Full screen makes one app fill your entire display

Full screen hides the taskbar, shelf, and window borders so a single app uses every pixel on your Chromebook. Press the full screen button (the rectangle icon in your keyboard's top row, usually between the window-switching key and brightness control), or press F11 on any keyboard. The app expands when ready. Press the same button or F11 again to return to normal view.

Full screen is different from maximizing a window. When you maximize, the app still shows the shelf at the bottom and leaves room for the taskbar. Full screen removes all of that. It is useful for watching video, reading documents, or focusing on one task without distraction.

Chromebooks do not have a separate "default" full screen setting that stays on permanently. Each time you open an app, it starts in normal window size. You enter full screen manually when you need it, and it turns off when you close the app or press the button again.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the full screen button (rectangle icon) in your keyboard's top row, or press F11, to expand any app to fill your entire screen.
  • Full screen hides the shelf, taskbar, and window edges — it is different from maximizing, which keeps the shelf visible.
  • Full screen turns off when you press the button again, close the app, or switch to another window.
  • Chromebooks do not store a full screen preference for individual apps; you set up it each time you need it.

Where to find the full screen button on your keyboard

The full screen button is in your keyboard's top row, among the function keys. It looks like a rectangle or a square, and it is usually between the window-switching key (which shows two overlapping rectangles) and the brightness-down key. On most Chromebooks, it is in the sixth or seventh position from the left.

If you are using an external keyboard connected to your Chromebook, the full screen button may not exist. Use F11 instead — this works on any keyboard, built-in or external. Some external keyboards label it differently or place it in a different spot, but F11 always triggers full screen on a Chromebook.

Entering and exiting full screen

To enter full screen, press the full screen button or F11. The app expands to cover your entire display in about half a second. The shelf disappears from the bottom, and the window frame vanishes. You are now in full screen mode.

To exit full screen, press the same button or F11 again. The app shrinks back to its previous window size, and the shelf reappears at the bottom. If you switch to a different app or window while in full screen, the current app stays in full screen until you press the button again.

Closing the app also exits full screen automatically. If you close a browser tab while in full screen, the browser itself remains in full screen unless you press the button to turn it off.

Full screen in Chrome browser versus other apps

Full screen works the same way in the Chrome browser as it does in other apps — press the button or F11 to expand, press again to shrink. However, Chrome also has a separate presentation mode (Ctrl + Shift + F) that is designed for slideshows and presentations. Presentation mode hides the address bar and tabs but works slightly differently than regular full screen.

For most reading, video, and document work, the regular full screen button is what you need. Presentation mode is mainly useful if you are running a slideshow or giving a presentation and want to hide the browser interface.

What happens to your files and windows in full screen

Full screen only affects the display of the current app — it does not change your files, close other windows, or affect what is running in the background. Other apps and windows stay open; you straightforward cannot see them while full screen is active.

If you receive a notification while in full screen, it may appear briefly in a corner of the screen, but it will not pull you out of full screen. To switch to another app while in full screen, press Alt + Tab to cycle through open windows, or press the window-switching key (the overlapping rectangles in your top row) to see all open windows at once.

Using full screen with external monitors

If your Chromebook is connected to an external monitor, full screen expands the app to fill whichever display it is currently on. If the app is on your Chromebook screen, it fills that screen. If you have moved the app to the external monitor, it fills the external monitor instead.

You can have different apps in full screen on different monitors at the same time. Press the full screen button while the app is on the monitor you want to fill, and it will expand only on that display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make an app start in full screen automatically?

No. Chromebooks do not have a setting to launch apps in full screen by default. You must press the full screen button each time you want to use it. This is true for all apps, including Chrome browser, YouTube, and document editors.

What if the full screen button does not work?

Try pressing F11 instead — it works on any keyboard. If F11 also does nothing, the app may not support full screen (though most do). Close and reopen the app, then try again. If you are using an external keyboard, make sure it is properly connected to your Chromebook.

Does full screen hide my files or delete anything?

No. Full screen only changes what you see on your display. Your files, other windows, and everything running in the background stay exactly as they are. When you exit full screen, everything returns to normal.

Can I use full screen while video calling?

Yes, but the other person will see your entire screen in full screen mode. If you are using Google Meet or another video app, they will see whatever app is in full screen. Be careful not to accidentally share something you did not intend to show.