How to Get Out of Full Screen on Windows (11 and 10)

To get out of full screen on Windows, press F11 first. That key toggles full screen in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox and many other programs. If F11 does nothing, press Esc, which exits full screen in video players, YouTube and PowerPoint slide shows. In games, Alt + Enter often switches from full screen to a window.

If none of those keys work, you can still take control with Windows shortcuts such as Alt + Tab, Windows key + Down arrow or Ctrl + Shift + Esc. This guide explains which exit works in which kind of app, and what to check when everything looks “stuck” in full screen.

Quick Answer

1. Click once inside the full-screen window so it is the active app.
2. Press F11 (in a browser, you can also press and hold Esc).
3. If that fails, press Esc, then try Alt + Enter for games and some media players.
4. Still stuck? Press Windows key + Down arrow to shrink the window, or Alt + Tab to switch away.
5. As a last resort, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and close the app.

In This Guide

• Before You Start: What Full Screen Actually Means
• Method 1: Exit Full Screen With F11 or Esc
• Method 2: Exit Full Screen in a Web Browser
• Method 3: Exit Full Screen in Video Players and Presentations
• Method 4: Exit Full Screen in Games
• Method 5: Exit Full Screen in Microsoft Store Apps
• Method 6: Use Windows Shortcuts to Regain Control
• Method 7: Close a Frozen Full-Screen App With Task Manager
• When It Only Looks Like Full Screen: Tablet Mode and a Hidden Taskbar
• Which Exit Should You Try? A Quick Comparison
• Troubleshooting
• Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start: What Full Screen Actually Means

This guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10 as of September 2026. The keyboard shortcuts are the same on both versions unless a step says otherwise. You need a keyboard; a mouse or touchpad helps but is not required.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. The steps below still work on Windows 10, but if you are still using it, check Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page for your options.

It helps to know that “full screen” can mean three different things, and each one has its own way out:

• App full screen: the program itself hides its title bar, tabs, toolbars and the Windows taskbar. Browsers, video players and slide shows work this way. The program’s own shortcut (usually F11 or Esc) undoes it.
• Exclusive full screen in games: a game takes over the whole display, sometimes even changing the screen resolution. The game’s display settings or Alt + Enter usually undo it.
• A maximized window: the window fills the screen but still shows its title bar with the Minimize, Maximize/Restore and Close buttons at the top right. This is not true full screen. The Restore button or Windows key + Down arrow shrinks it.

There are also two situations that only look like full screen: Windows 10 tablet mode and an auto-hidden taskbar. Both are covered in their own section below.

One tip that solves many “keys don’t work” problems: shortcuts only reach the app that is active (in focus). Click once in the middle of the full-screen window, or on a blank area of a video, before pressing any key. Avoid clicking on buttons or links while you do this.

Method 1: Exit Full Screen With F11 or Esc

These two keys solve most cases, so try them first.

1. Click once inside the full-screen window so it is active.
2. Press F11 once. F11 is the top row key between F10 and F12. Expected result: the title bar, tabs or toolbars come back and the taskbar reappears at the bottom of the screen.
3. If nothing changes and you are on a laptop, hold the Fn key and press F11. On many laptops the top row keys control brightness, volume and similar functions by default, and Fn switches them to F1 to F12. Some laptops also have an Fn Lock key (often marked with a padlock) that flips this behavior.
4. If F11 still does nothing, press Esc (top left of the keyboard). Expected result: video players, YouTube and slide shows drop back to their normal window.
5. Do not press F11 repeatedly. It is a toggle, so pressing it a second time can put the app right back into full screen.

If neither key works, the app probably uses its own control. Continue with the method that matches the type of app you are using.

Method 2: Exit Full Screen in a Web Browser

Browsers have two kinds of full screen: the whole browser in full screen (no tabs or address bar), and a single video or web page element in full screen (for example, a video player filling the screen).

Google Chrome

1. Click once on the page.
2. Press F11, or press and hold Esc. Google’s Chrome keyboard shortcuts page lists both as ways to turn off full-screen mode on Windows. Expected result: the tabs and address bar return.
3. If you prefer the mouse, move the pointer to the very top of the screen. Chrome may show a small X or exit button at the top center that you can click. This prompt can vary by version.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click once on the page.
2. Press F11. Microsoft lists F11 in Edge as “Enter full screen (toggle)”, so the same key turns full screen off. Expected result: the tabs and address bar return.
3. If a website video is in full screen rather than the whole browser, press Esc instead.

Firefox and other browsers

Firefox, Opera, Brave and most other Windows browsers also use F11 to toggle full screen and Esc to leave a full-screen video. If a browser offers a menu option, it is usually in the main menu (three dots or three lines), next to the zoom controls, shown as a square or arrows icon. Menu labels can vary by browser version.

Method 3: Exit Full Screen in Video Players and Presentations

YouTube and other web video

1. Click once on the video (a single click may also pause it; click again to resume).
2. Press Esc or press the F key. According to YouTube’s keyboard shortcuts help, F turns full screen on, and pressing F again or Esc exits it. Expected result: the video returns to its normal size on the page.
3. You can also move the mouse to show the player controls and click the exit full screen icon, usually at the bottom right of the player.

Desktop video players

The Windows Media Player app, VLC and most other players use Esc to leave full screen. Many also toggle full screen when you double-click the video. If neither works, move the mouse to bring up the controls and look for a full-screen or restore icon, or right-click the video for a menu. The exact controls differ by player and version.

PowerPoint slide shows

A PowerPoint slide show fills the screen like full screen mode. Microsoft lists Esc as the shortcut to end the presentation (and F5 to start it from the beginning). Expected result: PowerPoint returns to the normal editing view.

Method 4: Exit Full Screen in Games

Games are the most common source of “I can’t get out of full screen” problems, because many run in exclusive full screen and ignore F11.

1. While the game is active, press Alt + Enter. In many PC games this switches between full screen and windowed mode. It is not supported by every game. Expected result: the game appears in a window with a title bar.
2. If Alt + Enter does nothing, press Esc to open the game’s pause or main menu.
3. Open the game’s Settings, Options or Video/Graphics menu and look for a setting named something like Display mode or Window mode.
4. Choose Windowed or Borderless windowed and apply the change. Borderless windowed looks almost like full screen but lets you switch to other apps more smoothly.
5. To leave the game temporarily without changing settings, press Alt + Tab or the Windows key, as described in Method 6.

Warning: do not use Alt + F4 in a game until you have saved. Alt + F4 closes the active window, and most games will not save progress automatically when closed this way.

Method 5: Exit Full Screen in Microsoft Store Apps

Some apps from the Microsoft Store are Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, a type of app built for Windows 10 and later. Microsoft’s keyboard shortcuts in Windows page says that Windows key + Shift + Enter makes the active window full screen if it is a UWP app. This shortcut does nothing in classic desktop programs.

1. Click once inside the app so it is active.
2. Press Windows key + Shift + Enter. In many UWP apps, pressing it again switches back from full screen, but this behavior is not guaranteed in every app.
3. If that does not work, move the pointer to the top edge of the screen. Many Store apps reveal their title bar there, with a button to leave full screen (often shown as two diagonal arrows) next to Minimize and Close.
4. If the app still stays full screen, try F11 or Esc, or use the shortcuts in Method 6.

Method 6: Use Windows Shortcuts to Regain Control

When an app ignores its own exit keys, Windows shortcuts still let you get to your desktop, taskbar and other apps. These come from Microsoft’s official shortcut list and work in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Shortcut	What it does	When to use it
Windows key + Down arrow	Minimizes the active window (or restores a maximized window to a smaller size first)	A window fills the screen and you want it smaller
Windows key + Up arrow	Maximizes the active window	To bring a window back to full size after restoring it
Alt + Tab	Switches between open windows	To get to another app without closing anything
Windows key + Tab	Opens Task View	To see all open windows and pick one
Windows key + D	Shows and hides the desktop	To get straight to the desktop
Windows key + M	Minimizes all windows	To clear the screen quickly
Alt + Spacebar	Opens the window menu (Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, Close)	When a window has no visible buttons
Alt + F4	Closes the active window	Only after saving your work

Restore a window with the window menu

1. Click once inside the window.
2. Press Alt + Spacebar. Expected result: a small menu appears at the top left of the window.
3. Choose Restore (you can press R). If Restore is grayed out, the window is already in its normal state, and the full screen view is controlled by the app itself; go back to the app’s own exit key.

This menu does not appear in every app. Games in exclusive full screen and some media apps ignore it.

Use the Windows key to show the taskbar

Pressing the Windows key by itself opens the Start menu, which usually also brings up the taskbar over a full-screen app. From there you can click another app on the taskbar. If you want to understand more ways to clear your screen quickly, see how to minimize all windows in Windows 10.

Method 7: Close a Frozen Full-Screen App With Task Manager

Use this only if the app is frozen (it does not respond to clicks or keys) or none of the methods above work.

Warning: ending a task closes the program immediately. Any unsaved work in that program is lost.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly. Expected result: the Task Manager window opens. If it opens behind the full-screen app, press Alt + Tab to bring it to the front.
2. If Task Manager still does not appear, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager from the list of options that appears.
3. In the Processes list, click the app that is stuck in full screen. If you only see a small window, click More details first (Windows 10 and earlier Windows 11 builds).
4. Click End task. Expected result: the app closes and your desktop is visible again.
5. Reopen the app normally. It will usually start in a normal window, although some apps remember full screen and reopen that way; in that case use the app’s exit key right away.

For more ways to shut down programs safely, see how to close apps on Windows.

If the screen goes completely black and nothing responds, Microsoft lists Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B as a shortcut to wake the device when the screen is blank or black. The screen may flicker briefly. This is worth trying before you restart.

When It Only Looks Like Full Screen: Tablet Mode and a Hidden Taskbar

If every app opens filling the screen, or the taskbar keeps disappearing, the cause is probably a Windows setting rather than one app’s full screen mode.

Windows 10: turn off tablet mode

Tablet mode in Windows 10 opens every app maximized to fill the screen and changes the taskbar and Start menu for touch. It is easy to switch on by accident on a 2-in-1 laptop or touchscreen PC.

1. Press Windows key + A to open Action Center, or select the Action Center (notifications) icon at the far right of the taskbar.
2. If you only see a few tiles, select Expand.
3. Find the Tablet mode tile. If it is highlighted (turned on), select it once to turn it off. Expected result: apps can be resized again and the desktop looks normal.

Tile names and layouts can vary slightly between Windows 10 versions. For Microsoft’s current details, see Turn tablet mode on or off in Windows.

Windows 11: tablet mode is automatic

Windows 11 has no manual tablet mode switch. According to Microsoft, it turns tablet-optimized behavior on automatically when a keyboard is detached or a convertible is folded into tablet shape, and off again when a keyboard is attached. If your 2-in-1 is acting like a tablet, reattach or reconnect the keyboard, or fold the device back into laptop position.

The taskbar is set to hide automatically

If windows look normal but the taskbar never shows, the taskbar may be set to auto-hide. That makes any maximized window look like full screen.

1. Move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen (or wherever your taskbar sits). Expected result: a hidden taskbar slides up.
2. Right-click an empty part of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
3. In Windows 11, expand Taskbar behaviors and clear the checkbox for Automatically hide the taskbar. In Windows 10, turn off the similar option for automatically hiding the taskbar in desktop mode.

Microsoft describes this setting in Customize the taskbar in Windows. If the taskbar is missing for another reason, how to unhide the taskbar in Windows 10 walks through more fixes.

Which Exit Should You Try? A Quick Comparison

What is in full screen	Try first	Then try	Last resort
Chrome, Edge, Firefox (whole browser)	F11	Press and hold Esc (Chrome)	Alt + Tab, then close the browser
Video on a website	Esc	F (YouTube) or the player’s exit icon	F11 if the browser is also full screen
Desktop video player	Esc	Double-click the video	Right-click menu or Alt + Spacebar
PowerPoint slide show	Esc	Right-click and end the show	Alt + Tab
PC game	Alt + Enter	Game settings: Windowed or Borderless	Save, then Alt + F4 or Task Manager
Microsoft Store (UWP) app	Windows key + Shift + Enter	Title bar at top edge, F11	Task Manager
Every app fills the screen	Turn off tablet mode (Windows 10)	Reattach keyboard (Windows 11)	Check taskbar auto-hide

A good rule: try the app’s own key first (F11, Esc or Alt + Enter), then a Windows shortcut (Alt + Tab or Windows key + Down arrow), and only then Task Manager. That order avoids losing unsaved work.

Troubleshooting

F11 does nothing

Click inside the window first so it has focus. On a laptop, try Fn + F11, or toggle Fn Lock. Some programs do not use F11 at all, so switch to Esc, Alt + Enter or the app’s menu. If an external keyboard’s function keys are remapped by its own software, the F11 key may be sending a different command.

The app goes right back into full screen

You may have pressed the toggle twice. Press it once and wait a moment. Some apps and games remember the last display mode, so change the setting in the app (for example, Windowed in a game’s video settings) to make it stick.

The taskbar will not appear over a game

Games in exclusive full screen can block the taskbar. Press the Windows key or Alt + Tab to switch away, or change the game to borderless windowed mode so the taskbar can appear when needed.

The screen went black when leaving full screen

Games that change the screen resolution can take a few seconds to switch back. Wait briefly, then press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. If the display still stays black, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and restart from the power icon.

Related: Go full screen on Windows.

Related: Make an app full screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut to exit full screen on Windows?

F11 is the most common shortcut and works in most browsers and many programs. Esc exits full-screen videos and slide shows, and Alt + Enter switches many games to a window. There is no single key that works in every app, because each program decides how its full screen works.

Why does Esc not exit full screen in my browser?

Esc usually exits full-screen video or page elements, but not always the whole browser in F11 full screen. In Chrome, press and hold Esc or press F11. In Edge and Firefox, press F11.

How do I exit full screen without a keyboard?

Move the mouse to the top of the screen; many browsers and Store apps reveal an exit button or title bar there. In video players, move the mouse to show the controls and click the exit full screen icon, or right-click for a menu. On a touchscreen, swiping in from the top or bottom edge may reveal controls in some apps.

Does Windows key + Shift + Enter work in every app?

No. Microsoft documents it only for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, which include some Microsoft Store apps. Classic desktop programs and most games ignore it.

Is maximized the same as full screen?

No. A maximized window fills the screen but keeps its title bar and the taskbar. Full screen hides those. Use the Restore button or Windows key + Down arrow for a maximized window, and F11, Esc or the app’s control for full screen.

Summary

1. Click inside the full-screen window so it is active.
2. Press F11 (Fn + F11 on many laptops) for browsers and most programs.
3. Press Esc for videos and slide shows, and Alt + Enter for games.
4. Use Windows key + Shift + Enter for Store (UWP) apps, or reveal the title bar at the top edge.
5. Regain control with Alt + Tab, Windows key + Down arrow or Alt + Spacebar.
6. Close a frozen app with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, knowing unsaved work is lost.
7. If everything fills the screen, check tablet mode (Windows 10) and taskbar auto-hide.

Next step: if a game or app keeps reopening in full screen, open its settings now and switch the display mode to Windowed or Borderless windowed so you do not have to fight it next time.