Making VMware player fullscreen in windows?

Question

How can I make VMware player run the VM in full screen in windows? I'm using VMware Player 4.0.2.

@wizlog please don't edit questions in such a way that you change the original meaning. The user had asked how to put it into fullscreen, and you changed it to say maximized, which led to some answers below that misinterpreted that. — nhinkle, Jan 31 '12 at 02:36
@user Apologies, I (mistakenly) thought the only difference was the word choice, not the meaning of the question. — wizlog, Jan 31 '12 at 17:48
@nhinkle Now I realize how easy it is to change the meaning of the question, and will be more careful going forward. — wizlog, Jan 31 '12 at 17:48

score 16 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 30 '12 at 07:08

16

You can use the maximize button on the top right hand side of the window:

enter image description here

You'll also need VMWare Tools installed on the guest in order to have the VM resize the desktop accordingly.

answered Jan 30 '12 at 07:08

Nils Magne Lunde

2,582
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17
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that doesn't make it fullscreen & it only makes use of half of screen & the rest area is just black.. – Rajat Gupta Jan 30 '12 at 07:15
6

@user It works on my machine. Are you sure you have VMWare Tools installed on the VM? – Nils Magne Lunde Jan 30 '12 at 07:24

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 30 '12 at 09:50

9

You can use Ctrl-Alt-Enter shortcut. If you have vmware tools in guest installed it will change screen resolution to match one of host.

answered Jan 30 '12 at 09:50

ZaB

2,449

If only it did... mine used to do that, after installing and then removing VMWare tools it's stuck in a resolution and refuses to fullscreen / maximise or anything else. – Owl Sep 10 '18 at 15:07

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 16 '15 at 19:33

2

I just had the same problem as you did. Here is my solution:

I installed Ubuntu in the VMware player. You just right click, and click "Change Desktop Background", and click "all setting" at upper left corner. Click "Displays" and change the resolution to 2560 by 1600.

Hope this solves your problem. Thanks

answered Jun 16 '15 at 19:33

user459546

21

Does this work if Windows (or any other OS) is installed on the VM? Does the resolution have to be 2560x1600, or can it be the max resolution of the monitor? – Cfinley Jun 16 '15 at 20:17

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 07 '17 at 15:31

1

If the above does not work (my VMWare Workstation 12 does not have this under "change desktop background"), try Display (either on desktop or in menu)

VMWare menu: System/Preferences/Display

change Resolution to 1280 x 800 or more, hit Apply, Keep, Close

answered Aug 07 '17 at 15:31

Sasha Bond

130

I don't have any of these menus :/ – Owl Sep 10 '18 at 15:09

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 21 '19 at 05:38

I will post here the solution for Ubuntu guest os installed on windows

In the Ubuntu, get terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) run below command and press Y then Enter

sudo apt install open-vm-tools

After installation completed run below command in the terminal.

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop

after installation restarts the vm. Then press Ctrl + Alt + Enter to go full screen.

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 03 '18 at 22:47

I had the same issue trying to play a Windows XP virtual machine on Windows 10. I somewhat solved it by going to the control panel, then display, then changing the settings. I'm using 1440x900 which shows a little black on the sides and requires me to scroll down to see the bottom, but it's better than looking at a very small VM screen.

score 0 · Answer 7 · edited Dec 23 '20 at 22:14

0

Just got my problem solved.

In menu bar, goto VM
Search for install VMware tools and click on it
A dvd file with .exe will be downloaded.
Run the file
In the installation settings click on Typical installation.
Once installation completes, reboot the VM and you will get the full screen.

edited Dec 23 '20 at 22:14

Jeff Schaller

202

answered Dec 23 '20 at 06:58

Satya Ganesh

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 01 '23 at 02:59

When I tried to change resolution in hope of real full screen, it prompted to install VM Tools which I selected (I otherwise couldn't find this option and what I was looking for it).

It still didn't install but there was instructions on screen (if installation didn't begin), go to file explorer, D:\ drive and run setup.exe, this install the tools.

Basically Window button + R and type d:\setup.exe or just go to the file explorer and run it.

vaibhav · Answer 9 · 2016-06-10T05:25:03.563

-1

It works by changing resolution of monitor. Keep monitor resolution as your system configuration

edited Jun 10 '16 at 05:25

answered Jun 10 '16 at 05:16

vaibhav

1

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What works by changing monitor resolution? What do you mean by "keep monitor resolution as your system configuration"? How is this a solution to the question? – fixer1234 Jun 10 '16 at 06:04
Welcome to Super User. Please be aware you have posted an answer to a question that is very old and has an accepted answer. Although there is nothing wrong with doing so, just be aware you may not get a response. – CharlieRB Jun 10 '16 at 13:30

score -1 · Answer 10 · edited Mar 12 '18 at 13:19

-1

I just had the same problem as you did. Here is my solution:

Edit>Preferences
Click "display" on left menu
in the middle part, select "stretch guest"
return to your virtual OS and click on "Full-Screen"

edited Mar 12 '18 at 13:19

Toto

17,839

answered Mar 12 '18 at 09:10

M.Rahmati

1

Making VMware player fullscreen in windows?

10 Answers10