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To switch a half-screen window to a full display, maximize the active window on Windows. On a Mac, choose whether you want a larger window with the menu bar and Dock visible or true full-screen view. If the split view is inside PowerPoint, the full-screen setting may apply only to the video—not the app.
First, identify what is split
“Half screen” can mean a Windows window snapped to one side, two Mac apps in Split View, or a video embedded in a PowerPoint slide. The controls differ. Decide whether you want one app to fill the display, two apps to remain side by side, or only the video to fill the screen.
Windows: expand a snapped window
- Click the window occupying half the screen to make it active.
- Click its Maximize button in the title bar. The window expands to fill the display.
Windows Snap arranges windows rather than creating a special full-screen mode. Microsoft documents Snap layouts as available by hovering over the maximize/restore control or pressing Windows key + Z. Snap Assist may offer windows to place in the remaining space. Microsoft’s Snap Your Windows guide explains these arrangements. Some apps also have their own immersive or media full-screen controls, separate from maximizing the window.
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On macOS, maximizing and full screen are different. Maximizing enlarges the window while leaving the menu bar and Dock available; full-screen view fills the display. Apple notes that the menu bar and Dock can appear when you move the pointer to the screen edges.
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Enter or leave full screen
- Move the pointer over the green control at the upper-left of a supported app window.
- Select Full Screen.
- To return to the windowed desktop, move the pointer over the green control again and choose Exit Full Screen.
Apple documents the distinction and controls in Use apps in full screen on Mac.
Mac: leave Split View and focus on one app
Split View places two app windows side by side, with each using part of the shared full-screen space. To focus on one app, use that window’s green control to enter full screen, or exit Split View and then make the desired app full screen. Apple’s Manage windows on your Mac explains Split View and window arrangements.
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PowerPoint: make an embedded video fill the screen
This setting changes how a selected video plays; it does not make the PowerPoint application window full screen.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- In Normal view, select the video on the slide.
- Open the Playback tab and enable Play Full Screen.
- Preview the video from the current slide in Slide Show view. Its source resolution can affect how it appears at full screen.
Microsoft says this option may be unavailable for videos inserted from YouTube or another website. Its stated workaround is to download the video and insert the file from your computer. See Set a video to play full screen.
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If the steps do not match your screen
- Two apps remain side by side: you are likely using Mac Split View; use the desired app’s full-screen control or exit Split View.
- The whole app grows, but menus remain visible: the window is maximized rather than in full-screen view.
- Only a video should expand: use the media playback controls or PowerPoint’s Play Full Screen setting, not the operating system’s window controls.
- You do not see the described controls: the steps depend on the device, operating system, and app. Identify which one is displaying the split before choosing a shortcut or menu.
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