Table of Contents

How Do I Set a Game to Windowed Borderless?

Setting a game to borderless windowed mode can significantly improve your gaming experience, especially if you frequently multitask or have multiple monitors. Unlike traditional fullscreen mode, which locks the game to your primary display and can cause issues when switching to other applications, borderless windowed allows you to easily move your mouse between screens without minimizing the game. The process can vary slightly depending on the game, but here’s a comprehensive guide on how to achieve this:

Methods for Enabling Borderless Windowed Mode

1. In-Game Settings

The most straightforward method is to check the game’s built-in settings. Most modern games have an option to switch between fullscreen, windowed, and borderless windowed modes.

Step 1: Access Game Settings: Launch the game and navigate to the graphics or display settings menu. The exact location may vary, but it’s typically found under “Options,” “Settings,” or a similar label.
Step 2: Locate Display Mode: Look for a dropdown or a series of checkboxes labeled “Display Mode,” “Screen Mode,” or similar.
Step 3: Select Borderless Windowed: Choose “Borderless Windowed,” “Windowed (Borderless),” or “Fullscreen (Windowed).”
Step 4: Apply Changes: Save or apply the changes. The game may briefly reload or restart to switch modes.

2. Steam Launch Options

If a game doesn’t offer a direct borderless windowed option, you can often force it through Steam’s launch options. This method is particularly useful for older games.

Step 1: Open Steam Library: Go to your Steam Library and locate the game you wish to modify.
Step 2: Access Properties: Right-click the game title and select “Properties.”
Step 3: Find Launch Options: In the Properties window, go to the “General” tab, then click on “Set Launch Options.”
Step 4: Add the Command: Type -popupwindow into the provided text box. This command typically forces the game to start in borderless windowed mode.
Step 5: Confirm Changes: Click “OK” and close the Properties window. The next time you launch the game through Steam, it should open in borderless windowed mode.

3. Using Third-Party Applications

For games that refuse to cooperate with the above methods, third-party applications like Borderless Gaming can be invaluable. These tools essentially force any application to run in borderless windowed mode.

Step 1: Download and Install: Obtain Borderless Gaming (or a similar program) and install it on your computer.
Step 2: Add the Game: Run Borderless Gaming, and then launch the game. In the tool, click “Add Window,” and select the game from the list of open applications.
Step 3: Activate Borderless Mode: Click on the newly added game in Borderless Gaming, which will typically force it into borderless windowed mode.
Step 4: Hotkey: Many of these applications also have hotkeys to toggle borderless mode during gameplay (often F3 or F4 by default).

4. Shortcut Modification

Sometimes, you can force a game into windowed mode by modifying its shortcut properties. While not borderless by default, you can often achieve a borderless effect using the above methods after starting in a regular window.

Step 1: Locate the Game Shortcut: Find the shortcut you use to launch the game (e.g., on your desktop or in your Start Menu).
Step 2: Access Properties: Right-click the shortcut and select “Properties.”
Step 3: Modify the Target: In the Shortcut tab, add -window or -w after the executable path in the “Target” field. For example: "C:GamesYourGameGame.exe" -window.
Step 4: Apply Changes: Click “OK” to save the changes, then launch the game using the modified shortcut.
Step 5: Combine with other methods: Once running in windowed mode, you can sometimes then switch to borderless by using the game’s in-game settings or a tool like Borderless Gaming.

5. Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt + Enter: Often, pressing Alt + Enter while the game is running will toggle it between fullscreen and windowed mode. While not always borderless on its own, this allows you to switch to windowed mode from which other methods can be used to switch to borderless.
Windows Key + M: While it doesn’t make the game borderless, pressing Windows Key + M will minimize all open windows, which can be useful if you need to quickly access your desktop while gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Borderless Windowed Mode?

Borderless windowed mode is a display mode that renders a game in a maximized window without window borders, making it appear full screen. It allows for seamless switching between applications and monitors, unlike fullscreen which usually locks the game to a single display.

2. Why Use Borderless Windowed Mode?

The primary advantage of borderless windowed mode is the ability to quickly switch between applications and monitors without the game minimizing or freezing. It’s also more convenient for multitasking and interacting with secondary displays.

3. Does Borderless Windowed Mode Affect FPS?

Generally, borderless windowed mode can cause a slight decrease in performance compared to exclusive fullscreen mode, as it relies on the operating system’s desktop compositor. However, with modern systems, the impact is often negligible. Additionally, borderless windowed mode can force Vsync unless manually disabled via the GPU driver, which can sometimes affect FPS.

4. Is Fullscreen Better Than Borderless Windowed for Gaming?

While exclusive fullscreen traditionally offered the best performance by giving the game exclusive access to the graphics hardware, borderless windowed is often preferred for its convenience. In many modern games, the difference in performance between the two modes is minimal, and many users find the trade-off in convenience to be beneficial.

5. Why do Some Games Default to Borderless Windowed?

Some games default to borderless windowed because it is less likely to cause issues with multiple monitor setups or compatibility problems with older systems. It also allows the game to potentially render at a different resolution than the screen is running, allowing for more flexibility for users who need resolution scaling.

6. Can I Force a Game into Windowed Mode?

Yes, you can force a game into windowed mode through various methods, including editing the shortcut properties with -window or -w, using the in-game settings, and using the Alt + Enter keyboard shortcut. Once in windowed mode, it is often easier to force a game to borderless windowed.

7. How do I Minimize a Game Window?

Pressing the Windows Key + M simultaneously will minimize the current active window, including games, and bring you back to the desktop.

8. Can I Force Borderless Windowed Mode in Genshin Impact?

Yes, you can force borderless windowed mode in Genshin Impact by adding the -popupwindow command in the game’s Steam launch options, or by using Alt+Enter once the game is launched to move to windowed mode and then select borderless in the game settings.

9. Why is VSync Forced in Borderless Windowed Mode?

Borderless windowed mode often forces Vsync as it relies on the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) to handle rendering, which uses vertical synchronization by default to prevent screen tearing. This can be avoided by forcing vsync off in your GPU drivers, but that can sometimes come with its own issues like stuttering.

10. How do I Disable VSync in Borderless Windowed Mode?

To disable Vsync when using borderless windowed mode, you need to force it off in your graphics card’s control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software).

11. What are the Downsides of Borderless Windows?

The main downsides of borderless windowed mode are potentially lower performance compared to exclusive fullscreen, and the forced Vsync which can create input lag or other visual issues.

12. What is the Shortcut for Windowed Borderless Gaming?

The default hotkey for toggling borderless windowed mode in applications like Borderless Gaming is often F4, but this can be customized in the application’s settings.

13. Can Windows 11 Optimize Games for Windowed Mode?

Yes, Windows 11 has an option to optimize games for windowed mode. To enable this, go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings and turn “Optimizations for windowed games” to On.

14. Does Windowed Mode Give Better FPS?

In some instances, especially on laptops with dual GPUs, windowed mode can sometimes result in better performance compared to fullscreen. This is because the discrete GPU may have issues with outputting frames directly to the screen, and the integrated GPU may be able to output better in windowed mode.

15. How Do I Exit Fullscreen in a Game?

The most common ways to exit fullscreen mode are by pressing Alt + Enter, pressing the Esc key, or by changing the display settings in the game. Many games also have a minimized window button in the top left.

How do I set a game to windowed borderless?