Chrome doesn’t have a setting to always start in full screen. Pressing F11 works, but only until you close the browser. If you want Chrome to open in full screen every time, for a kiosk, a dashboard on a wall TV, a presentation PC, or just a distraction-free setup, the trick is a small change to the Chrome shortcut on Windows 10. This guide covers full screen, maximized, and kiosk mode, and how to get back out.
Quick Answer
Right-click your Chrome shortcut, choose Properties, and on the Shortcut tab add –start-fullscreen to the end of the Target box, after the closing quotation mark. Click OK. Chrome opens in full screen whenever you use that shortcut. Press F11 to exit.
Full Screen vs. Maximized vs. Kiosk
| Mode | What you see | How to exit |
|---|---|---|
| Maximized | Window fills the screen; tabs, address bar, and taskbar still visible | Windows + Down arrow |
| Full screen (–start-fullscreen) | Only the web page; tabs and taskbar hidden | F11 |
| Kiosk (–kiosk) | Only the web page, locked; no F11 or right-click menus | Alt + F4 |
Method 1: Make a Full-Screen Chrome Shortcut
- Find a Chrome shortcut on your desktop. If you don’t have one, open Start, right-click Google Chrome, and choose More > Open file location, then right-click the shortcut and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
- Right-click the desktop shortcut and choose Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, click at the very end of the Target box. It usually reads:
“C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” - Type a space, then –start-fullscreen, so it ends with chrome.exe” –start-fullscreen.
- Click Apply, then OK. Approve the administrator prompt if one appears.
- Close all Chrome windows (including in the system tray), then open Chrome with this shortcut.
Important: The flag only works when Chrome isn’t already running. If a Chrome window is open, the shortcut just opens a new window in the existing session. Also turn off Settings > System > Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed, or Chrome may stay running in the background and ignore the flag.
Taskbar shortcut
If you open Chrome from the taskbar, edit that shortcut instead: right-click the Chrome icon on the taskbar, right-click Google Chrome in the jump list, choose Properties, and add the flag the same way.
Open a specific website in full screen
Add the address after the flag, for example chrome.exe” –start-fullscreen https://www.example.com. This is useful for a dashboard or calendar display.
Method 2: Always Open Chrome Maximized
Chrome remembers the size of the last window you closed. Maximize Chrome (double-click the title bar or press Windows + Up arrow) and close it that way; it should reopen maximized. To force it, use –start-maximized in the shortcut Target instead of –start-fullscreen, or set Run to Maximized on the Shortcut tab.
Method 3: Kiosk Mode (Locked Full Screen)
For a public display or a single-purpose PC, add –kiosk and a web address to the Target, for example chrome.exe” –kiosk https://www.example.com. Kiosk mode hides everything but the page and disables F11. Close it with Alt + F4.
To make it start automatically when Windows signs in, press Windows + R, type shell:startup, and copy the shortcut into that folder. For a truly locked-down public kiosk, Windows 10 Pro’s Assigned access (Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Set up a kiosk) is more secure.
Method 4: Press F11 (One-Time Full Screen)
Press F11 (or Fn + F11 on many laptops) to go full screen for the current session. You can also open the three-dot menu and click the full-screen icon next to Zoom. Move the mouse to the top of the screen to reveal a round X button that exits.
Troubleshooting
- “The name specified in the Target box is not valid”: The flag must be outside the quotation marks, with a space before the two hyphens.
- Chrome still opens normally: Chrome was already running. Close it completely, check the system tray and Task Manager, and try again.
- Chrome updates removed the flag: Updates or reinstalling can replace shortcuts. Re-add the flag, or make a separate shortcut named “Chrome Full Screen”.
- Stuck in full screen: Press F11. In kiosk mode, press Alt + F4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Chrome setting to always start full screen?
No. Chrome’s settings only control which pages open at startup, not the window mode. The shortcut flag is the standard workaround.
Does this work in Windows 11 and in Microsoft Edge?
Yes. The same shortcut method works in Windows 11, and Edge (msedge.exe) accepts the same –start-fullscreen and –kiosk flags.
Summary
- Right-click the Chrome shortcut and choose Properties.
- Add –start-fullscreen after the quote in Target.
- Close Chrome completely and reopen it with that shortcut.
- Press F11 to exit, or use –kiosk for a locked display.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.