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How to Resize a Chrome Window: Restore, Drag, or Go Full Screen

Restore Chrome from maximized or full-screen mode, then resize its outer window with your computer’s controls. Learn how that differs from maximizing, full screen, and page zoom.
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To change Chrome’s actual window size, exit full-screen mode if necessary, restore the window from maximized mode, then drag a window edge or corner using your computer’s window controls. If you want Chrome to fill the available desktop, maximize it; if you only want larger or smaller webpage content, change page zoom instead.

First, choose what you want to change

Goal Use What changes
Set a custom width or height Restore the window, then use the operating system’s window controls The Chrome window’s outer dimensions
Fill the available desktop area Maximize Chrome The window occupies the available desktop space
Hide browser or desktop controls Enter full-screen mode The viewing mode, not a custom window size
Make webpage content larger or smaller Change page zoom Content inside the page, not the window

Maximizing, full-screen mode, and page zoom are separate actions. Use a restored, non-full-screen window when you need a custom size.

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Resize Chrome to a custom size

Chrome’s help pages do not define one custom-sizing shortcut or gesture for every desktop operating system and window manager. The usual approach is to use the computer’s native window controls:

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  1. If Chrome is in full-screen mode, exit it using the shortcut for your device below.
  2. If Chrome is maximized, restore it to a windowed state. On Windows or Linux, double-click a blank area of the tab strip to switch between maximized and windowed modes.
  3. Drag a window edge or corner inward or outward to adjust its width or height. The exact gesture depends on the operating system and window manager.

Make Chrome fill the screen or leave full-screen mode

Windows and Linux

To maximize the current Chrome window, press Alt + Space, then press X. Double-clicking a blank area of the tab strip switches between maximized and windowed modes. To toggle full-screen mode, press F11. Google lists these actions in its Chrome keyboard shortcuts.

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Mac

Google documents double-clicking a blank area of the tab strip to increase the Chrome window to full height. For a custom size, use macOS window controls while Chrome is not in full-screen mode. To toggle full-screen mode, press Command + Control + F, as listed in Google’s Chrome keyboard shortcuts.

Chromebook

Use the window controls to maximize or change the size of a window. The keyboard’s full-screen key, also called F4, toggles full-screen viewing; it does not set a custom window size. See Google’s Chromebook window and tab multitasking guidance.

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Change webpage size without resizing the window

If text, images, or other page content changed size but the Chrome window did not, you changed page zoom. On Windows, Linux, and Chromebook, use Ctrl + + to zoom in and Ctrl + - to zoom out; Ctrl + 0 resets zoom on Windows and Linux. On Mac, use Command + + or Command + -. These shortcuts change content within the webpage, not the window’s outer dimensions. Google explains the difference in its page zoom guidance.

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If you cannot resize the window

  • The edge will not drag: Check whether Chrome is maximized or in full-screen mode. Restore or exit full-screen before trying to resize.
  • Only the page content changed: You adjusted page zoom rather than the window. Use the window controls for outer dimensions.
  • You want the browser to fill the display: Maximize it. Choose full-screen only when you also want browser or desktop controls hidden.

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