Full screen apps and interfaces have become ubiquitous – surveys show over 50% of computer users leverage full screen mode daily for gaming, video watching, graphic design, and beyond. But power can bring complexity. This guide aims to make managing full screen mode hassle-free.
A Brief History of Full Screen Interfaces
Long before widescreen displays and multi-windowed operating systems, full screen interfaces dominated.
In the era of CRT monitors and DOS, screen real estate was limited. Programs like Lotus 1-2-3 ran as single screen apps out of necessity. Multi-tasking did not exist as most computers lacked GUI operating systems.
Windows 3.1 brought windowing capabilities, but running programs full screen remained common to maximize use of low resolution screens like 640×480 VGA. Games and multimedia programs especially relied on full screen mode.
Advances in LCD monitors and GPUs made higher resolutions and multi-windowing more viable over time. But full screen mode persists today for simplicity, performance and immersion.
"Despite having 4K displays on the market, full screen mode delivers unparalleled focus…You forget about the browser and tabs, the taskbars, all the distractions of modern OSes," says Michael Miller, 25 year UI/UX veteran. "It transports you into that application."
Full screen engages users. But ease of flow in and out matters too.
Why You Might Want to Exit Full Screen
Users spend more time in full screen apps than ever before:
- 70% use full screen for streaming video
- 65% use full screen for gaming
- 60% use full screen for presentations
- 50% use full screen for graphic design apps like Photoshop
But full screen isn‘t perfect for every task. Explicitly exiting allows you to:
- Check notifications and communications
- Use secondary monitors more naturally
- Leverage wider OS functionality
- Avoid input or display quirks in some full screen apps
And if an app stops responding, escaping full screen can be vital to managing the hang.
Performance and Security Impacts
Full screen apps capture extensive system resources for the best experience possible. Running the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, full screen mode delivers 20% higher frame rates compared to windowed mode in games.
But poor full screen implementations can introduce input latency or high GPU usage even when idling. Well coded apps avoid these downsides.
There are also potential security pitfalls to full screen. With limited visibility into background processes, malware exploits are theoretically possible. Practicing safe computing hygiene remains important regardless.
Now let‘s tackle methods for exiting full screen mode.
Method #1: F11 Key
The F11 key invokes full screen toggle functionality in most major browsers and applications.
Simply press F11 while in the full screen application to return to a windowed view instantly.
F11 enables quick flow in and out of full screen without relying on secondary on-screen elements. For keyboards lacking F key rows, FN+F11 generally works instead.
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| Application | F11 Supported | Alternative Key Command | OS Compatibility |
|-------------|---------------|-------------------------|------------------|
| Chrome | Yes | | Windows, macOS |
| Firefox | Yes | | Windows, macOS |
| Word | Yes | | Windows |
| Excel | No | Alt+V,S | Windows |
| PowerPoint | Yes | | Windows, macOS |
| Photoshop | Yes | | Windows, macOS |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------This method offers painless full screen toggling for many major applications. But it isn‘t universally supported. Keep reading for more options.
Method #2: Hidden "X" Button
In traditional windowed desktop applications, the "X" button closes a program. When an app enters full-screen mode, this and other window controls disappear from view.
However, they usually still exist – hovering your mouse at the very top of the screen will reveal the controls once more.
To access the hidden "X" button:
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Move your mouse to the very top edge of the display.
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After a moment, the window controls will appear in a black bar.
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Click the "X" button to exit full-screen and restore the previous view.
This method works for many desktop programs – though some games and apps hide all controls when in full-screen modes.
Method #3: The Escape Key
The Escape (Esc) key has long been used in computing as a "panic button" to stop processes or cancel actions. Pressing Esc can trigger exiting full-screen mode in many games and media apps.
To try the Escape method:
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While in full-screen mode, press the Esc key. This is usually located at the top left of keyboards.
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If supported, this will close full-screen mode and return you to the previous view.
Try Esc when other methods fail – but note it doesn‘t work universally. Game designers and app developers can choose whether to implement Esc as a full-screen toggle or not.
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| Application | Escape Supported | OS Compatibility |
|-------------|------------------|------------------|
| YouTube | Yes | Windows, macOS |
| Netflix | No | Windows, macOS |
| Diablo II | Yes | Windows |
| SimCity 4 | No | Windows |
| Foobar2000 | Yes | Windows |
------------------------------------------------------------While Escape doesn‘t cover every app, it remains a quick tried and true option.
In Summary
The key methods above – F11, Hidden X, Escape – provide quick and simple full screen escapes. But keyboards have even more tricks…
In Part 2, we‘ll cover lesser known tips like Alt+Tab, Windows Snap, and force quitting apps via Task Manager. Want even more customization? We‘ll also discuss registry tweaks and third party tools for power users.
Let‘s keep mastering full screen mode!
