How To Make Video Fullscreen: Easy Guide For All Devices

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How to Make Video Fullscreen: Easy Guide for All Devices

Hey everyone! Ever been watching a video and wished you could just fill the entire screen with it? Yeah, me too! Whether you're trying to get immersed in a movie, give a presentation, or just avoid distractions, knowing how to make a video fullscreen is super handy. In this guide, we're going to cover how to do it on various devices and platforms. Let's dive in!

Understanding Fullscreen Mode

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly talk about what fullscreen mode actually is. Basically, it's a display option where the video occupies the entire screen, hiding all the other stuff like your browser tabs, taskbar, and any other applications that might be running. This gives you a clean, distraction-free viewing experience. Most video players and platforms have a dedicated fullscreen button or setting, but sometimes it's hidden or not immediately obvious. Don't worry; we'll walk you through it. A great video experience matters a lot, when you watch in a browser sometimes, it gets annoying because of the browser's address bar, and other things that may be visible on the screen. We want a great video experience without any kind of distraction and that is why you should consider using the fullscreen mode. The fullscreen mode provides an environment where you can enjoy the video as if you are in a cinema. So let's dive into how you can enable it.

Making Videos Fullscreen on Different Platforms

On YouTube

YouTube is probably where most of us spend a lot of time watching videos. Making a YouTube video fullscreen is super simple. Here’s how:

  1. Start playing the video: Click the play button on the video you want to watch.
  2. Locate the Fullscreen button: Look for a square icon, usually in the bottom-right corner of the video player. It might look like a small square or a rectangle with arrows pointing outwards from the corners.
  3. Click the Fullscreen button: Just click that button, and bam! The video should expand to fill your entire screen.
  4. Exiting Fullscreen: To exit fullscreen mode, you can either click the same button again (it will now have arrows pointing inwards) or simply press the Esc key on your keyboard.

YouTube also has some keyboard shortcuts that can make your life easier. For example, you can press F to toggle fullscreen mode on and off quickly. This is especially useful if you're using a keyboard and mouse and want to switch in and out of fullscreen without moving your mouse to the button. The YouTube interface can be a bit different depending on whether you're watching on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device, but the fullscreen button is usually in the same general area. If you're watching on a mobile device, you might need to tap the screen to bring up the controls before you can see the fullscreen button.

On VLC Media Player

VLC is a fantastic, versatile media player that can handle pretty much any video format you throw at it. Here’s how to go fullscreen in VLC:

  1. Open your video: Open the video file in VLC Media Player.
  2. Find the Fullscreen option: There are a few ways to do this:
    • Double-click: Simply double-click anywhere in the video area.
    • Right-click: Right-click in the video area and select "Fullscreen" from the context menu.
    • Use the menu bar: Go to the "View" menu at the top and select "Fullscreen."
    • Keyboard shortcut: Press the F key on your keyboard. This is the quickest way!
  3. Exiting Fullscreen: To exit, you can use any of the same methods: double-click, right-click and select "Fullscreen," go to the "View" menu, or press the F key again. The VLC player is great because of how many different ways it gives you to control the playback.

VLC also has a lot of customization options that let you tweak the fullscreen experience. For example, you can set VLC to always open videos in fullscreen mode by default. To do this, go to Tools > Preferences, then click on the Video tab. Under the Display section, you can check the box that says "Fullscreen." This is super useful if you always want your videos to play in fullscreen without having to manually enable it each time.

On Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player might feel a bit old-school, but it's still a reliable option for playing videos on Windows. Here’s how to go fullscreen:

  1. Open your video: Open the video file in Windows Media Player.
  2. Locate the Fullscreen button: Look for the button in the bottom-right corner of the player. It usually looks like a small rectangle.
  3. Click the Fullscreen button: Click the button to make the video fullscreen.
  4. Alternative method: You can also right-click in the video area and select "Full Screen" from the menu.
  5. Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt + Enter to toggle fullscreen mode.
  6. Exiting Fullscreen: To exit, use the same methods: click the button again, right-click and select "Full Screen," or press Alt + Enter.

Windows Media Player also has some options to customize the fullscreen experience. You can change the display settings to optimize the video quality for fullscreen playback. To do this, go to View > Enhancements and play around with the settings until you find what looks best for your screen. Keep in mind that Windows Media Player may not support as many video formats as VLC, so you might need to convert your video to a compatible format if you're having trouble playing it.

On macOS (QuickTime Player)

If you're on a Mac, QuickTime Player is a built-in option for playing videos. Here’s how to make a video fullscreen:

  1. Open your video: Open the video file in QuickTime Player.
  2. Find the Fullscreen button: Look for the button in the top-left corner of the player window. It looks like a diagonal arrow.
  3. Click the Fullscreen button: Click the button to enter fullscreen mode.
  4. Alternative method: You can also go to the "View" menu at the top of the screen and select "Enter Full Screen."
  5. Keyboard shortcut: Press Command + F to toggle fullscreen mode.
  6. Exiting Fullscreen: To exit, use the same methods: click the button again, go to the "View" menu and select "Exit Full Screen," or press Command + F.

QuickTime Player is a simple and straightforward video player, but it might not have as many advanced features as some other options. However, it's a great choice for basic video playback and supports most common video formats. If you're looking for more advanced features, you might want to consider using VLC or another third-party video player on your Mac.

On iPhone and Android Devices

Watching videos on your phone is super common. Here’s how to go fullscreen on mobile devices:

  1. Open your video: Start playing the video in your preferred video app (like YouTube, Netflix, or your phone's built-in video player).
  2. Locate the Fullscreen button: Usually, there's a fullscreen button in the bottom-right corner of the video player. It might look like a small square or rectangle with arrows pointing outwards.
  3. Tap the Fullscreen button: Tap the button to make the video fullscreen.
  4. Rotate your device: Sometimes, the video will automatically go fullscreen when you rotate your phone to landscape mode (horizontal). Make sure you have auto-rotate enabled in your phone's settings.
  5. Exiting Fullscreen: To exit, tap the same button again (it will now have arrows pointing inwards) or tap the screen to bring up the controls and then tap the exit fullscreen button.

Mobile video players are designed to be easy to use on small screens, so the fullscreen button is usually easy to find. However, the exact location of the button might vary depending on the app you're using. If you're having trouble finding it, try tapping the screen to bring up the controls or looking in the app's settings menu.

Troubleshooting Fullscreen Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and you might run into issues with fullscreen mode. Here are a few common problems and how to fix them:

  • Fullscreen button not visible: Make sure the video is actually playing. Some video players only show the fullscreen button when the video is running. Also, try tapping or hovering your mouse over the video to bring up the controls.
  • Video doesn’t fill the entire screen: Check your display settings. Make sure your screen resolution is set correctly. Sometimes, an incorrect resolution can cause videos to not display properly in fullscreen mode. Also, check the video player's settings to see if there are any options to adjust the aspect ratio or zoom level.
  • Video is blurry in fullscreen: This can happen if the video quality is low. Try selecting a higher resolution for the video (e.g., 1080p or 4K) if the option is available. Keep in mind that higher resolutions require more bandwidth, so you might experience buffering if your internet connection is slow.
  • Fullscreen mode is disabled: Some websites or apps might disable fullscreen mode for certain videos due to copyright restrictions or other reasons. In this case, there's not much you can do except try a different video or platform.
  • Driver issues: Make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause problems with video playback and fullscreen mode. You can usually update your drivers through your computer's operating system or by downloading the latest drivers from the graphics card manufacturer's website.

Conclusion

Going fullscreen with your videos is a simple way to enhance your viewing experience. Whether you’re using YouTube, VLC, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or your mobile device, the process is usually straightforward. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to enjoy your videos without any distractions. And if you run into any issues, the troubleshooting tips should help you get things sorted out. Happy watching, guys! Hope this guide was super helpful in showing you how to make video fullscreen!