To make a traditional Windows desktop program open maximized, change the Run setting on the shortcut you actually use: open its Properties, choose the Shortcut tab, set Run to Maximized, and apply the change. This is a per-shortcut request—not a system-wide rule—and some apps ignore it or open windows another way.
Set the shortcut to launch maximized
- Find the shortcut you use to open the program. It might be on the desktop, in the Start menu, pinned to the taskbar, or in the Startup folder. If you open a file and Windows launches the associated app, that route may use a different shortcut or launch behavior.
- Right-click that shortcut and select Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, find the Run field and choose Maximized.
- Select Apply, then OK. Close the program and launch it again using that same shortcut to check the result.
This setting applies to the shortcut, not every way the program can be opened. If the taskbar button switches to an already running instance, it may not start a fresh window; Microsoft describes this behavior in its taskbar guidance.
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Why a program may still open in a normal window
The shortcut setting asks the program to start maximized; it cannot guarantee that every app will comply. The app may not use a standard Windows shortcut, may be launched through another program, or may restore or create its own window state. A Microsoft-hosted Q&A example describes a browser shortcut set to Maximized that did not open maximized: Microsoft Q&A.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →First confirm that you edited the exact shortcut used to launch the app. If the setting is absent or has no effect, check the app’s own startup or window preferences. Those controls vary by app. For example, Windows Terminal documents its own startup settings, including a maximized launch state, in its startup settings documentation.
#1 Best Overall
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Choose the right method for the result you want
| Method | Persistence and scope | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Shortcut Properties > Run > Maximized | Applies when launching through that specific shortcut. | The app may ignore the request or create a different window. |
| App’s startup or window preference | App-specific; behavior depends on the app. | Not every app offers this setting. |
| Windows key + Up arrow | Maximizes the currently focused window. | Manual action; it does not change the next launch. |
| Snap | Arranges or resizes windows for the current layout. | It is not a persistent maximize-on-launch setting. |
Maximize the current window with the keyboard
If a window opens at its usual size, click it or otherwise give it focus, then press Windows key + Up arrow. Microsoft lists this shortcut as “Maximize the window” in its Windows keyboard shortcuts reference. It changes the current window only.
Use Snap when you want an arrangement, not a maximized launch
Snap can place windows at screen edges or arrange them into layouts, which is useful when you want several windows visible instead of one filling the screen. Microsoft’s Snap guidance covers arranging windows in Windows 10 and Windows 11; it does not describe Snap as a setting that makes an app launch maximized every time.
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Windows 10 support context
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That date concerns Windows 10 support, not whether the shortcut’s Run setting works; the setting remains a per-shortcut request whose result depends on the app.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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