check its settings or help menu.
A browser’s F11 mode and a video player’s full-screen button are not the same thing. F11 changes the browser window’s presentation; the player control enlarges the video viewport inside the browser or app.
What about Alt + Enter?
Alt + Enter is not a universal Windows 11 full-screen shortcut. Windows uses it to display properties for a selected item; in File Explorer, it opens the selected item’s Properties dialog. Individual games, emulators, media players, virtual machines, and terminal programs may still assign Alt + Enter to full screen.
In other words, try it only when the specific application’s documentation says it is supported.
4. Launch Windows Terminal in full screen from a command
Windows Terminal has a documented command-line option for starting directly in full-screen mode. Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or the Run dialog with Windows + R, then enter:
wt --fullscreenThe shorter equivalent is:
wt -FYou can also use the executable name:
wt.exe --fullscreen- Press
Windows+R. - Type
wt --fullscreen. - Press
Enter.
Do not confuse full screen with maximized mode. To launch Terminal maximized while retaining its normal window presentation, use:
wt --maximizedTerminal also supports -M as the short form for --maximized. To see the available command-line options on your installation, run:
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wt --helpOther accepted help forms include wt -h, wt -?, and wt /?.
5. Maximize the active window as a fallback
If the application has no true full-screen mode, maximize its window. This uses the whole usable desktop area but is not the same as hiding the app’s interface.
- Click the target window.
- Press
Windows+Up arrow. - Alternatively, select the square Maximize button in the title bar.
To restore the window, press Windows + Down arrow, or select the Restore button in the title bar.
Windows also has Windows + Shift + Up arrow, but that shortcut only stretches a desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen. It is not a true full-screen command.
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How to exit full screen in Windows 11
- Press
F11again if you entered full screen with F11. - Press
Windows+Shift+Enteragain in a supported UWP app. - Press
Escin many video players, games, and presentations. - Select the app’s full-screen icon again.
- For Terminal, close the window or use its own view controls; the launch option does not create a universal Windows toggle.
If you cannot see any controls, move the mouse to the top or bottom edge of the screen. Many full-screen applications temporarily reveal their toolbar or playback controls there.
Why a shortcut may not work
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| F11 changes volume or brightness | Use Fn + F11, or switch the keyboard’s function-key mode. |
| F11 does nothing | Check whether the active app supports F11. Try its View menu or full-screen button. |
| Windows + Shift + Enter does nothing | The app may not be a supported UWP app. Use its own full-screen command. |
| The taskbar remains visible | You may have maximized the window rather than entered true full screen. The app may also be configured to keep the taskbar visible. |
| The game has black bars | Check the game’s resolution, aspect ratio, display mode, and monitor-selection settings. |
| Alt + Enter opens Properties | This is normal Windows behavior outside apps that specifically reserve the shortcut for full screen. |
Which method should you use?
Start with F11 for a browser or File Explorer. Use the media player’s own button for videos and the game’s display settings for games. Try Windows + Shift + Enter only with a supported UWP app. If you use Windows Terminal, wt --fullscreen is the direct way to launch it without treating maximization as full screen. For everything else, maximize the window or look for a View menu supplied by the application.
FAQ
What is the main full-screen shortcut in Windows 11?
There is no universal shortcut for every Windows 11 app. F11 is the most common application full-screen key, but it only works where the active app implements it. Supported UWP apps may respond to Windows + Shift + Enter.
How do I make File Explorer full screen in Windows 11?
Open File Explorer, make sure it is active, and press F11. Press F11 again to return. On some laptops, use Fn + F11.
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Why does Windows + Up not create true full screen?
Windows + Up maximizes the active window. It enlarges the window but normally leaves the title bar and application interface visible. True full screen is controlled by the app.
Does Alt + Enter make Windows 11 full screen?
No. Windows uses Alt + Enter for item properties in its general shortcut behavior. Some games and other applications independently use it as a full-screen toggle.
How do I start Windows Terminal in full screen?
Open Run or a command shell and run wt --fullscreen. The shorter form is wt -F. Use wt --maximized if you want maximized mode instead.
How do I hide the taskbar while an app is maximized?
A maximized window does not necessarily hide the taskbar. Use the app’s true full-screen mode if available. You can also enable taskbar auto-hide under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, although this changes the taskbar system-wide.
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For most compatible apps, press F11; use Fn + F11 when a laptop’s function row requires it. Supported UWP apps can use Windows + Shift + Enter, while games and media players should be switched using their own full-screen controls. Windows Terminal can be launched with wt --fullscreen. If none of those options is available, Windows + Up arrow maximizes the window, but it is not the same as true full screen.
References: Microsoft Windows keyboard shortcuts and Microsoft Windows Terminal command-line arguments.
