How to Fix Google Chrome Errors When Watching YouTube in Fullscreen

This guide explains how to resolve the fullscreen error that occurs when watching YouTube on Google Chrome. The issue may cause part of your browser or desktop to be visible while in fullscreen mode, or even worse, disable the feature entirely. While restarting your browser or computer often fixes the problem, if the issue persists, you'll need to adjust specific settings to prevent the fullscreen error from recurring.

Try using fullscreen mode when Chrome doesn't fully maximize. If your Chrome window takes up the whole screen, part of your desktop may be visible when watching YouTube in fullscreen mode. You can fix this issue by clicking the square button in the top-right corner of the window (Windows) or the green button in the top-left corner of the window (Mac), and then attempt to use YouTube in fullscreen mode.

Use Google Chrome's fullscreen mode. If part of your desktop is showing when YouTube is in fullscreen mode, press F11 (on Windows) or ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+F (on Mac) to switch Google Chrome into fullscreen mode. This will resize the YouTube window to fit your screen.

Close and reopen Chrome before retrying. Sometimes, fullscreen issues occur because Google Chrome doesn't load properly. To fix this, close Chrome, then reopen it and return to the video you're watching.

Restart your computer. If the previous methods haven't worked, try turning off your computer and restarting it to fix the fullscreen issue on YouTube in Google Chrome.

• This step will resolve fullscreen issues in most cases. If you've restarted your computer and the fullscreen problem persists, try the solutions below.

Click on ⋮. This button is located in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. A dropdown menu will appear when clicked.

Click on Settings (Settings). This option is found in the dropdown menu and allows you to open the Settings page.

Scroll down to the "Appearance" section. This section is located near the top of the Settings page, though you may need to scroll slightly to locate it.

Click on Reset to default (Restore default settings). This option is usually located to the right of the "Themes" label. Clicking it will remove any installed themes (backgrounds) from Google Chrome.

Try watching YouTube in full-screen mode. Open your YouTube video and click the full-screen icon located at the bottom right of the playback window. If the installed theme was preventing the full-screen feature from working, you should now be able to use it.

Understand when to disable extensions. If you notice the full-screen issue appearing right after installing an extension, it's likely that the extension is the culprit. Disabling (not removing) the extension can help fix the problem.

• Chrome updates can also cause older extensions to become unstable, potentially leading to strange errors.

Click on ⋮. You’ll find this button at the top-right corner of the window. A dropdown menu will appear.

Select More tools (Other tools). This option is in the dropdown menu. After selecting it, another menu will appear.

Click on Extensions (Extensions). This option is located in the menu that just appeared. This step will open the Extensions page.

Try using YouTube in full-screen mode. After disabling any extensions that might be causing the error (or disabling all browser extensions), return to your video and click the full-screen icon in the bottom-right corner of the player. If one of the extensions was the cause of the issue, the player will now display in full-screen without any errors.

Click on ⋮. This button is located at the top-right corner of the window. A dropdown menu will be displayed.

Click on Settings (Settings). This option appears in the dropdown menu. The Settings page will open.

Scroll down and click Advanced (Advanced). This button is located at the bottom of the page. Additional options will appear.

Scroll down to the "System" section. You will find this section near the bottom of the page.

Try watching YouTube in full-screen mode. Go back to your video and click the "full-screen" icon located at the bottom right of the playback window. The video should now play in full-screen mode.

Click the ⋮ button located at the top-right corner of the window. A dropdown menu will appear.

Hover over the Help option. This is found near the bottom of the dropdown menu, and selecting it will reveal another menu.

Click on About Google Chrome. This option is located within the menu that has just appeared.

Allow updates to be installed when notified. If Chrome prompts you for an update, click Update Google Chrome and wait for the installation to complete.

• If Google Chrome is already up to date, skip this step and proceed to the next one.

Click the Relaunch button when it becomes available. After the update has been installed, you will see this button. Clicking it will close and reopen Chrome.

Try viewing YouTube in fullscreen mode. Go back to your video and click the "fullscreen" icon located at the bottom right of the player. The video will now play in full-screen mode.

• If your video is still not in fullscreen mode, try one of the following methods below.

Restore Chrome to its default settings. This can fix fullscreen issues, but it will also remove your current settings:

• Click the ⋮ icon at the top-right corner.
• Select Settings.
• Scroll down and click Advanced.
• Scroll further down and select Restore settings to their original defaults.
• Click Reset settings when prompted.

Uninstall Google Chrome and reinstall it. This step forces Chrome to update if you know there’s a newer version but Chrome isn’t updating.

• You can reinstall Chrome by visiting https://www.google.com/chrome/, clicking Download Chrome, then clicking Accept and Install, double-clicking the downloaded setup file, and following the on-screen instructions.