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How can I launch Google Chrome in fullscreen mode from a shortcut?

I have tried the CLI arguments --start-maximized and --kiosk, but both do not activate the regular fullscreen mode (i.e. when you press F11).

If only there was a way to automatically press F11 once Google Chrome was open...

6 Answers 6

9

Update:

I've worked on a more complete solution based on the script below. It is called FEleven and it is hosted on GitHub: https://github.com/iglvzx/FEleven

One of the main benefits of FEleven over the the solution below is that I've included built-in support for Google Chrome and other browsers, allowing you to omit the window-title parameter, i.e.:

feleven "path\to\chrome.exe ..."

If only there was a way to automatically press F11 once Google Chrome was open...

There is! With a little help from AutoHotkey we can launch Google Chrome in fullscreen mode. Now, F11 is pretty standard as a fullscreen keyboard shortcut, so we will write a script that can work with any program we throw at it! Let's begin...


1. Setup

So, one little known feature about AutoHotkey is that you can call scripts from the command line (and with parameters). We will be compiling the following script; I named mine Fullscreen.exe.

#SingleInstance, Force
#NoTrayIcon
SetTitleMatchMode, RegEx

Title = %1%
Title := Title . "$"
Target = %2%

Run, %Target%

WinWaitActive, %Title%
Send, {F11}

ExitApp

If instead you would like to maximize the window instead of pressing F11, replace Send, {F11} above with:

Send, !{Space}
Send, x

Outline:

  1. Launch the Target

  2. Once we have an active window whose title ends with our Title, send F11 to enable fullscreen mode.

Note: If don't want to install AutoHotkey or compile your own script, I have uploaded a compiled script for you on my server:
icon ahk.igalvez.net/Fullscreen.exe, 772 KB

Alternative for maximizing the window:
icon ahk.igalvez.net/Maximize.exe, 772 KB


Demonstration:

Now, you can launch an application in fullscreen by calling the .exe like so:

Fullscreen "Title" "Target"

Assuming that you are currently in the directory where Fullscreen.exe is located, or Fullscreen.exe is in a %Path% directory.

Example:

Fullscreen "- Google Chrome" "%LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Use it in shortcut (.lnk) or a batch (.bat) file!

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  • 2
    Clever! I don't really use the fullscreen mode, but the general idea (open X and send Y to the window) will come in handy.
    – Dennis
    May 31, 2012 at 6:21
9

The app mode should do the trick: it launches your instance of chrome in a full screen, separate window.

chrome.exe --app=https://my_url.com
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  • And I think is quicker than the accepted answer :-) (Even though FEleven can be used for anything, which makes it super useful) Jul 16, 2013 at 2:07
  • This works the first time for me but if I resize the window and close and then open again it is no longer full screen.
    – DavidC
    Jan 28, 2015 at 11:31
7

The following works for me using Chrome 50.0.2661.102 m under Windows 10.0.10586 64-bit:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --start-fullscreen http://www.example.com/

Note the double dash in the --start-fullscreen option.

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  • I ran this from Command Prompt. The first time, it weirdly opened Chrome in normal mode but then switched Command Prompt into fullscreen mode. I don't know how that happened. But then on subsequent runs, it worked properly.
    – Ryan
    Sep 2, 2023 at 21:15
4
  1. Close all Chrome Windows.
  2. Open One Window.
  3. Click on upper right of Window (3 horizontal lines)
  4. From Drop Down Menu - Go to the Bottom and Click - EXIT

Fixed!

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2

From small trail I did the command chrome.exe --kiosk http://your-site.com start the site in Presentation Mode which is full screen.

-4

This is what I've found to work... (kiosk mode)

step 1. Right click on the shortcut to chrome.exe and select properties.

step 2. Click inside "Target" (it should look something like this) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

step 3. Append the following switch to the target (after the quote) --kiosk http://www.google.com

step 4. Change http://www.google.com to your preferred start-up page.

step 5. Injoy!

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