This wikiHow teaches you how to minimize the full-screen program window on a Windows or Mac computer to return to the desktop screen. Note that some programs (such as video games) can take longer to minimize than others.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Look for the "Exit full-screen" button
If your computer screen displays a button to exit full screen, you can click it, then click the button to minimize the window in the top right corner.
Double-clicking on a video player window (such as VLC or YouTube) can take you out of full screen
Step 2. Exit full screen by pressing Esc
When watching a video or viewing a photo in full screen, you can exit it by pressing this button.
Step 3. Press the Windows key (⊞ Win) to bring up the taskbar (taskbar)
By pressing this button shaped like the Windows logo, the desktop taskbar will appear at the bottom of the screen. After that, you can click the full screen icon in the program to minimize it. You can also press the "Show Desktop" bar in the far right corner of the taskbar.
Step 4. Minimize all open windows by pressing Win+M
Doing so will minimize all open windows to the taskbar. Remember, if you reopen the window, Windows will return to full screen.
You can reopen all minimized windows by pressing Win+⇧ Shift+M
Step 5. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys to stop the program
When playing a stuck game, you can press the combination to exit the window. To display the desktop screen:
- Click Task Manager.
- Click tab Processes.
- Click the program that opens in full screen.
- Click End task.
Step 6. Shut down the computer manually
If a program opened in full screen cannot be closed, press and hold the power button on the computer (or unplug the power cord from the wall outlet if you are using a desktop computer) until the computer turns off. All previously open programs will be closed when you restart the computer.
Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Use the shortcut Command+Ctrl+F
This will take the program window out of full screen. After that, you can click the yellow " Minimize " button in the top right corner.
Step 2. Press Esc key to exit full screen
It's in the top left of the keyboard. The Esc key can work well to minimize the full screen when you are watching YouTube videos or viewing photos on your computer. After exiting full screen, you can click on the yellow " Minimize " button.
Pressing Esc while playing a game cannot minimize the game
Step 3. Press Command+M key to minimize the currently open window
Return to the screen by clicking the new minimize icon in the Dock, which is next to the Trash icon.
Some programs will exit full screen after you use this shortcut. This means that you must click the yellow " Minimize " button to minimize the program completely
Step 4. Hide the window by pressing Command+H
This makes all windows invisible. Certain windows will not display in the Dock. Instead, you have to click on the icon of the app, such as Safari or TextEdit.
Step 5. Exit full screen by pressing Command+F or Command+⏎ Return.
If the shortcuts mentioned above don't work, maybe you can minimize the window using one of these key combinations.
- If any game windows are still open, check out the game's guide on which key combination to press to exit full screen or minimize the window.
- If you play games via Steam, the Steam app can make it difficult for you to minimize the window.
Step 6. Force close any open program windows in full screen
If the program crashes and none of the options described above work, try pressing Command+⌥ Option+Esc, then clicking on the program, and clicking Force Quit.
Step 7. Shut down the computer manually
If a program opened in full screen cannot be closed, press and hold the power button on the computer (or unplug the power cord from the wall outlet if you are using a desktop computer) until the computer turns off. All previously open programs will be closed when you restart the computer.
Tips
- For games in particular, you may have to save the game and exit full screen to return to the desktop without crashing the game or crashing.
- Most modern games provide an option for "Windowed Mode" or "Full Screen Windowed Mode", which allows you to play the game in full screen, but is bordered without letting you lose control of some keyboard shortcuts.
