I want to make a Console Application go into fullscreen automatically, similar to how F11/Alt+Enter does it. I am using .Net 6.0/7.0 in C#. I have seen a previous answer by Karen that involves her Repo and Nuget ConsoleHelperLibrary, but I did not understand it. Can someone please explain how to achieve this?

How to make a Console Application fullscreen in C#?

Accepted answer

KOZ6.0 4,810

If you don't know how to use nuget, see below. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/consume-packages/install-use-packages-visual-studio

You can also be achieved with the following code:

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

class Program
{
    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", ExactSpelling = true)]
    private static extern IntPtr GetConsoleWindow();

    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
    private static extern bool ShowWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow);

    private const int SW_MAXIMIZE = 3;

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        IntPtr handle = GetConsoleWindow();
        ShowWindow(handle, SW_MAXIMIZE);

        Console.WriteLine("This is a fullscreen console application.");
        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

Mr.Postal 20 Reputation points

2024-03-24T23:31:56.31+00:00

Il try that and see if it Works
Viorel 112.1K Reputation points

2024-03-25T06:38:32.13+00:00

This is probably a maximised window, not a fullscreen console.

KOZ6.0 4,810

sorry,how's this?

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

class Program
{
    private const int STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE = -11;

    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    private static extern IntPtr GetStdHandle(int nStdHandle);

    private const int CONSOLE_FULLSCREEN_MODE = 1;
    private const int CONSOLE_WINDOWED_MODE = 2;

    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    private struct COORD
    {
        public short X;
        public short Y;
    }

    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", ExactSpelling = true)]
    private static extern bool SetConsoleDisplayMode(IntPtr hConsoleOutput, 
                                    int dwFlags, ref COORD coord);

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        IntPtr handle = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
        COORD coord = new COORD();
        SetConsoleDisplayMode(handle, CONSOLE_FULLSCREEN_MODE, ref coord);

        Console.WriteLine("This is a fullscreen console application.");
        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

RLWA32 40,286 Reputation points

2024-03-25T13:04:33.3433333+00:00

On Win 10 22H2 SetConsoleDisplayMode succeeds in a 32-bit process but fails in a 64-bit process (error code 120).
Mr.Postal 20 Reputation points

2024-03-25T17:31:45.3466667+00:00

It Did Work Somehow but it still shows the Titlebar and Doesnt fill the entire Screen. It still shows a little of the desktop and it still shows the Taskbar. Im on Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit 22H2 Build 19045.4170

KOZ6.0 4,810

Not very cool... :p

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

class Program
{
    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", ExactSpelling = true)]
    private static extern IntPtr GetConsoleWindow();

    [DllImport("User32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
    private static extern bool PostMessage(IntPtr hWnd, int Msg,
                                             IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);

    private const int WM_KEYDOWN = 0x0100;
    private const int VK_F11 = 0x7A;

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        IntPtr handle = GetConsoleWindow();
        PostMessage(handle, WM_KEYDOWN, (IntPtr)VK_F11, IntPtr.Zero);

        Console.WriteLine("This is a fullscreena console application.");
        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

Mr.Postal 20 Reputation points

2024-03-28T11:31:27.44+00:00

It Worked Thank u Guys!

How to make a Console Application fullscreen in C#?

1 additional answer