How to make Windows programs open as full screen

Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope

By default, Windows opens it's 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-hand corner, many don't like having to repeat the action every time they start a program. To force Windows to open a program in full-screen mode proceed through the steps in the following section.

1. Right-click on any Windows shortcut and click Properties.
2. In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab (as shown below).
3. Locate the Run: section, and then click the down arrow on the right-hand side.
4. In the drop-down menu that appears, choose Maximized.
5. Click Apply, and then OK. The program should now open in a full window.

Additional information

• See our maximize and shortcut definitions for further information and related links on these terms.

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View two windows side-by-side using Smart Window

Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope

Smart Window, or Snap, allows the user to view two windows side-by-side in Windows 7 without having to manually re-size either window. Smart Window is also useful if you don't want to use Alt-Tab to switch between 2 windows. If you are running an earlier version of Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows Vista, see the Split and arrange open windows tip for suggestions.

1. Click and Drag on the top title bar of the first window so your mouse pointer hits either the left or right side of your screen. Let go of the window when you see the outline of the window re-size to ½ of the screen.
2. Choose the other window you want to view on the side of the first window. Click and Drag the 2nd window to the opposite side of the screen until the mouse pointer hits the side of the screen and resizes to the other ½ of the screen.

These steps can also be done using the Windows key and the right and left arrow keys by doing the steps below.

1. While pressing the Windows key on your keyboard, press either the Right or Left arrow to move the open window to either the left or right portion of the screen.
2. Choose the other window you want to view to the side of the window in step one. When using the Windows key for this step, as described in step one above, use the opposite (right or left) arrow button that you used in step one.

There are three different ways to get out of this view. Below are some of the different methods to do so.

1. Click and drag the window so the mouse pointer hits the top of the screen and let go to put the window back to regular size.
2. If you just want to view a single window, click a blank spot at the top, and while holding the mouse button down, shake the window you want to view. The shaking action will minimize all other windows to the Taskbar. To reopen windows that were minimized, click and shake the window you are using again.
3. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, and at the same time, press either the up arrow or the down arrow. The up arrow will maximize the window and the down arrow will minimize the window.

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Internet tips and tricks

Take advantage of tabbed browsing

Take full advantage of tabbed browsing on all Internet browsers. While reading an article or browsing a website, you may come across a link that interests you. Any link to another page can be opened in a new tab so it does not interrupt your reading. To perform this action, hold down the Ctrl key and left-click the link. If you have a mouse with a wheel, click the link by depressing the wheel instead of rolling it. Either of the methods opens a link in a new window.

Tip: To open an new blank tab, press Ctrl+T at the same time.

You don't need the http:// portion of a web page

When entering an Internet address you do not need to type http:// or even www. in the address. For example, if you wanted to visit Computer Hope you could just type computerhope.com and press enter. To make things even quicker, if you are visiting a .com address you can type computerhope and then press Ctrl+Enter to type out the full https://www.computerhope.com address.

Quickly move between the fields of a web page

If you are filling out an online form, e-mail, or other text field you can quickly move between each of the fields by pressing the Tab key or Shift+Tab to move back a field. For example, in the example form below you can click in the "First Name" field type anything and press tab to switch to the next field.

Example Form

First Name: 
Last Name: 
E-mail: 

Tip: This tip also applies to buttons, if you press tab the buttons can also be highlighted. Once a button is highlighted press the spacebar or enter to push the button.

Tip: With a drop-down box that lists dozens of options you can press the first letter to scroll down to that letter. For example, click the drop down box below and then press "u" to quickly scroll to Utah.

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Determine last modified date of a web page

Many web pages that do not list the last date and time they updated, modified, or changed. This information can be determined by using one of the suggestions in the following sections.

Internet Archive

Although this site will not give you an exact modified date, it should give you a general idea. Also, it allows you to view the history of a page, even if it is offline. Visit the Internet Archive, and then enter the URL of the page in question into their search bar.

JavaScript in address bar

Copy and Paste the JavaScript string from the box below into the address bar.

javascript:alert(document.lastModified)

Note: With dynamically generated content this will not work. Also, newer Internet browsers with an Omnibox require the user to manually type in javascript: even after they paste the entire string.

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How to automatically repeat YouTube videos

YouTube does not allow you to automatically repeat your favorite videos, but there are plenty of third-party services that can assist you. The following steps will teach you how to put any YouTube on repeat.

How to put a YouTube video on repeat

First, you'll need to browse to the video you'd like to repeat. Then, you will edit the URLin the address bar, in the manner shown above below.

Note: The video you choose doesn't matter, the URL below is one we've chosen as an example to illustrate the process.

Editing Steps

1. Erase everything in front of youtube. In the example above, "https://www" is the section that is deleted.
2. After youtube, type repeat to make the URL look like the one shown below, and then press Enter.

youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=dD40VXFkusw

3. After pressing Enter, your browser will open a page with a URL similar to the one shown here: http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=dD40VXFkusw
4. This page will repeat your video until it is closed.

Tip: This page also has a counter to let you know how many times the video has been repeated.

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Top 10 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know

Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase your productivity, reduce repetitive strain, and help keep you focused. For example, to copy text, you can highlight text and press the Ctrl+C shortcut. The shortcut is faster than moving your hands from the keyboard, highlighting with the mouse, choosing copy from the file menu, and then returning to the keyboard.

Below are the top 10 keyboard shortcuts we recommend everyone memorize and use.

Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Insert and Ctrl+X

Both Ctrl+C and Ctrl+Insert will copy highlighted text or a selected item. If you want to cut an item instead of copying it, press Ctrl+X. This action removes the text or item and stores it in the clipboard for you, rather than just copying it to the clipboard while leaving the original behind.

Apple computer users can substitute the Ctrl key for the command (cmd) key on their computers. For example, pressing Cmd + C copies highlighted text.

Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert

Both the Ctrl+V and Shift+Insert will paste the text or object that's stored in the clipboard.

On Apple computers, use Cmd + V instead.

Practice

Use the above text input fields to highlight the "Cut or copy this text" text and press either Ctrl+C to copy or Ctrl+X to Cut the text. Once Cut Move to the next field and press Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert to paste the text. For further demonstration, visit the following link.

• How to copy and paste.

Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y

Pressing Ctrl+Z will undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this key combination will undo the cut. These shortcuts can also be pressed multiple times to undo or redo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl+Y would redo the undo.

On Apple computers, use Cmd + Z and Cmd + Y to undo and redo.

Use the above text input field to highlight some or all of the text and then press Ctrl+X to cut the text. Once the text has disappeared press the Ctrl+Z to undo the cut.

Tip: If you did the first example as well (cut and paste text) and you continue to press Ctrl+Z, it is also going to undo that change.

Ctrl+F

Pressing Ctrl+F opens the Find field, which allows you to search the text currently displayed in any program that supports it. For example, Ctrl+F can be used in your Internet browser to find text on the current page. Press Ctrl+F now to open the Find in your browser and search for "shortcut" to display each time shortcut is mentioned on this page.

On Apple computers, use Cmd + F to find.

Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Tab

Pressing Alt+Tab switches between open programs moving forward. For example, if you have your browser window open and other programs running in the background press and hold Alt and then press the tab key to cycle through each open program.

On Apple computers instead of using the Alt key use the Command (Cmd) key. For Example, Cmd + Tab to switch between open programs.

Bonus Tip: Press Ctrl+Tab to switch between tabs in a program. For example, if you have multiple tabs open in your Internet browser, press Ctrl+Tab to switch between them.

Bonus Tip: Adding the Shift key to Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Tab moves backward. For example, if you are pressing Alt+Tab and pass the program you want to use, press Alt+Shift+Tab to move back to that program.

Bonus Tip: Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 users can also press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the window.

Ctrl+Backspace and Ctrl+Left or Right arrow

Note: The following shortcuts are for PC users only and do not work on Apple computers.

Pressing Ctrl+Backspace will delete a full word at a time instead of a single character.

Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing the left or right arrow will move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you want to highlight one word at a time, hold down Ctrl+Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word.

Ctrl+S

While working on a document or other file in almost every program, pressing Ctrl+Ssaves that file. Use this shortcut key frequently if you're working on anything important in case an error happens, you lose power, or any other issues that could cause you to any work since the last save.

On Apple computers, use Cmd + S to save a file.

Ctrl+Home or Ctrl+End

Ctrl+Home will move the cursor to the beginning of the document, and Ctrl+End will move the cursor to the end of a document. These shortcuts work with most documents, as well as web pages.

On Apple computers use Command and the Cmd and the up arrow to get to the beginning of a document or text or Cmd and the down arrow to get to the end of a document or text.

Ctrl+P

Control + P is used to open a print preview of the page or document currently being viewed. For example, press Ctrl+P now to view a print preview of this page.

On Apple computers use Cmd + P to open the print preview.

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