How do I full-screen my CMD?

I work a LOT in the windows command line. Unlike other windows, it doesn't maximize - it just goes a big as it can depending on the buffer size. Is there any way I can get the CMD to act like the PuTTY console, flowing with the resize?

NOTE: The answer doesn't have to be a tweak to the CMD. If there's a PuTTY-like program out there that will work between me and the command line I'm happy with that - I just want a proper window to work in

Hubro

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation: 4 846

On Windows 10, simply resize the Window :) – kokbira – 2015-08-31T16:04:19.467

@Codemonkey: The problem is, if the program uses a true console, then it can't flow. If it mimics a console (like PuTTy), then it will necessarily fail to work well with some programs, i.e. ones that use low-level console I/O. Which do you prefer? – user541686 – 2011-05-19T23:34:48.473

Who says I can't use both? :-) – Hubro – 2011-05-19T23:37:48.123

Ah I see, so you just need the latter, right? (CMD is already the former.) – user541686 – 2011-05-19T23:39:27.017

I never really use it, but I think PowerShell should have a bit more flexibility. – Ciaran – 2011-05-19T23:46:12.080

I'm doing PHP and Python coding, so for all I know I only need the latter, yes. I'm thinking that if I were to ever need the former, I'd just use CMD :-) It's be awesome to have a proper command prompt window though – Hubro – 2011-05-19T23:46:55.920

try also dosbox – kokbira – 2011-05-20T01:53:52.970

http://superuser.com/questions/160134/full-screen-dos-in-windows-7 – Sathyajith Bhat – 2011-05-20T04:49:47.163

Answers

It's a bit tricky, but you can make the cmd fullscreen:

Launch the CMD and write the following code:
```
mode 800
```
Now you can make it fullscreen by pull the menubar to the top of the screen or resize it, to whatever size you want.

If you want, that this is set by default, do the following:

Open an editor and write in the code
```
@Echo Off
mode 800
```
Now change the filename to .cmd or .bat
Put it in the autostart.
To put it in the autostart for all users, do the following:
1. Go to the registry by entering regedit.exe in the windows-searchfield.
2. Go to the following path:
```
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
```
3. Optional: If you want to do it just for the actual user, go to the following path:
```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
```
4. Now add a key from type REG-SZ with the name Autorun and put the path of the script in the data-section of the key.
5. Now you have to change the value of the value. Rightclick on the key and choose edit.
6. Now set the value to the path, where your script is:

Everytime you now launch your machine, your cmd will be able to go fullscreen.

Christian

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation: 6 571

This spawns scrollbars and the text doesn't wrap, but it's still the best solution I've seen so far! – Hubro – 2013-10-19T22:09:32.213

Yes, it's a workaround. I dont know, why microsoft doesn't implement fullscreen ability. – Christian – 2013-10-19T22:12:16.797

1@codemonkey, you can use '''mode 160''' or can test other number that matches desktop width without scrollbars... – kokbira – 2013-11-03T19:28:48.333

@c0dev, I liked your solution :) – kokbira – 2013-11-03T19:29:33.650

Open CMD
Right click on titlebar and choose "properties"
In "layout" tab, in "screen buffer size" change from 80 to a number that will fit your screen width. E.g., in my notebook a CMD window is the half of my computer screen in width, so I choose 160.
Maximize window and see if appears an horizontal scroll bar at bottom or if there are more space on the right. If so repeat step 3 using other widths (for me 158 functioned).
In layout tab, copy values from "screen buffer size" to "windows size". Height will be locked to the maximum allowed (in mine case, 61) and it is done.
Trick: if you want, for some reason, maintain original size of CMD window, create a link (or a lot of links) for CMD with different size. E.g., in my desktop there are two shortcuts for CMD. One is a shortut for "CMD" named "CMD - original". The other is a shortcut for "CMD /k cd \" named "CMD - big", with those sizes for fullscreen (158x61).

kokbira

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation: 4 883

4This is a much simpler method ("wmic" trick): 1. Open CMD 2. Execute wmic 3. At the wmic:root\cli> prompt maximize the window 4. Right click on titlebar and choose "Properties" 5. Copy "Window wide" to "Buffer wide" and increment "Window height" by 2 6. Click "Accept" 7. Enter exit – Aacini – 2015-05-27T19:09:42.847

@Aacini, use your comment as one more answer. – kokbira – 2015-09-17T19:22:41.733

This answer is obvious and doesn't address the "flowing with the resize" part of my question, but it's still the best solution. Damn windows – Hubro – 2011-11-01T22:56:05.533

On most computers, Alt + Enter should let you enter or exit full screen. Note that this will hide your taskbar too.

kirb

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation: 201

I'd like to add here that Windows 10 x64 supports ALT+ENTER for console nowadays. – z0rberg's – 2019-07-03T21:12:53.047

1Not on 64-bit... – user541686 – 2011-05-19T23:31:20.053

1Or 32-bit from Vista upwards I think. Was definitely applicable on XP though. – Ciaran – 2011-05-20T00:03:10.763

Screenshot: http://i.stack.imgur.com/j9aRm.png . Interesting, I never knew that. And that must be the reason why my Print Shop/New Print Shop (circa 1989/1993) won't run in W7 either! Wonder how to get them working...?

– therube – 2011-05-20T01:01:05.953

@therube: See http://superuser.com/questions/160134/full-screen-dos-in-windows-7.

– Hello71 – 2011-05-20T01:55:26.167

@therube If you have Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, Google "Windows XP mode", install it, then install Print Shop inside the XP virtual machine it creates. Works practically the same. – kirb – 2011-05-22T12:14:17.507

In XP, you could (manually) install the Full screen video driver for console device, but it is no longer available in Vista+ (and even if you manually copy and install it, it won’t work). >:-| (And yet, games are able to switch screen modes as they please.) – Synetech – 2011-05-24T04:06:45.097

No, the Windows architecture simply doesn't understand what "flowing text" means, in the console.

It would need to provide support for pseudo-TTY, but it doesn't: https://jdebp.eu./FGA/capture-console-win32.html

user541686

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation: 21 330

Updated my question – Hubro – 2011-05-19T23:33:24.943

Open cmd.exe Right click on the title bar click properties click layout adjust to your liking.

user76211

Posted 2011-05-19T23:20:54.903

Reputation:

1That doesn't make the text flow as the window is resized... – user541686 – 2011-05-19T23:31:01.550