How to Make Your Game Screen Smaller

If you want to be able to view other program windows while playing a computer game, you can usually run the game in "window" mode to make the displayed game screen smaller. Not all computer games support window mode, and some can only be set to window mode using a certain method. There are three ways to make your game screen smaller: force the game shortcut to run in window mode, use a keyboard shortcut to force window mode or use the display settings built into your game's interface to disable "full screen" mode.

Instructions

Force Window Mode Through Shortcut

1. Right-click on the desktop shortcut that points to the game. Then click "Properties."

2. Click to place your cursor at the end of the "Target" field, where the path to the game is displayed.

3. Type a single space after the game path and then type "-window" or "-windowed" (without quotation marks).

4. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

5. Double-click the shortcut icon to start the game in window mode.

Force Window Mode With Keyboard Shortcut

1. Double-click the game icon on the desktop or click the game icon in the "Start" menu to run it.

2. Press and hold the "ALT" key on your keyboard.

3. Tap the "Enter" key to deactivate full-screen mode and switch to window mode.

Use Game Display Settings

1. Double-click the game shortcut icon from the desktop or click the game icon in the "Start" menu to run the game.

2. Click the "Options" or "Settings" menu.

3. Click to select "Display" or "Video" from the configuration screen.

4. Click to select "Window" or "Window Mode" or click to clear a check from the "Full Screen" option.

5. Click "OK" or "Save" to confirm the settings.

References

• Microsoft: Troubleshoot Display Issues With Microsoft Games
• Microsoft: Target Line Parameters and Troubleshooting Shortcuts for Halo: Combat Evolved and for Halo 2 for Windows Vista
• TweakGuides: Elder Scrolls IV --- Oblivion Tweak Guide