Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
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.
Article C2910 - January 25, 2007
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
(Post-script to accompany my previous post:)
...So what else can I do to fix my particular problem?
Posted by: JP at May 13, 2011 3:33 PMclick and hold a corner of the window you want maximized. drag it to the size you want. hold down ctrl and click file exit (do not use the x in the upper right). your window should open the same size now.
Posted by: LOL at June 8, 2011 2:55 PMLOL,
Posted by: Mark at June 22, 2011 7:36 AMThanks for the memory jogger. I recall holding a key down while closing, but forgot which key. Also, this only works when you manually resize the window instead of clicking the maximize button. Thanks.
I tried to "click and hold a corner of the window(Explore) from start at the bottom left corner of the desktop I want maximized. drag it to the I you want. hold down ctrl and click file exit but when reopening it went back to small.
Posted by: John at June 24, 2011 7:35 PMTHANK YOU for this, I have been annoyed by this for weeks!
Posted by: Lucy B at August 4, 2011 2:19 PM