# Is there a way to set my computer to go automatic full screen whenever I hit play on a video?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 27, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779 "2014-06-27T14:52:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779/1 "2014-06-27T14:52:37Z")

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Title says it all. I have a computer dedicated to my TV. It sure would be nice if I could set it up so that it goes automatically to full screen whenever I hit play.

My main media forms are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon prime if that matters.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779/2 "2014-06-27T15:10:11Z")

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Dunno; but SMPlayer2 has Preferences\>General\>Video\>Start videos in fullscreen.  
I assume most other players have a similar option.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779/3 "2014-06-27T16:56:37Z")

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This [Chrome extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fullscreen-anything/olcfgpmjldkkjdclidhcbonieibfhhdh?hl=en) will let you do it without hunting around for the embedded video full screen option. Not quite what you asked for.

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**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779/4 "2014-06-27T20:33:43Z")

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If you’re watching in a browser, then Hulu (for example) is playing in an embedded Flash player and there is no setting for you to make it automatically start in full screen. There could be instructions embedded in the web page for that sort of thing, but it has to be done at their end, not yours.

FWIW, I get the best watching experience by using the Hulu app and Chromecast to watch on my HDTV. Much easier than fooling around with a browser.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-set-my-computer-to-go-automatic-full-screen-whenever-i-hit-play-on-a-video/691779/5 "2014-06-27T21:06:19Z")

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If you are using Windows 8 or 8.1, then you can use the Hulu and Netflix apps instead of using your browser. The apps run full screen. That’s what we use on our TV.