How to make Windows programs open as maximized

By default, Windows opens its programs in a «Normal» window size, meaning its dimensions won’t fill the entire screen. While users may easily maximize the window’s size by clicking the middle icon in the upper-right corner, many don’t like having to repeat the action every time they start a program. To force Windows to open a program in maximized mode, go through the steps in both sections below.

The following steps only work for a Windows program shortcut. It will not work for a non-shortcut icon.

Accessing the properties menu

Before you can force programs to open maximized, you must access the Properties window for that program. This process varies slightly based on where the shortcut icon is located.

Desktop shortcut icon: Right-click the shortcut icon and select Properties from the drop-down menu that appears.

Taskbar shortcut icon: Forcing these applications to open as maximized requires an additional step.

1. Right-click the shortcut icon in the Windows taskbar, then right-click the program itself.

1. In the menu that appears, select Properties.

Maximizing the program on launch

1. In the Properties window, click the Shortcuttab (A).
2. Locate the Run: section, and then click the down arrow on the right side ( red circle ).
3. In the drop-down menu that appears, choose Maximized (B).
4. Click Apply ( C ), and then OK ( D ).

Program still will not open as maximized

If setting the Run setting to «Maximized,» as detailed above, try the following options to try and get the program to open maximized.

• Open the program, maximize the window by clicking the square icon in the upper-right corner, then close the program. Re-open program to see if it opens as maximized.
• Open the program, maximize the window by clicking the square icon in the upper-right corner. Then, press and hold the Ctrl key and close the program. Re-open program to see if it opens as maximized.
• Viruses can sometime cause programs with programs opening correctly, including not opening as maximized. Run a virus scan to remove any that are found. We recommend using the free online Housecall virus scan, provided by Trend Micro. If any viruses are found and removed, try the above options again and see if the program opens as maximized.

How to make all windows open maximized or full-screen always in Windows 10

Most of the time, when a user launches an application, they make it full screen. When in full screen, users get the maximum benefit and work area when required. Instead of doing it manually every time, you can choose to launch some of them as full-screen applications. This post guides on how you can make all windows open maximized always in Windows 10

Make all windows open maximized or full-screen

Before we start, the Full Screen of any application means you don’t see any buttons or address bar on the top. All you see is the content of the application. So, even if your app or window is taking all the screen, it is still not full screen.

1. Launch Program using a Shortcut
2. Use Maximize Always tool
3. Keyboard shortcut

1] Launch Program using a Shortcut

This method works only for applications for which you can create a shortcut.

• Find the program in the Start
• Right-click on it > More > Open File location
• Once you find it, right-click on it, and select Send To > Desktop (Create Shortcut)
• Now right-click on it, select properties.
• Under the Shortcut tab, click on the dropdown next to the Run section in the Properties window.
• Select Maximised and then apply the changes.

Once done, when you double click on the shortcut, the program will launch maximized.

This method will work with most of the applications, including Microsoft Office products. However, it would help if you created the shortcut by finding the original EXE file. It also means it will not work with the Microsoft Store application.

2] Use Maximize Always tool

Maximize Always is a free tool that can launch almost any application in the full screen once you add it to the list. Once installed, you can name the application and then add it to the program. Once done, you can right-click on the application in the system tray and select the program to launch.

So that’s the only downside of the process. Every time you want to launch an application in full screen, you can use this. If you do not want to do that, launch it from the Start menu or Taskbar.

You can download it from 4dots-software.com.

3] Keyboard shortcut

If you want to have more control over your application on how it opens, then a single key on your keyboard can make any window or at least supports the Maximize option. Press F11 on the keyboard and any application will go completely full-screen.

If you are using a laptop or keyboard which comes with a special Function key (Fn), then you may need to use Fn+F11.

For your information, you cannot have two full-screen applications side by side on one monitor. But you can split the application to run it side by side. Tools such as PowerToys come with a split-screen feature, and you can use them for free.

Bonus Tips:

• To minimize all the open windows, you can use Win+M.
• Press Win+Shift Key+M for maximizing them all.
• If you only want to minimize the current window, hold down Windows Key and press the down arrow key.
• If you want to maximize the same window, hold Windows Key and press up arrow key.

I hope the post helps you open applications in full-screen mode when you launch it.

Date: January 10, 2021 Tags: Explorer, Tips

How to set Windows 10 to ALWAYS open maximized windows when clicking on the shortcuts for the File Explorer or pinned websites of the taskbar

Straightforward ideas which did NOT work for the File Explorer shortcut :

Right click on the File Explorer shortcut of the taskbar> Right click on “File explorer”>Left click on “Properties”>Under ‘Shortcut’; Select ‘Maximized’ for the field ‘ R un:’

Right click on an empty space on the desktop >Left click on “New”> Left click on “Shortcut”>Type “explorer” (without quotes) and select “Next”> Select “Finish”>Right click on the shortcut>Left click on “Properties”>Under ‘Shortcut’; Select ‘Maximized’ for the field ‘ R un:’>Remove the old File Explorer icon from the taskbar>Pin the new shortcut on the taskbar

Open File Explorer>Maximize its window> Hold the Ctrl key when closing it

Indeed, none of the three methods above is able to make File Explorer be opened on a maximized window in all cases. In fact, the only way in which File Explorer is opened on a maximized window is making sure that its corresponding window was maximized before closing it. Otherwise it will remember that it was not maximized when it was closed, so the next time that I click on the File Explorer shortcut to open it again, it will not be opened on maximized window.

Note that this issue seems to be restricted to File Explorer. For instance, if I use any of the three methods for the taskbar shortcuts of Word, Excel, Paint, etc. their corresponding windows will ALWAYS be maximized, regardless of the fact that they were not on maximized windows when they were closed for the last time.

For the pinned websites shortcuts (which still are currently opened with Explorer 11 on Windows 10) I cannot find any parameter to change the size of the window to be opened at all. I have tried: right click on the shortcut >Right click on the particular name of the pinned site>Left click on “Properties”

Similarly, the only (apparent) way to make it be opened on a maximized window is to remember to maximize its corresponding window before closing it.

In summary, I would like to know how to make the File Explorer or pinned websites be opened on maximized windows REGARDLESS of the fact that their windows were maximized or not when they were closed for the last time, knowing that the methods I’ve just described did NOT work.

Thanks in advance

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Following your request I have copied my post to the Windows feedback app. Nevertheless, it was clear that I won’t get any reply from Microsoft at all (not even will they tell me when the problem is solved). So I’ll keep an eye on this Microsoft Community webpage .

Thanks for your quick answer.

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That sounds like a completely different problem, like a virus or some kind of corrupted files. Of course, when I click on the button to manually maximize the windows it works as expected. Then, I’d try the following (in this order, and restart your PC after trying every step and check it the problem is solved before trying the next one):

1. Check the shortcut. Right click on the icon of the program that is not working properly (I think that by “EI” you meant to say Internet Explorer) and select “Properties”. On the ‘Shortcut’ tap, click on “Maximized” for the field “Run:”

2. Make a full virus scan using your antivirus software or Windows Defender. For this latter, open the Start Menu and type ‘Windows Defender’ and select “Windows Defender Desktop app ”. Go to the “Update” tab and click on “Update”, then wait until Windows Defender is updated and then go the “Home” tab, select “Full” from one of the radio buttons on the right. Then click on “Scan now”.

3. Restore the shortcut. Right click on the icon of the program that is not working properly and select “Properties”. Then select the “Previous versions” tab and restore the shortcut (if possible).

4. Update your display adapter driver. Open the Star Menu, type ‘Device Manager’ and select “Device Manager Control panel ”. Then expand “Display adapters” to see the name of your graphic card. Right click on it and select “Update Driver Software…” and follow the steps to update it (who knows this may be the problem…).

5. Restore your PC without losing your data. Open the Star Menu, type ‘Restore’ and click on “Create a restore point”. On the “System Protection” tab select “System Restore…” and follow the steps. Notice that this fifth option may also be very useful if after updating the driver the icons look horrible (as, indeed, it happened to me once) as you’ll restore the previous driver.

Open windows not maximizing on desktop

To turn off Aero snap:

1. Click Start.
2. Type snap into the search box.
3. When Turn off Automatic Window Arrangement comes up, click it.
4. Check the [ ] next to Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen.

I’m not confident that this will solve your problem, but keeping fingers crossed.

Can you be more specific about what you’re trying to do, exactly? In re-reading your original post, I am wondering if you’re not using the term «Maximized» as expected.

Normally, when a window is on screen, and doesn’t cover the entire screen, that’s considered a normal windowed view, sometimes called «Restored». Maximized», by contrast, is when the window covers the entire screen.

Are you saying a window Restores off screen? If so, it may be that the coordinates of the window have been stored improperly (I’ve seen this happen before). There’s a way to «get hold» of those windows, and move them back on-screen. To do so, try this:

1. Restore the window you want to see (e.g., by clicking on it on the Taskbar).
2. Press these keys: Hold down Alt and press the space bar once.
3. Now press the M key (for «Move»).
4. Now move your mouse. You should see a 4-way arrow cursor.
5. Now press any of the arrow keys on your keyboard, and you will find you have hold of the window and can move it anywhere you like.
6. Close the window and it should remember where you left it for next time.

FYI, you can also access additional Window manipulation features by holding down the shift key when clicking on a Taskbar button.