You press the Windows key, and instead of the familiar menu in the bottom-left corner, the Start menu fills the entire screen with large tiles. Your desktop disappears behind it every time you search for something. When the Windows 10 Start menu stuck in full screen will not return to normal, it is usually controlled by a single setting.
Windows 10 offers a full-screen Start menu designed for touchscreens. It turns on with the “Use Start full screen” option, and it is also forced on when Tablet mode is active.
After a feature update, a new user profile, or a change on a touchscreen laptop, either setting can switch on without you noticing.
Turning off both brings the compact Start menu back.
The full-screen layout also hides the app list by default and slot gacor shows only tiles, which is why many people think their programs have vanished from Start.
Possible Causes
Start stays full screen for these reasons:
- “Use Start full screen” is turned on.
- Tablet mode is active.
- A policy forces a full-screen Start layout.
- The Start menu is stuck in a glitched state after an update.
If the taskbar icons are also spread out with no search box, Tablet mode is the likely cause.
Quick Fixes to Try First
Change the Start settings.
- Open Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Turn off “Use Start full screen.”
- Press Windows + A and make sure the Tablet mode tile is off.
- Open Settings > System > Tablet and set “When I sign in” to “Never use tablet mode.”
- Press the Windows key to check the Start menu size.
You can also resize the normal Start menu by dragging its top or right edge.
Advanced Steps for Stubborn Cases
Check policies and refresh Start.
- Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager.
- On Pro editions, open gpedit.msc and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
- Set “Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size” to Not Configured.
- Sign out and back in.
- Install pending Windows updates if the setting is greyed out or ignored.
On work PCs, IT may enforce the full-screen layout, so check before changing policies.
If the menu returns to normal size but the app list is still hidden, open Settings > Personalization > Start again and turn on “Show app list in Start menu.”
Before You Go Further: Keep Your Files Safe
Start menu settings do not affect files. Record any policy values you change so you can return them to their original state.
Conclusion
A full-screen Start menu is controlled by the Start full screen option and Tablet mode. Turn both off, check the Start size policy, and restart Explorer if the menu does not update.