Powertoys: [FancyZones] Full screen mode in zone

[timhaettich]

Summary of the new feature/enhancement

It would be nice if it would be possible to split a screen to allow for multiple "full screen" windows.
This would enable for example to have You Tube in full screen mode without the rest of the UI together with for example the email program below for people using a PIVOTed Display.

This would allow to have a video playing like this:

Instead of having a lot of dead space from the UI>

[Jure-BB]

Full screen feature is IMO the biggest difference between virtual zones and a true multi-monitor setup.

Until some sort of "zone-local full screen" ability is added, zones can't be a real alternative to an actual multi-monitor setup. Which is really unfortunate as zones can be much more flexible than multiple physical displays.

This feature is also proposed in #307.

[zakius]

fullscreen may be a big thing requiring digging into OS itself, but maybe borderless will work somehow

[SchmalzTech]

I previously opened https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/403 for basically the same thing, but it was closed because this one had gained more traction. I will put my comments below for easy reference:

I have a specific use case where Fancy Zones will help to an extent, but with more features could be optimal. I would like to be able to constrict an application's full screen mode into a defined zone. I have tried this with other window managers/virtual display software without success. To be more specific, here is what I am trying to accomplish in the simplest configuration:

In my office I have a large 3840x2160 display where I would like to divide it into four zones where I can do full screen mode for four separate 1920x1080 windows for displaying status dashboards and the like without having to waste screen space with title bars and the like. With the other display manager, I can divide the screen into four virtual displays, but as soon as I hit full screen on any one application, it takes over the entire physical display.

[steve-mattsen]

@SchmalzTech This is pretty much exactly what I want to do. I can't find anything that does it and it would be really nice to have.

[mrtowle]

As everyone is mentioning this would be awesome! This is what´s keeping many from replacing their multi monitor setup with a ultra wide monitor.

A great feature would be to be able to create virtual monitors. So if you look under display manager it actually displays the virtual monitors as separate monitors.

[BCS-JonW]

This feature is sorely needed! It is VERY helpful with F11/full screen for videos as previously mentioned, but it should also function for any app within a zone when maximizing the app. Currently, if I click maximize on any app, it fills my 50" display (which has 6 zones) instead of filling just the current zone.
I've previously used iShadow VDM program and it does have this functionality.

[dsargent3220]

Agree with above. Eyeing an ultra wide but it isn’t practical for me without this feature. I have bad eyesight so I use the Windows magnifier docked in my left most monitor and rely on full screening apps to the central display.
This would be awesome to have. Thanks!

[asecor]

Does anyone happen to know if this feature request is on some sort of roadmap?

[enricogior]

@asecor
at present is not planned for v1 because it would requires a complete redesign of FZ to be implemented.

[enricogior]

Closing this in favor of https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/279 since they require the same architecture to work.

[50l3r]

I came from MaxTo who maximize windows to specific area:

https://i.gyazo.com/29cfee0e68b501962fe8debd6f7be7a5.gif

[enricogior]

@50l3r
this issue is about full screen mode inside an area, it is a different thing from expanding a window to an area.
FancyZones already provides that functionality.

[50l3r]

@50l3r
this issue is about full screen mode inside an area, it is a different thing from expanding a window to an area.
FancyZones already provides that functionality.

Oh great.

But if i try to double click on window it maximize on entire screen instead zone

[timhaettich]

@50l3r
this issue is about full screen mode inside an area, it is a different thing from expanding a window to an area.
FancyZones already provides that functionality.

Oh great.

But if i try to double click on window it maximize on entire screen instead zone

Yes, because it is not implemented yet. hence this ticket. (It's closed, as it got merged with another one)

[50l3r]

@50l3r
this issue is about full screen mode inside an area, it is a different thing from expanding a window to an area.
FancyZones already provides that functionality.

Oh great.
But if i try to double click on window it maximize on entire screen instead zone

Yes, because it is not implemented yet. hence this ticket. (It's closed, as it got merged with another one)

Great. Much thanks 4 all 😁

[ManuelStaedel]

I want that, too. Asked in a germany board for it.

[MortenCB]

I hope this will be included, as working on an ultrawide monitor it would be so nice to be able to have fullscreen-apps in zones (youtube, games in windows fullscreen mode, zoom in fullscreen and so on).

[jmamundin]

Hi; a partial solution for full screen embedded videos, I've used a chrome extension, Windowed - floating Youtube/every website, to "window" the player and set as full screen in a zone. Hope this helps for anyone with this use case.