This wikiHow teaches you how to work around and fix problems with YouTube's full screen mode in Google Chrome. The obstacles that arise vary, from the browser or desktop part that is also displayed in full screen mode to full screen functions that cannot be used at all. Usually, you can restart your browser or computer to fix the error. If not, there are some settings you can adjust to prevent future errors from occurring.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Trying Quick Solutions
Step 1. Reload the page
Sometimes, YouTube pages don't load properly causing graphic errors. If the error in full screen mode occurs due to this situation, press the “ F5 ” or click the " Refresh " button to reload the YouTube page and fix the error.
Step 2. Try full screen mode when Chrome window is not maximized
If the Chrome window takes up the entire screen, a small part of the desktop may be displayed when you use YouTube in full screen mode. You can resolve this error by clicking the square button in the upper-right corner of the window (Windows) or the green button in the upper-left corner of the window (Mac) and trying to use YouTube again in full-screen mode.
Step 3. Use Google Chrome's full screen mode
If the desktop is also displayed when YouTube is accessed in full screen mode, press the “ F11 ” (Windows) or “ Command ” + “ Shift ” + “ F ” (Mac) to open Google Chrome in full screen mode. The YouTube window may expand to fill the screen.
Step 4. Close and restart Chrome before you re-access YouTube in full screen mode
Sometimes, errors in full screen mode are caused by Google Chrome not loading properly. To work around this, close the Chrome window, restart the browser, and return to the video you were previously watching.
Step 5. Restart the computer
If the last three options don't work, shut down the computer and restart it to resolve the error on YouTube full screen mode in Google Chrome.
Usually, this procedure can take care of the full screen issue. If you've restarted your computer but the problem persists, try the following methods
Method 2 of 5: Removing Google Chrome Theme
Step 1. Open
Google Chrome.
Click (or double-click) the Chrome icon, which looks like a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Click Settings
This option is in the drop-down menu. The Chrome settings page or “Settings” will load after that.
Step 4. Scroll to the "Appearance" segment
It's at the top of the “Settings” page, but you'll need to scroll a bit to find it.
Step 5. Click Reset to default
It's on the right side of the "Themes" header, at the top of the "Appearance" section. The currently active theme will be removed from Chrome and the default Chrome look will be restored.
If this option doesn't appear, you haven't applied any themes to Chrome
Step 6. Try using YouTube in full screen mode
Go back to the YouTube video you want to watch and click the " full-screen " icon in the lower right corner of the video player window. If the theme you previously installed on Chrome triggers an error in full screen mode, now the mode can be used smoothly.
Method 3 of 5: Disabling Chrome Extensions
Step 1. Open
Google Chrome.
Click (or double-click) the Chrome icon, which looks like a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Understand the right time to disable the extension
If you start seeing errors in full screen mode after installing a certain extension, there's a good chance that extension is the cause. By disabling (not removing) the extension, the error may be handled.
Updates from Chrome can also destabilize some old extensions thereby triggering unusual errors
Step 3. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 4. Select More tools
This option is in the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear after that.
Step 5. Click Extensions
It's at the top of the pop-out menu. After that, the “Extensions” page will open.
Step 6. Click the blue switch
under extension.
The switch color will turn white indicating that the extension has been disabled.
Repeat this step for other extensions before moving on to the next step
Step 7. Try using YouTube in full screen mode
Once you've disabled the suspected problematic extensions (or all extensions), go back to the video you want to watch and click the “full-screen” icon in the lower right corner of the video player window. If the problem is triggered by the extension, the video can now be watched in full screen mode without any problems.
Method 4 of 5: Disabling Hardware Acceleration
Step 1. Open
Google Chrome.
Click (or double-click) the Chrome icon, which looks like a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Click Settings
This option is in the drop-down menu. The settings page or “Settings” will load after that.
Step 4. Scroll down and click on Advanced
This option is at the bottom of the page. Additional options will be loaded afterwards.
Step 5. Swipe the screen to the “System” heading
You can find it at the bottom of the page.
Step 6. Click the blue "Use hardware acceleration when available" switch
Once clicked, the switch color will turn white indicating that hardware acceleration has been disabled.
Step 7. Try using YouTube in full screen mode
Go back to the YouTube video you want to watch and click the " full-screen " icon in the lower right corner of the video player window. Now videos can be played in full screen mode.
Method 5 of 5: Updating or Reset Google Chrome
Step 1. Open
Google Chrome.
Click (or double-click) the Chrome icon, which looks like a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will load afterwards.
Step 3. Select Help
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Once selected, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Click About Google Chrome
It's in the pop-out menu.
Step 5. Allow the installation of updates if prompted
If Chrome asks you to update your browser, click “ Google Chrome Updates ” and wait for the update to finish installing.
If Google Chrome is already updated, skip this step and the next one
Step 6. Click Relaunch if possible
Once the update has finished installing, you will see the button. Click the button to close and restart Chrome.
Step 7. Try using YouTube in full screen mode
Go back to the YouTube video you want to watch and click the " full-screen " icon in the lower right corner of the video player window. Now videos can be played in full screen mode.
If the video still won't play in full screen mode, try the rest of the steps in this method
Step 8. Reset Chrome to its initial settings
By resetting the browser to its default settings, errors in full screen mode may be handled. However, keep in mind that this procedure will also delete the currently existing settings:
- Click the menu " ⋮ ” in the upper right corner of the window.
- Click " Settings ”.
- Scroll down and click " Advanced ”.
- Scroll down and click " Restore settings to their original defaults ”.
- Click " Reset settings ” when prompted.
Step 9. Remove Google Chrome and reinstall the browser
This procedure helps you force-update Chrome if you know an update is available, but the browser can't be updated.
