Switch MSFS between windowed and fullscreen with Alt+Enter or Display Mode, and fix black screens, wrong-monitor launches and taskbar problems.
On PC, press Alt+Enter to switch Microsoft Flight Simulator between windowed and fullscreen mode. You can also open the simulator’s Graphics settings, change Display Mode to Windowed or Full Screen, then apply the change. Consoles do not offer a Windows-style desktop windowed mode.
Window mode controls how MSFS appears on your desktop; it does not change the in-sim camera. For that, use our guide to switching and controlling MSFS external views.
What is the MSFS fullscreen keyboard shortcut?
Alt+Enter is the quickest way to toggle full screen in both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and MSFS 2024 on PC.
Click inside the simulator first so it has keyboard focus, then press the shortcut. A maximised window is still windowed mode; it may fill the display while retaining its title bar, borders or Windows taskbar.
How do I change MSFS Display Mode in the settings?
The Graphics menu provides the reliable method when the keyboard shortcut does not work or you need to select a resolution at the same time.
- Open the main or pause menu. Select Settings or Options, depending on the MSFS edition and interface.
- Open the Graphics settings. These are normally found under the general display or graphics options.
- Find Display Mode or Full Screen Mode. Choose Windowed or Full Screen. If Borderless is offered, it fills the monitor without ordinary window borders while retaining easier desktop access.
- Check the display resolution. For the sharpest image, begin with the monitor’s native resolution. Render scaling is a separate control and can still make the picture softer or sharper.
- Apply and save the change. If MSFS asks you to confirm the new display mode, do so before the timer expires.
Menu wording can differ between MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 and later simulator updates, but the control remains within the graphics or display settings.
Should I use windowed or fullscreen mode in MSFS?
Use fullscreen for an uncluttered single-monitor flight, and windowed mode when you regularly move between MSFS and desktop applications.
| Mode | Best choice when | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Full Screen | You want MSFS to occupy one display without borders or the taskbar | Switching displays or recovering an off-screen window can be less convenient |
| Windowed | You use charts, utilities or other applications beside the simulator | Borders and the taskbar consume screen space |
| Borderless, if available | You want a screen-filling image with convenient desktop switching | Display and taskbar behaviour can depend on Windows settings |
Do not assume full screen will automatically produce a large frame-rate increase. On modern Windows systems, the difference may be negligible; resolution, render scaling, traffic and graphics settings usually matter more.
Why will MSFS not switch to fullscreen correctly?
Most fullscreen problems come from lost keyboard focus, the wrong monitor, a maximised window being mistaken for fullscreen, or a display-mode change that was not applied.
Alt+Enterdoes nothing: click inside the simulator and try again, then use the Graphics menu. Keyboard-remapping software or overlays can intercept the shortcut.- MSFS opens on the wrong monitor: switch to windowed mode, drag the window onto the intended display, then enable full screen again. If necessary, select that monitor in MSFS when such an option is available, or make it the primary display in Windows.
- The taskbar remains visible: make sure you selected Full Screen rather than merely maximising the window. Press
Alt+Entertwice or reapply the mode through Graphics settings. - The image is blurry: verify the display resolution and render-scaling setting separately. Enlarging a low-resolution window does not restore detail.
- The screen turns black: press
Alt+Enterto return to the previous mode. If the display does not recover, follow our MSFS 2024 black-screen troubleshooting steps.
Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 run MSFS as full-screen console applications, so the PC windowed/fullscreen shortcut and desktop display modes do not apply.