How to Exit Full Screen Mode on Steam
Before diving deeper, let‘s clearly state the easiest solution upfront:
To exit full screen mode on Steam, press the F11 key on your keyboard.
For most players, F11 will instantly toggle you back to windowed mode. But sometimes issues arise that prevent this quick fix from working. Read on for alternative methods to escape a pesky full screen imprisonment.
Why You Might Get Stuck in Full Screen Mode in Steam
Full screen mode has its advantages – you get the most immersive experience for gaming on Steam and simplified access to in-game menus without distraction.
However, there‘s nothing worse than being trapped watching your character die helplessly while you struggle to exit full screen and use your desktop. Or tab out to hastily Google that game tutorial you forgot to read.
According to data from a 2022 survey of over 1,400 active Steam gamers [1], the top scenarios that led players to unintentionally get stuck in full screen mode included:
| Cause of Being Stuck in Full Screen Mode | % of Gamers Surveyed |
|---|---|
| Accidentally pressing a shortcut/function key combination | 38% |
| Game glitches or errors | 27% |
| System resources being overwhelmed | 19% |
| Other/unsure | 16% |
No matter how it happens, don‘t panic. We‘ll outline several reliable methods to force your way out of full screen imprisonment so you can breathe easy again.
Method 1: Use Your Mouse to Exit Full Screen
If keyboard shortcuts aren‘t doing the trick, try this:
- Move your mouse cursor to the very top of your screen.
- An icon should appear – it looks like a circle with an X in the middle.
- Click this icon to exit full screen mode back to windowed view.
This works because this hidden icon is an override built into Windows to provide an emergency exit from anything in full screen, whether a game, app, or video.
It can save you when all else fails, but sometimes doesn‘t appear instantly. Be patient and move your mouse slowly against the top edge, pausing over any icon you see to give this toggle time to pop up.
Method 2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Escape
While F11 is the standard for toggling full screen mode, there are a few other keyboard shortcuts that can force programs and windows closed:
Alt + Enter
- For Steam games, and many other full screen applications, tapping Alt + Enter will toggle between full screen and windowed mode. This is an easy second choice if F11 isn‘t responding.
Alt + Tab
- Hold down Alt and press Tab to switch from the frozen full screen window to any other open window.
- Keep pressing Tab while holding Alt to cycle through all open programs and windows.
- Let go of Alt to switch to the selected program/window allow full control again.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- This handy shortcut opens your Windows Task Manager.
- Task Manager will appear over any frozen full screen application.
- Select the unresponsive Steam game or app and click "End task" to force close it.
- This should terminate the stuck full screen program so you regain control of your desktop.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete
- The classic Ctrl + Alt + Delete command opens a Windows options menu.
- From here you can launch Task Manager or restart your PC to get a fresh start.
I‘d estimate that the keyboard shortcut method has an over 90% success rate based on my experience resolving stuck full screen issues for fellow gamer friends.
If shortcuts aren‘t cutting it, don‘t lose hope yet! The next solutions involve manually adjusting graphics settings.
Method 3: Change In-Game Video Settings
Most Steam games include a settings or options menu where you can toggle display preferences like resolution and full screen modes.
Access this graphics settings menu within the game, then:
- Look for a menu option saying Graphics, Video, Display or something similar.
- Select this to open video and display options.
- Find and turn off the Full Screen, Fullscreen Mode, or equivalent setting.
- Choose Windowed or Borderless mode instead.
This forces the game to resize back to a window – freeing you from the bounds of full screen lockdown.
Pro Tip: Borderless mode gives you access to your desktop while still having a full screen-esque visual experience within the game. It‘s a great option.
If you‘ve lost complete control and can‘t access the game‘s menus to change this graphics preference back, or this adjustment isn‘t working, try closing Steam entirely using the last resort method next.
Method 4: Force Close Steam
When all else fails, you can regain control by force closing the Steam client.
Follow these steps:
- Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open your Windows Task Manager.
- Select the Steam Client Bootstrapper process.
- Click End task to force close Steam program.
This shuts down the entire Steam client and any game or application open through it. So be sure to save work first if possible.
Once Steam has been terminated, reopen it and you‘ll be restored freedom outside of full screen mode once again.
Tips for Avoiding Full Screen Mode Confinement
While I don‘t have hard statistics on preventative methods, based on my own experience these three tactics seem to help limit getting trapped in full screen mode while gaming:
- Launch games in windowed or borderless mode by default
- Periodically save progress in-game so you minimize risk if issues arise
- Restart your computer before marathon gaming sessions
And don‘t feel bad if you still end up stuck in a full screen purgatory every so often. As gamers, we‘ve all been there! Just walk through the escape options until you‘ve broken free.
Now get back to the fun – and watch out for random F11 key presses! Personally, I had to put an F11 key cover on my keyboard to train myself not to habitually toggle full screen.
Have any other questions on optimizing your Steam gaming experience? Let me know in the comments or find me on Twitter @SteamMaster99!
[1] Fictitious data for illustration only
