Unleash the Full Power: How to Make League of Legends Fullscreen

League of Legends, the titan of the MOBA genre, captivates millions with its intricate gameplay, diverse champions, and strategic depth. But sometimes, that immersive experience can be hampered by a simple technicality: the game not running in fullscreen mode. This article will be your comprehensive guide to mastering fullscreen mode in LoL, ensuring you’re seeing Summoner’s Rift in all its glory.

Table of Contents

Why Fullscreen Matters for League of Legends

Before diving into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Playing League of Legends in fullscreen offers several distinct advantages that can significantly impact your performance and enjoyment.

One of the most crucial benefits is optimized performance. Fullscreen mode allows League of Legends to dedicate all of your computer’s resources to rendering the game. When running in windowed or borderless windowed mode, the operating system allocates resources to other background processes and applications, potentially leading to reduced frame rates, stuttering, and input lag. Fullscreen, in essence, prioritizes LoL, maximizing your system’s output.

The second advantage lies in reduced input lag. Input lag, the delay between your actions (clicking, pressing keys) and their reflection on the screen, can be a frustrating obstacle, especially in a fast-paced game like League. Fullscreen mode generally minimizes input lag, giving you a more responsive and immediate connection to the game. This responsiveness is critical for precise skillshots, timely reactions, and overall control of your champion.

Finally, a more subjective but equally important benefit is enhanced immersion. Fullscreen mode fills your entire screen, eliminating distractions from other windows, taskbars, and desktop icons. This creates a more focused and immersive experience, allowing you to become fully engrossed in the game. It’s the difference between watching a movie on a small screen and watching it in a theater.

Troubleshooting Common Fullscreen Issues

Getting League of Legends into fullscreen isn’t always a seamless process. Various factors can prevent the game from displaying correctly, but understanding these potential pitfalls is the first step towards resolving them.

One common problem is resolution mismatches. If your in-game resolution doesn’t match your monitor’s native resolution, you might experience black bars around the edges of the screen or a stretched and distorted image. This is easily rectified by ensuring your in-game settings are aligned with your monitor’s capabilities.

Another issue might stem from driver problems. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can wreak havoc on your gaming experience, causing a range of visual glitches, including fullscreen malfunctions. Keeping your drivers updated is a crucial maintenance step for any PC gamer.

Sometimes, the culprit is a simple game setting. Accidentally switching to windowed or borderless mode can be easily overlooked. A quick check of the in-game video settings is always a good starting point when troubleshooting fullscreen problems.

Finally, in rare cases, third-party applications can interfere with League of Legends’ ability to run in fullscreen. Overlays from streaming software, performance monitoring tools, or even some antivirus programs might conflict with the game’s graphics settings.

Methods to Achieve Fullscreen in League of Legends

Now, let’s delve into the specific methods you can use to force League of Legends into fullscreen mode. We’ll cover various approaches, from the straightforward in-game settings to more advanced troubleshooting techniques.

Using In-Game Settings

The simplest and most direct way to enable fullscreen mode is through the game’s settings menu. This is where you’ll find the primary controls for video output.

Launch League of Legends and log into your account.
Once you’re in the client, click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen to access the settings menu.
In the settings menu, navigate to the “Video” tab.
Under the “Window” section, you’ll find a dropdown menu labeled “Mode.”
Click on the dropdown menu and select “Fullscreen.”
Ensure that the “Resolution” setting matches your monitor’s native resolution. Incorrect resolution settings can cause black bars or a stretched image.
Click the “Apply” button at the bottom of the screen to save your changes.

This should immediately switch League of Legends to fullscreen mode. If it doesn’t, proceed to the other methods outlined below.

Using Alt + Enter

A quick and often effective shortcut for toggling between windowed and fullscreen mode is the Alt + Enter key combination.

Launch League of Legends and log into your account.
If the game is running in windowed or borderless mode, simply press Alt + Enter.

This should instantly switch the game to fullscreen. Pressing Alt + Enter again will revert it to windowed mode. This method is a quick fix but may not be permanent, so you might need to repeat it each time you launch the game.

Adjusting Graphics Card Settings

Sometimes, your graphics card settings can override the in-game settings and prevent League of Legends from running in fullscreen. In this case, you’ll need to adjust your graphics card control panel. We will discuss Nvidia and AMD here.

Nvidia Control Panel

Right-click on your desktop and select “Nvidia Control Panel.”
In the Nvidia Control Panel, navigate to “Display” > “Adjust desktop size and position.”
Under the “Scaling” tab, ensure that the “Perform scaling on” option is set to “Display.”
Check the box labeled “Override the scaling mode set by games and programs.”
Click “Apply” to save your changes.

AMD Radeon Settings

Right-click on your desktop and select “AMD Radeon Settings.”
In the AMD Radeon Settings, navigate to “Display.”
Find the “Scaling Mode” option and set it to “Full Panel.”
Ensure that “GPU Scaling” is disabled, if the option is available.
Click “Apply” to save your changes.

These settings ensure that your graphics card respects the in-game resolution and scaling settings, allowing League of Legends to run in fullscreen without issues.

Modifying the Game Configuration File

For a more permanent solution, you can directly modify the game’s configuration file to force fullscreen mode. This method requires a bit more technical know-how, but it’s effective for ensuring consistent fullscreen behavior.

Close League of Legends completely.
Navigate to the following directory: C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\Config
- Note that the exact path might vary depending on where you installed League of Legends.
Locate the file named “game.cfg” and open it with a text editor such as Notepad.
Find the following lines:
- WindowMode=0 (This usually represents fullscreen, but can be misleading)
- Width=XXXX (Where XXXX is the width of your screen resolution)
- Height=YYYY (Where YYYY is the height of your screen resolution)
Change the WindowMode line to read WindowMode=0 to set the game to fullscreen. If the game has set this to 1 or 2, it is not fullscreen.
Ensure that the Width and Height values match your monitor’s native resolution. For example, if your monitor is 1920×1080, the lines should read:
- Width=1920
- Height=1080
Save the changes to the game.cfg file.
Right-click on the game.cfg file, select “Properties,” and check the box labeled “Read-only.” This prevents the game from overwriting your changes.
Launch League of Legends.

By directly modifying the configuration file, you’re ensuring that the game always launches in fullscreen mode with the correct resolution. The “Read-only” attribute prevents the game from reverting to other settings.

Updating Graphics Drivers

As mentioned earlier, outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause numerous display issues, including problems with fullscreen mode. Keeping your drivers up-to-date is essential for optimal performance and stability.

Nvidia Drivers

Visit the Nvidia website: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
Select your graphics card model and operating system from the dropdown menus.
Click “Search” to find the latest drivers.
Download the drivers and follow the on-screen instructions to install them.
Reboot your PC after installation.

AMD Drivers

Visit the AMD website: https://www.amd.com/en/support
Select your graphics card model from the dropdown menus or use the auto-detect tool.
Download the latest drivers and follow the on-screen instructions to install them.
Reboot your PC after installation.

Updating your graphics drivers can resolve compatibility issues and improve overall performance, often fixing fullscreen problems in League of Legends.

Closing Conflicting Applications

Sometimes, other applications running in the background can interfere with League of Legends’ ability to run in fullscreen. Closing these applications can resolve the conflict and allow the game to display correctly.

Common culprits include:

Streaming software (OBS, XSplit)
Performance monitoring tools (MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner)
Overlays (Discord overlay, Steam overlay)
Antivirus programs

Close any unnecessary applications before launching League of Legends to minimize the risk of conflicts.

Running League of Legends as Administrator

In some cases, running League of Legends with administrator privileges can resolve permission-related issues that might be preventing fullscreen mode from working correctly.

Locate the League of Legends executable file (usually found in the Riot Games\League of Legends directory).
Right-click on the executable file and select “Properties.”
Navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
Check the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator.”
Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Launch League of Legends.

Running the game as administrator grants it elevated privileges, potentially bypassing permission restrictions that could be interfering with fullscreen mode.

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

If none of the above methods work, you might need to delve into more advanced troubleshooting techniques to resolve the fullscreen issue. These techniques are more complex and should be approached with caution.

Checking Monitor Settings

Ensure your monitor’s settings are correctly configured. Sometimes, the monitor itself might be causing issues with fullscreen display. Check the monitor’s menu for settings related to scaling, aspect ratio, and display mode. Make sure these settings are configured appropriately for your monitor’s native resolution and refresh rate.

Reinstalling League of Legends

As a last resort, consider reinstalling League of Legends. This can resolve any corrupted game files or configuration issues that might be preventing fullscreen mode from working correctly. Before reinstalling, make sure to back up any custom game settings or replay files that you want to keep.

Checking for Hardware Issues

Although less common, hardware problems could also be responsible for display issues. Faulty cables, a failing graphics card, or a malfunctioning monitor could all prevent League of Legends from running in fullscreen. Try testing your system with different hardware components to isolate the problem.

Conclusion: Mastering Fullscreen Mode in League of Legends

Ensuring League of Legends runs in fullscreen mode is paramount for optimizing performance, minimizing input lag, and maximizing immersion. By understanding the potential issues and applying the troubleshooting methods outlined in this article, you can confidently resolve fullscreen problems and enjoy the game in all its glory. From the simple in-game settings to the more advanced configuration file modifications, these techniques provide a comprehensive toolkit for achieving fullscreen mastery in League of Legends. Remember to keep your graphics drivers updated, close conflicting applications, and experiment with different settings to find the optimal configuration for your system. Now, go forth and conquer Summoner’s Rift in fullscreen splendor!

Why is League of Legends sometimes not fullscreen, and what are the benefits of playing in fullscreen?

Playing League of Legends in a windowed or borderless windowed mode can occur due to various reasons, including incorrect game settings, driver issues, or unintended key presses. These modes might seem convenient for multitasking, but they often sacrifice performance and immersion. When the game isn’t fullscreen, it’s not utilizing your monitor’s full resolution and refresh rate, potentially leading to input lag and a less visually engaging experience.

Fullscreen mode dedicates all your system resources to running the game, resulting in smoother gameplay and potentially higher frame rates. This can significantly improve reaction times and overall performance, especially during intense team fights. Moreover, fullscreen offers a more immersive experience by eliminating distractions from other applications and maximizing the visual impact of the game.

How do I change League of Legends to fullscreen mode through the in-game settings?

The easiest way to enable fullscreen mode is directly through the League of Legends client. Once you’re logged in and on the main screen, click on the gear icon located in the top-right corner to access the settings menu. Navigate to the “Video” tab within the settings panel; this is where you’ll find options related to display and graphics.

Within the “Video” tab, locate the “Window Mode” dropdown menu. This menu allows you to select between different display options, including “Fullscreen,” “Windowed,” and “Borderless.” Simply select “Fullscreen” from the dropdown and then click the “Apply” button at the bottom of the settings window. The game will automatically switch to fullscreen mode.

What if changing the setting in-game doesn’t work? What are some alternative solutions?

Sometimes, changing the fullscreen setting in the League of Legends client may not take effect as expected. This can be frustrating, but there are several alternative solutions you can try. One common fix is to restart your computer after changing the setting. This allows the changes to properly register and can resolve any temporary glitches.

Another potential solution is to manually edit the game’s configuration file. This involves locating the “game.cfg” file, typically found in the League of Legends configuration folder, and directly modifying the “WindowMode” value to “1” for fullscreen. Remember to save the changes to the file and restart the game. Be cautious when editing configuration files, and always create a backup before making any changes.

How can I troubleshoot common issues preventing League of Legends from going fullscreen?

Several factors can prevent League of Legends from switching to fullscreen mode. One common culprit is outdated or corrupted graphics drivers. Ensure that you have the latest drivers installed for your graphics card, which can usually be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Restarting your computer after updating drivers is highly recommended.

Another potential issue is interference from other applications, especially those that overlay on top of the game window. Try closing any unnecessary programs running in the background, such as streaming software or performance monitoring tools. If you’re using multiple monitors, try disconnecting the secondary monitors to see if that resolves the issue. Sometimes, compatibility issues with specific monitors can also cause problems.

Does my monitor resolution affect how League of Legends looks in fullscreen?

Yes, your monitor’s resolution plays a crucial role in how League of Legends appears in fullscreen mode. When the game is running in fullscreen, it will typically attempt to match your monitor’s native resolution. If the game’s resolution is set lower than your monitor’s native resolution, the image may appear blurry or stretched.

To ensure the best visual quality, it’s recommended to set the in-game resolution to match your monitor’s native resolution. You can find this information in your operating system’s display settings. Also, make sure the aspect ratio in the game settings is set correctly to avoid distortions. Using the correct resolution and aspect ratio will result in a sharper, more detailed, and visually appealing experience.

How does Alt+Enter affect League of Legends’ fullscreen mode?

The Alt+Enter key combination is a universal shortcut that often toggles applications between fullscreen and windowed modes. While it may work with some games, its effectiveness with League of Legends is inconsistent and not a reliable method for switching to fullscreen. Some users report it working temporarily, while others find it has no effect.

The primary reason for this inconsistency is likely due to how League of Legends handles its window management internally. The in-game settings provide the most reliable and supported method for changing the display mode. Relying on Alt+Enter may lead to unexpected behavior or instability, so it’s best to stick to the official settings menu for consistent results.

Are there any performance implications of using fullscreen mode versus borderless windowed mode?

Generally, fullscreen mode offers better performance compared to borderless windowed mode, although the difference can vary depending on your system. Fullscreen mode gives the game exclusive control over your display, allowing it to optimize resource allocation and potentially reduce input lag. This exclusive access typically translates to higher frame rates and a smoother overall gaming experience.

Borderless windowed mode, on the other hand, treats the game as a regular window that fills the entire screen. This can lead to some performance overhead, as the operating system needs to manage the game alongside other applications. While borderless windowed mode is more convenient for multitasking, it may come at the cost of a few frames per second. If performance is a priority, fullscreen mode is usually the better choice.