If you’re tired of clutter on your screen while browsing the web, you’ll be thrilled to know that it’s possible to make Google Chrome screen only, providing a distraction-free experience. This minimalistic view allows you to focus solely on the content you’re interested in, eliminating all the unnecessary tabs, toolbars, and other elements that can get in the way. With just a few simple steps, you can transform your browsing experience, enhancing your productivity and minimizing distractions.
To begin, open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the window. From the drop-down menu that appears, select “More Tools” and then “Extensions.” This will open the Chrome Web Store, where you can search for extensions that will help you make your screen only. There are several different extensions available, so take some time to browse and choose one that fits your specific needs. Once you’ve found an extension you like, click on the “Add to Chrome” button and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
After you’ve installed the extension, you can start using it to make your screen only. Simply click on the extension’s icon in the Chrome toolbar and select the “Screen Only” option. The extension will then hide all of the unnecessary elements on your screen, leaving you with a clean and distraction-free view of the content you’re interested in. When you’re finished using the screen only mode, simply click on the extension’s icon again and select the “Exit Screen Only” option. Your screen will then return to its normal state.
Enabling Fullscreen Mode
There are multiple ways to enable fullscreen mode in Google Chrome. Here’s a detailed guide to each method:
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut
The fastest and most convenient way to enter fullscreen mode is through a keyboard shortcut. Simply press the “F11” key on your keyboard. This will instantly expand the current tab to fill the entire screen, hiding all other elements like the address bar and tabs.
To exit fullscreen mode, press the “F11” key again or move your mouse to the top of the screen and click on the small “Exit Fullscreen” icon that appears.
Method 2: Menu Option
You can also enable fullscreen mode through the Chrome menu. Here’s how:
- Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the Chrome window.
- Select the “Full Screen” option from the drop-down menu.
To exit fullscreen mode, simply click on the “Exit Full Screen” icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
Method 3: Double-Clicking
For Windows and Linux users, double-clicking on an empty space on the webpage will also toggle fullscreen mode on or off.
| Method | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Fullscreen | F11 |
| Exit Fullscreen | F11 |
| Double-Click | Double-click on an empty space (Windows/Linux only) |
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
There are several convenient keyboard shortcuts you can use to control your Google Chrome screen settings:
Switch to Full Screen
- Windows/Linux: Press F11
- Mac: Press Fn + F11 (or Control + Command + F)
This will maximize the Chrome window and hide the tabs, toolbar, and other elements, giving you a distraction-free viewing experience.
Toggle Toolbar and Tabs Visibility
- Windows/Linux: Press F4
- Mac: Press Control + Command + B
This shortcut will toggle the visibility of the toolbar and tabs. If the toolbar and tabs are currently visible, they will be hidden. If they are hidden, they will be restored.
Control Brightness
- To increase brightness:** Windows/Linux: Press F6; Mac: Press Shift + Control + Command + F6
- To decrease brightness:** Windows/Linux: Press F7; Mac: Press Shift + Control + Command + F7
This shortcut allows you to adjust the brightness of your screen directly from within Chrome, without having to go through the operating system settings.
Configuring Chrome Settings
To enable screen-only mode in Google Chrome, you must configure certain settings within the browser.
Step 1: Access Chrome Settings
Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Select Advanced Settings
Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings page and click on the “Advanced” link.
Step 3: Enable Screen-Only Mode
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| System | Click on the “System” tab. |
| Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed | Toggle the switch to the “Off” position. |
| Use hardware acceleration when available | Toggle the switch to the “Off” position. |
By completing these steps, you will disable all background processes and hardware acceleration in Chrome, effectively forcing it to operate in screen-only mode.
Creating a Custom Keyboard Shortcut
To create a custom keyboard shortcut for entering full-screen mode, follow these steps:
- Open the Chrome browser and click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down and click on “Advanced” at the bottom of the page.
- Scroll down to the “Keyboard shortcuts” section and click on “Create new shortcut.”
Shortcut Action Ctrl + Shift + F Toggles full-screen mode - In the “Shortcut” field, enter the keyboard shortcut you want to use (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + F).
- In the “Action” field, select “Toggles full-screen mode” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on the “Add” button to save your shortcut.
Once you have created the custom keyboard shortcut, you can use it to enter full-screen mode by pressing the specified keys combination (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + F). To exit full-screen mode, press the same keyboard shortcut again.
Using an Extension
There are several Chrome extensions available that can help you make the entire screen black except for the Chrome window. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use one of the most popular extensions, “Screen Off”:
1. Install the Extension
Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for “Screen Off”. Click on the “Add to Chrome” button to install the extension.
2. Open the Extension
Once installed, the Screen Off extension icon will appear in your Chrome toolbar. Click on it to open the extension’s options.
3. Configure the Extension
In the Screen Off options, select “Make screen black (except Chrome window)” from the dropdown menu. You can also adjust other settings, such as the keyboard shortcut to toggle the black screen.
4. Enable the Black Screen
Once configured, press the keyboard shortcut (default is “Alt+Shift+S”) to enable the black screen. The entire screen will turn black except for the Chrome window, allowing you to focus solely on your task.
5. Customize Further (Optional)
For advanced users, Screen Off offers additional customization options. You can specify the opacity of the black screen, set a timer to automatically turn it on/off, and even apply different settings to specific websites or domains.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Opacity Adjustment | Allows you to control the transparency of the black screen. |
| Timer Functionality | Enables you to schedule the black screen to turn on/off automatically. |
| Website-Specific Settings | Lets you configure different black screen settings for different websites or domains. |
Making Chrome Portable
If you want to use Chrome on any computer without installing it, you can make it portable. This is useful if you need to use Chrome on a public computer or if you want to keep your browsing data private. To make Chrome portable, you will need a USB drive.
- Download the ChromePortable executable file from the Chrome website.
- Extract the contents of the ZIP file to your USB drive.
- Create a shortcut to the ChromePortable.exe file on your desktop.
- When you want to use Chrome, simply double-click the shortcut on your desktop.
- Chrome will launch and you can start browsing the web.
- When you are finished using Chrome, simply close the window. Your browsing data will be saved to the USB drive and will not be stored on the computer you are using.
Advantages of Making Chrome Portable
There are several advantages to making Chrome portable, including:
- You can use Chrome on any computer without installing it.
- Your browsing data will be saved to the USB drive and will not be stored on the computer you are using.
- You can keep your browsing data private.
Disadvantages of Making Chrome Portable
There are also some disadvantages to making Chrome portable, including:
- You will need to carry the USB drive with you if you want to use Chrome.
- The USB drive may not be compatible with all computers.
- Your browsing data will be stored on the USB drive, which could be a security risk if the USB drive is lost or stolen.
Overall, making Chrome portable is a good option if you need to use Chrome on a public computer or if you want to keep your browsing data private. However, you should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages before you make a decision.
Resizing the Browser Window
To resize the browser window and view only the screen, follow these steps:
- Hover your mouse over the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Click and hold the left mouse button.
- Drag the mouse to the left or right to adjust the width of the window.
- Drag the mouse up or down to adjust the height of the window.
- Release the mouse button when you’re satisfied with the size.
- You can also resize the window by using the keyboard shortcuts:
- Ctrl + (Windows) or Cmd + (Mac) + Left Arrow to decrease the width.
- Ctrl + (Windows) or Cmd + (Mac) + Right Arrow to increase the width.
- Ctrl + (Windows) or Cmd + (Mac) + Up Arrow to decrease the height.
- Ctrl + (Windows) or Cmd + (Mac) + Down Arrow to increase the height.
Additional Tips:
- You can also use the “Maximize” button in the top-right corner of the window to enlarge the window to its maximum size.
- To restore the window to its original size, click the “Restore Down” button next to the “Maximize” button.
- You can also drag the bottom or right edge of the window to resize it, but this method may not be as precise as using the corner handle.
Using the DevTools
1. Open the DevTools
Open the DevTools by pressing Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac).
2. Go to the Elements tab
Click the “Elements” tab at the top of the DevTools panel.
3. Select the body element
Click the
element in the HTML tree on the left side of the panel.4. Expand the Styles tab
Click the triangle icon next to the “Styles” tab at the bottom of the panel.
5. Enable full-screen mode
Tick the “Viewport” checkbox at the top of the Styles tab.
6. Disable the scrollbar
Untick the “Overflow” checkbox in the “Viewport” section.
7. Set the background color
Click the “Background” color picker and set the color to black.
8. Hide the scrollbars in the DevTools
Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the DevTools panel. In the “Settings” menu, tick the “Disable scrollbars” checkbox.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Viewport | Enabled |
| Overflow | Disabled |
| Background | Black |
| Scrollbars | Disabled |
Creating a Custom Command
Step 1: Install the “Custom Commands” extension
Head to the Chrome Web Store and install the “Custom Commands” extension. This extension will allow you to create your own custom commands for controlling Chrome behaviors.
Step 2: Create a custom command
Open the Chrome Extensions menu by clicking the puzzle icon in the toolbar. Find the “Custom Commands” extension and click on “Create a Custom Command”.
Step 3: Configure the command settings
In the “Command Name” field, enter a name for your command. For example, you could call it “Screen Only”. In the “Command Action” field, enter the following code:
“`
chrome.runtime.sendMessage(“kgejglhpjiefppelldpophbiiogcelmi”, {type: “toggleScreenOnly”});
“`
This code will send a message to the Custom Commands extension to toggle the screen-only mode.
Step 4: Set a keyboard shortcut
If you want, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to your command. Click on the “Keyboard Shortcut” field and enter a key combination. For example, you could use “Ctrl+Alt+S”.
Step 5: Save the command
Click on the “Save” button to save your custom command. It will now be available to use in Chrome.
Step 6: Use the command
To use your custom command, simply press the keyboard shortcut you assigned to it. The screen-only mode will be toggled on or off.
Additional Notes
- The “toggleScreenOnly” message type is specific to the Custom Commands extension. You can use other message types to perform different actions.
- You can create multiple custom commands with different actions.
- The Custom Commands extension is open source and available on GitHub.
Changing Display Settings
To change the display settings for your Google Chrome browser, follow these steps:
1. Open the Chrome Settings menu
Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window and select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
2. Navigate to the “Appearance” tab
In the left-hand sidebar, click on the “Appearance” tab.
3. Adjust the “Display” settings
Under the “Display” section, you can change the following settings:
- Font size: Use the slider to increase or decrease the font size of the browser’s text.
- Zoom: Use the slider to zoom in or out on the browser window.
- Theme: Select a light or dark theme for the browser.
- Custom colors: Enable this option to customize the colors of various browser elements, such as the toolbar, tabs, and menus.
- Show home button: Show or hide the home button in the address bar.
- Show bookmarks bar: Show or hide the bookmarks bar below the address bar.
- Use system title bar and borders: Enable this option to use the operating system’s settings for the browser’s title bar and borders.
- Use small font: Enable this option to use a smaller font size for the browser’s text.
- Show reading list: Show or hide the reading list in the sidebar.
- Show autofill suggestions: Show or hide autofill suggestions when filling out forms.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Font size | Adjust the size of the text displayed in the browser. |
| Zoom | Zoom in or out on the browser window to make the content easier to read. |
| Theme | Choose between a light or dark theme for the browser’s interface. |
| Custom colors | Customize the colors of various browser elements, such as the toolbar, tabs, and menus. |
How to Make Screen Only on Google Chrome
If you’re looking for a way to make only one screen active in Google Chrome, there are a few different ways to do it. You can use the “Mute” button on the tab of the inactive screen, or you can use the “Pin” button to keep it active. You can also use the “Focus” button to make the active screen the only one that’s visible.
Here’s how to use each of these methods:
- **Mute the inactive screen.** To mute the inactive screen, click on the “Mute” button on the tab of the inactive screen. This will stop the audio from playing on that screen.
- **Pin the active screen.** To pin the active screen, click on the “Pin” button on the tab of the active screen. This will keep the active screen from being closed or moved.
- **Focus the active screen.** To focus the active screen, click on the “Focus” button on the tab of the active screen. This will make the active screen the only one that’s visible. To unfocus the active screen, click on the “Focus” button again.
People Also Ask About How to Make Screen Only on Google Chrome
How do I make only one tab active in Chrome?
To make only one tab active in Chrome, you can use the “Mute” button on the tab of the inactive screen, or you can use the “Pin” button to keep it active. You can also use the “Focus” button to make the active screen the only one that’s visible.
How do I make all other tabs inactive except one?
To make all other tabs inactive except one, you can use the “Mute” button on the tabs of the inactive screens, or you can use the “Pin” button to keep the active screen active. You can also use the “Focus” button to make the active screen the only one that’s visible.
How do I make Chrome only show one screen?
To make Chrome only show one screen, you can use the “Focus” button on the tab of the active screen. This will make the active screen the only one that’s visible. To unfocus the active screen, click on the “Focus” button again.
