How to Run Fallout 4 in Fullscreen Mode
Fallout 4 remains a beloved open-world action RPG, but modern display setups often cause the game to launch in a small window or bordered mode. Getting the game to fill your entire monitor properly enhances immersion and improves input responsiveness during post-apocalyptic adventures. Understanding how to adjust graphics settings and modify configuration files ensures a smooth gameplay experience.
Adjusting Settings via the Standard Launcher
The most straightforward method to enable full display coverage is through the official game startup launcher. Open the launcher before starting the game and click on the options menu to inspect your current graphics configurations. Ensure that the checkmark for windowed mode is unchecked and selecting your native desktop resolution from the dropdown list.
Sometimes the launcher resets these preferences after major graphics driver updates or system patches. Rechecking these options ensures your display adapters communicate correctly with the application. If the settings save properly, launching the game should immediately present a seamless edge-to-edge view.
Modifying INI Configuration Files Directly
When the standard launcher fails to save your display preferences, manually editing the configuration files provides a reliable fix. Navigate to your documents folder where the game saves user preferences, typically located in the My Games subdirectory. Open the Fallout4Prefs.ini file using a standard text editor like Notepad to review display parameters.
Search for specific lines including bMaximizeWindow, bBorderless, and bFull Screen to adjust their numeric values accordingly. Setting bFull Screen to 1 while ensuring borderless options are disabled forces the engine to run natively across your entire screen. Save the document and set the file properties to read-only if the launcher repeatedly overrides your manual changes.
Optimizing Windows Display Settings and GPU Profiles
System-level display scaling can occasionally interfere with how old game engines handle screen boundary dimensions. Right-click on your desktop, enter display settings, and confirm that your scaling percentage is set to the recommended baseline. Custom scaling settings can force full display applications into constrained windows despite correct in-game configurations.
Additionally, open your graphics card control panel, such as NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software, to manage application-specific profiles. Ensure the scaling mode is set to full-screen and perform scaling on the GPU rather than the display. Similar adjustments are helpful when learning how to exit fullscreen mode in any game or managing multi-monitor desktop configurations.
Troubleshooting Common Resolution Mismatches
If the game continues to launch with black bars or cropped edges, your custom resolution might not match your monitor aspect ratio. Open the game configuration file again and verify that iSize W and iSize H reflect your exact screen pixels. For instance, standard 1080p monitors require the width set to 1920 and height set to 1080.
Running the executable file in compatibility mode can also resolve stubborn display scaling glitches on modern operating systems. Right-click the primary game application, navigate to compatibility settings, and override high DPI scaling behavior. These steps ensure stable performance without unexpected window borders disrupting your exploration.