There are few things more frustrating than opening your web browser and having it launch as a tiny, floating square in the middle of your monitor. While you can simply click the maximize button, having to do this every single time you launch Google Chrome gets annoying quickly.
Google Chrome is supposed to remember the window state it was in when you last closed it. However, updates, crashes, or certain background extensions can break this memory, causing Chrome to stubbornly open in a windowed state.
If you use Windows, there is a simple property setting you can change to force Google Chrome to automatically maximize its window every single time you launch it.
How to Force Maximize Google Chrome on Windows
This method involves changing the properties of the Chrome shortcut you use to launch the application.
- Locate the Google Chrome shortcut on your Desktop. (If you launch Chrome from the Taskbar, right-click the Chrome icon on the Taskbar, then right-click the word “Google Chrome” in the pop-up list, and select Properties. Skip to step 3).
- Right-click the Chrome Desktop shortcut and select Properties.
- Ensure you are on the Shortcut tab at the top of the window.
- Look for the drop-down menu labeled Run:.
- By default, this is set to “Normal window.” Click the drop-down and change it to Maximized.
- Click the Apply button at the bottom right. (You may be prompted to provide administrator permission; click Continue).
- Click OK to close the window.
Testing the Shortcut
To ensure it worked, completely close any instances of Google Chrome you currently have open.
Double-click the shortcut you just modified. Chrome should instantly launch and fill your entire screen. Because you modified the shortcut itself, this rule will apply every time you use that specific icon to launch the browser. If you have multiple Chrome shortcuts (e.g., one on the desktop and one in the Start menu), you will need to apply this property change to all of them.