How do I run FS2004 in windowed mode?

To run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9) in windowed mode, start the simulator and press Alt+Enter. The same shortcut switches back to full screen. Once windowed, maximise the FS2004 window or drag its borders to the size you want; this does not alter the full-screen resolution selected in Display settings.

How do I switch FS2004 to windowed mode?

Alt+Enter is FS2004’s standard command for changing between full-screen and windowed display.

1. Start FS2004 and wait until its main screen or a flight has loaded.
2. Give the simulator keyboard focus by clicking anywhere inside it.
3. Press Alt+Enter once. Use the main Enter key if a laptop or compact keyboard handles the numeric keypad differently.
4. Resize the window by dragging its borders, or double-click the title bar to maximise it.

You can also reveal the FS2004 menu bar with Alt and use its full-screen command. Our reference for FS2004 keyboard controls covers this shortcut and the other default key combinations.

How do I make FS2004 start in windowed mode?

FS2004 normally remembers the display state in which it was closed.

1. Switch to windowed mode with Alt+Enter.
2. Close FS2004 normally rather than ending fs9.exe through Task Manager.
3. Restart the simulator and check that it opens in a window.

If it repeatedly returns to full screen, FS9 may not be saving its user configuration. Check that %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.CFG exists, is not marked read-only and can be written by your Windows account. Make a backup before touching the file.

The Windows shortcut setting labelled “Run: Normal window” does not control FS2004’s DirectX display mode. Compatibility options such as forcing a low screen resolution are not substitutes for Alt+Enter either.

Why doesn’t Alt+Enter work in FS2004?

The usual cause is that another program has intercepted the shortcut or FS2004 does not have keyboard focus.

• Click inside FS2004, release all keys and try left Alt+Enter again.
• Temporarily close keyboard-remapping software, overlays or remote-access tools that may capture Alt+Enter.
• Use the full-screen command on FS2004’s menu bar. If the menu works but the shortcut does not, the problem is keyboard interception rather than the simulator’s display mode.
• If switching produces a black screen or FS2004 immediately returns to full screen, follow our FS2004 display fixes for Windows 10 and 11.

If the simulator enters a window but then stops responding, that is a separate fault; use our targeted steps for resolving an FS2004 windowed-mode freeze.

Can FS2004 use borderless windowed mode?

FS2004 has no native borderless-window option. A maximised ordinary window is the closest built-in choice, although the title bar, menu or Windows taskbar may remain visible.

Third-party borderless-window utilities can hide the frame, but they may interfere with focus, menus and overlays. For predictable behaviour, we recommend FS2004’s normal windowed mode and Windows taskbar auto-hide if extra screen space is needed.