Press the Alt + Enter keys simultaneously or the Windows key to exit full screen game on windows 11.
Ever get stuck in a game, the screen taking over everything? It happens! Knowing how to exit full screen game on windows 11 is crucial for a smooth experience. We’ll show you the quick, easy ways to regain control of your desktop.
Sometimes pressing Alt + Enter is all you need. This shortcut toggles between full-screen and windowed modes. If that doesn’t work, try the Windows key, which should bring up the Start menu. Both will help in exiting and getting back to your other tasks quickly.
How to Exit Full Screen Game on Windows 11
The Classic Alt + Tab Method
Alright, let’s talk about the most common way to jump out of a full-screen game: Alt + Tab. Think of it like a magic shortcut. You press and hold the ‘Alt’ key (usually located near the space bar) and then tap the ‘Tab’ key. When you do this, Windows 11 shows you a list of all the open apps and windows. You’ll see your game there, of course, but you can also see other programs you have running. Keep tapping the ‘Tab’ key, all while holding ‘Alt’, until you highlight the app you want to switch to. Then, release the ‘Alt’ key, and bam! You’re now looking at a different window, and your game is running in the background.
This method works wonders most of the time. It’s a quick way to check your email, browse the internet, or open another application without closing your game completely. Plus, it’s a simple action, using just two keys! If you have a touch screen laptop, you can also tap on the application thumbnail to switch between screens. This technique has been a mainstay for Windows users for years, making it easy to switch between programs and tasks.
The Windows Key Escape Route
Another super handy trick is using the Windows key. That’s the key that usually has the Windows logo on it. Pressing this key will usually minimize your full-screen game and take you back to the Windows 11 desktop. Your game will likely still be running, but it will be tucked away in the background. Now, just click on the game’s icon on your taskbar to bring it back to the front when you’re ready to continue playing. This method is useful when you need a brief look at other applications, quickly respond to notification or start another program. It’s like pressing a pause button on your game but on a windows level.
The Windows key method is super reliable and gives you quick access to the start menu and other taskbar features. You can easily launch new applications from the Start menu or view information on your task bar and then return back to your game. This technique is often used for quickly pausing the full screen game when someone is talking to you, or you need to take a phone call or just grab a coffee quickly.
Using Task Manager to Exit
Sometimes, a game might be a little stubborn. It might not respond to Alt+Tab or the Windows key. That’s where the Task Manager comes to the rescue. To open the Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc all at the same time. You’ll see a window appear with a list of all the programs and processes running on your computer.
Now, look for the game that’s running full screen, it should have the games name in the list. Click on the game’s name and then click the “End Task” button at the bottom. Be careful! This will force the game to close, and you may lose any progress that hasn’t been saved. Think of it as a last-resort option. The task manager works when the game is fully unresponsive and not letting you switch from that screen. This is generally a way to forcefully close any application, and games aren’t an exception here. So make sure to save your game before doing this, in case you need to use the Task manager to exit a stubborn game.
Task manager also shows other details related to the application, such as memory usages, CPU usages, Network and storage uses, which may help you understand if the game is taking too many resources on your computer. However, to simply exit the game, click on the game application’s name and then click on end task, and the game will be closed instantly.
Game Settings and Exit Options
Many games have their own settings menus that allow you to change how the game is displayed. Look for a settings or options menu within the game. Often, these menus contain display settings where you can switch from full screen mode to windowed mode or borderless windowed mode. Windowed mode makes the game run in a window, just like any other application, and is easier to get out of. Borderless windowed mode allows the game to fill your entire screen but technically it is still in the windowed mode. And while not exactly an ‘exit’ feature, these display options do allow you to switch from full screen and let you perform other tasks easily.
Each game has its own unique settings menu, and the placement of these options may vary from game to game. It’s usually found somewhere after clicking on the options or settings menu. Some games may allow you to change the display mode from their in-game menu, or before you start a new game. Check the game documentation if you are unable to find the relevant setting option. Once changed, it usually will be easier to exit or navigate out of the game screen.
Understanding Full Screen, Windowed and Borderless Windowed
It’s helpful to know the difference between full-screen mode, windowed mode, and borderless windowed mode. Full screen mode takes over your entire monitor. It’s designed to give you the most performance and prevent distractions from other apps. However, it can sometimes be tricky to switch from full screen if a game is behaving improperly. Windowed mode, as we mentioned before, makes the game run in a regular window. This makes it easier to Alt+Tab or use other applications. Finally, borderless windowed mode looks just like full screen mode, but behaves more like windowed mode. You can switch to other programs more easily with Alt + Tab in this mode. Many gamers prefer borderless windowed mode as it allows better multi tasking while playing games.
Understanding these three modes of display settings of the games can help a user to chose the ideal mode which suits their style of playing games and multi tasking. Games that are not optimized to handle the switch between full screen to another applications, often behaves properly in the borderless windowed mode. So, if you are playing a game that is not allowing you to quickly exit, you can chose to play it in windowed or borderless windowed mode.
Keyboard Shortcuts Within the Game
Some games have their own specific keyboard shortcuts for minimizing or exiting the game. These shortcuts could be anything from a function key to a combination of keys. Check the game’s manual or in-game settings for a list of these shortcuts. For example, some games may use the “Esc” key to bring up a menu, which then gives you an option to exit the game. Other games may have a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+Q to quit the game. These are always game specific. So check the game instructions or menus for these shortcuts.
Game shortcuts are very different from each other, and they will never be the same. And each shortcut may have specific function in the game. For example, function keys like F1, F2, and others may be used for various action in the game, and one of them may be used to access menu and then you may be able to exit from the menu. So, checking the game specific shortcuts will help you in identifying what actions are available in the game and how to exit, if the game itself provides an option. Most games do have an exit option within the main menu or settings menu or through specific keyboard shortcut key.
Using the Game’s Menu to Exit
Almost all games will have a way to exit through the game’s own interface. Most of the time, there will be a menu (often accessed by pressing the “Esc” key or a similar button) that includes options to save the game, go to settings, and a button to exit the game. Look for words like “Quit,” “Exit,” or “Return to Desktop.” This is the safest way to exit the game, as it gives the game a chance to save your progress. Always make sure to save any unsaved data before exiting a game using this method. Games may also auto save your progress periodically, but it is always a good idea to save manually, before exiting.
The in game menu is the most reliable way to exit a game, because this method is built within the game by the developer themselves, so this method will be least likely to create any issues. You may also see other options such as Load game, Options, Graphics etc, in the menu which can help you configure the game options. It is always good to exit a game through the game’s own options and menu.
Third Party Tools and Game Launchers
Sometimes, third-party software or game launchers like Steam or Epic Games have overlay features that can help you switch out of full-screen mode or exit the game. These launchers usually have options to manage your games, and also control the game settings, including the display mode. For example, Steam often lets you access its overlay by pressing Shift+Tab and then you can click on the menu items within the overlay. Some overlays also have controls which can help switch the display modes or exit the games entirely. These overlays are used by the gamers to communicate with their friends, take screenshots and videos and many other useful feature.
So, if you are playing games with the help of a game launcher, look at its options to see what options it provides to quit the game. This will be very beneficial and will be a safer method than closing through task manager. Remember to always keep game launchers and games up to date to get the latest features and patches which may include the exiting improvements or bug fixes.
When the Game is Frozen or Unresponsive
If a game is completely frozen or unresponsive, and not reacting to any of the above mentioned method, then you will have to forcefully close it, by using the Task Manager as described above. The game might have crashed, and is no longer working, or it may have been stuck due to a bug. In either case, the Task Manager method will always work to shut down a frozen game. Remember to end the process for the game only, as other Windows processes are also listed in the task manager.
While closing a frozen game using Task manager is often your last resort, remember that you will lose any unsaved progress. This may happen if the game crashes in the middle of the play. You may also face this situation when the game is eating up all your computer resources such as RAM and CPU, and stops responding. In this case, it’s important to check your computer’s specifications and compare it with the minimum and recommended game requirements. You can also consider updating your graphic cards drivers or other hardware drivers.
Tips for Preventing Issues
To reduce the chance of getting stuck in full screen, here are a few quick tips:
- Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements of the game
- Keep your graphics drivers updated to the latest version.
- Close other programs when playing high-demanding games.
- Start a game in windowed mode or borderless windowed mode, especially if you suspect there might be a compatibility issues.
- Regularly save your game’s progress, so you don’t lose it when you exit the game.
- Always use the game’s menu to exit, if possible.
Keeping your drivers up to date and not running too many applications at the same time as the game can help in preventing game from freezing or crashing, especially in full screen mode. Having enough resources like RAM and CPU always help the games to run properly, without any sudden crash.
Checking for Game Updates
Sometimes, issues with exiting full-screen mode can stem from bugs in the game itself. Developers frequently release updates or patches to fix these kinds of problems. So, it is a good idea to regularly check for updates for the games you play. These updates may also include other performance improvements and bug fixes, so it’s a good practice to make sure that you game is updated to the latest version. Game launchers like Steam, Epic Games, etc, do auto-update the games, but you can always manually check for new game updates within their launcher program.
Keeping the game updated is an important step for a smooth experience. Some bugs or glitches may occur if you are running an older version of a game. And updating the game is really easy through the game launcher’s menu system. Also, make sure you have the latest version of the game launcher as well.
Reporting Issues to Game Developers
If you’re still encountering problems with exiting a specific game, consider reporting the issue to the game’s developers. Many game studios have dedicated support teams that can help with issues related to the game. You can find these support options on the game’s official website or on their support forums. Providing them with your system details and steps that leads to the issue, will help them in understanding and fixing the issue in their next patch.
Game developers often rely on feedback from their users to make their game more better. They actively check the forums and bug reports to make a game bug free and improve its functionality. So, when you encounter a problem with a particular game, try to report them through their official websites or support forum.
Exiting a full screen game on Windows 11 can be done through several different methods. Starting with the classic Alt + Tab or Windows key, to using Task Manager as a last resort, and using in game menu to correctly exit the game. By knowing about these techniques, you can handle game screen exits more smoothly and focus on having a good gaming experience.
How to go Fullscreen in Windows 11
Final Thoughts
To exit full screen game on windows 11, try pressing Alt + Enter. This often switches between full screen and windowed mode. Alternatively, press the Windows key to show the taskbar, and then click the game’s icon to return to a window.
Another quick method is to use Alt + Tab to switch to a different application, which might also take the game out of full screen. These methods offer you several easy ways to manage game displays. Therefore, remember these steps for how to exit full screen game on windows 11.
