Windows 10 universal app - Run in fullscreen mode by default

Question

I have application with target windows 8.1 and when I run this application on Windows 10, it is run in small window by default.

Because it is primary tablet application I need it to run in full-screen mode by default. Is it possible to set it somewhere in Visual Studio or in some config of the application?

Answer 1

To launch application in full screen mode, try setting ApplicationView.PreferredLaunchWindowingMode as early as in App.xaml.cs's constructor

public App()
{
    ApplicationView.PreferredLaunchWindowingMode = ApplicationViewWindowingMode.FullScreen;

To have a button that toggles the full screen mode, do

var view = ApplicationView.GetForCurrentView();
if (view.IsFullScreenMode)
{
    view.ExitFullScreenMode();
}
else
{
    view.TryEnterFullScreenMode();
}

However, I need to add that even without specifying any of the code above, when you open your app inside a Windows 10 tablet or a Windows 10 desktop with Tablet Mode enabled, the app will automatically maximise itself to full screen.

As long as your app is available on Windows 10 Desktop devices, I would recommend you not to set it to full screen at start-up 'cause UX wise it's a lot easier for desktop users to work with windowed applications.