Summary: Some folks like to run programs maximized; taking up the entire screen. If a program doesn't do that automatically, here are some steps that may help.
How do I make sure that when I open any windows application, it opens "full screen" (maximized) ? It would be a time saver if I didn't have to always hit the maximize button.
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Indeed it would. And while there are a couple of caveats, there's actually a fairly simple way to make this happen for most programs.
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Right click on the shortcut or menu item you use to start the program:
Now, click on properties:
Note the item labeled Run that's set to "Normal Window". Change that to "Maximized":
Hit OK.
The program should now start up maximized.
Naturally, you could also select "minimized" to have the program start that way instead.
As I said, there are a couple of caveats:
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Some programs override this. By that I mean that when they start, they explicitly decide whether they want to be minimized, maximized or "normal". The upshot is that they effectively ignore this setting. You'll need to check with that particular program if there's a way to alter this behavior.
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This works on programs, and shortcuts to program, but not documents or other files. For example if you have a shortcut to a Microsoft Word document on your desktop you will not see the Run option. However if you have a shortcut to Microsoft Word itself, you will.
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Shortcuts in your start menu count. By that I mean, if in your start menu you have a shortcut to an application, you can right click on that menu item and click on properties, just as if it were a shortcut on your desktop of somewhere else.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - Can I make a desktop icon for a web page shortcut?
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Ask Leo! - How can I get Windows Explorer to default to open on a directory of my choosing?
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Ask Leo! - Why don't installed programs show up for all users?
Article C2910 - January 25, 2007
very helpfull !!!
Posted by: juan at December 19, 2007 2:00 PMWhen you right click on a shurtcut the tab you will be on from start is the shortcut tab. You will next to "Run" be able to choose Maximized
Posted by: Markus at February 14, 2008 7:02 AMI have went through multiple web pages including microsoft found this web page and answered my issue.
Posted by: K H at November 25, 2008 4:00 PMgod only knows why I could not figure this out !
the transition between a new computer and vista got me fluttered I guess
I just wanted to say thank you for posting this.
I have done this, as it's them same as XP, however my Vista Home Premium version ignores the setting. All the windows, all the time. Any other suggestions? Any help will be appreciated, because I now have a 22" LCD screen and hate to have the windows open only in "Normal" mode.
Posted by: kdsdata at November 27, 2008 7:32 PMThe correct shortcut to George Philip's link is :
Posted by: Steve Hawes at January 6, 2009 9:37 PMhttp://www.jiisoft.com/iemaximizer/Download.aspx
And it does work.
When I right click on explorer there is nothing that says shortcut on there. I have windows XP.
Posted by: M Cruz at February 5, 2009 4:35 PMThis is really making me nuts. I've also tried extending the corners and them closing and restarting and it keeps happening. Thanks for any help you can give.
If Windows do not open to full size in IE7/8, follow these instructions.
Open a webpage. Stretch it out to full size. Don't use maximize.
Posted by: Pete Ross at February 26, 2009 10:44 PMChoose any link on that webpage and right-click, select open in a new window.
Stretch that second window out to the desired size- don't use maximize.
Close the first IE window. Then close that second resized window. This should take care of the problem.
HOW TO,, PRESET THE SIZE OF SHORTCUT WINDOWS
RIGHT CLICK INTERNET EXPLORER,, GO TO PROPERTIES,, ON THE RUN LINE,, SET IT TO OPEN IN "NORMAL WINDOW"...
THEN OPEN IE-7 -- SET TO RESTORE DOWN,, = "THE MIDDLE OF THE THREE BOXES AT THE TOP RIGHT",, -- THEN,, USING THE MOUSE,, DRAG THE WINDOW TO THE SIZE THAT 'YOU WANT IT TO BE"...
CLOSE IE AND TRY SOME SHORTCUT'S... IT WORK'S ?? GO BACK TO IE PROPERTIE'S,, SET TO "OPEN MAXIMIZED".
Posted by: THOMCAT7777 at May 26, 2009 4:34 PMI use Vista - I can not get internet explorer or other web pages to open maximized. I tried your suggestion and it did not work. It worked okay in the past so I presume I have done something. Thank you
Posted by: Freda Wyss at June 19, 2009 2:29 PMThis does not work for all browsers shown, as soon as Vista closes, and restarts, any changes made are as they were when it restarts. The properties remain unchanged, the the actual results aren't there.
Besides, shouldn't Vista, by nature, "remember" the last view setting?
I don't use IE at all. I use Firefox, which this works for, as long as it is the default browser.
My original reason was to open all my folders and files views Maximized. This doesn't answer how to open anything in explorer.exe (not iexplorer) always maximized, which is a fair bigger problem for me! Isn't windows explorer considered an app too?
Posted by: Jim Grim at July 5, 2009 4:41 PM