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How to Fix Sea of Thieves Fullscreen Issue on Windows 11: Complete Working Solutions

Many players enjoy the immersive experience of Sea of Thieves on Windows 11. However, some users have reported fullscreen issues that affect gameplay. These problems can cause the game to run in windowed mode or have display glitches.

Fortunately, fixing fullscreen problems is usually straightforward. With a few simple adjustments, you can get Sea of Thieves running smoothly in fullscreen again. This guide will walk you through easy steps to resolve the issue.

Whether you are new to troubleshooting or a casual gamer, these instructions are designed to be clear and accessible. Follow each step carefully to improve your gaming experience.

Let’s dive into the solutions that work best for fixing fullscreen issues on Windows 11.

Quick Note: Prerequisites and Initial Checks

Before starting with the fixes, ensure the following:

  • Your Windows 11 is up to date. Updates often include important bug fixes and compatibility improvements.
  • Your graphics drivers are updated to the latest version. Outdated drivers can cause display problems.
  • Close any unnecessary background applications that might interfere with the game’s display.
  • Check your game’s system requirements to confirm your PC meets the minimum specs.

These quick checks can save time and prevent confusion during troubleshooting.

Step 1: Change the Display Mode Inside the Game

The simplest way to fix fullscreen issues is by adjusting the display settings directly in Sea of Thieves.

  1. Launch Sea of Thieves and wait for the main menu to appear.
  2. Navigate to the Settings menu.
  3. Click on the Graphics tab.
  4. Look for the Display Mode option. It usually has choices like Fullscreen, Windowed, and Borderless Windowed.
  5. Select Fullscreen and apply the changes.
  6. Restart the game to ensure the setting takes effect properly.

This step forces the game to use fullscreen and often resolves minor glitches related to windowed display modes.

Step 2: Adjust Windows 11 Display Settings

If the in-game setting does not fix the issue, try changing your Windows display settings.

  1. Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.
  2. Under Scale and layout, make sure the scaling is set to 100% or the recommended value.
  3. Scroll down to Display resolution and confirm it matches your monitor’s native resolution.
  4. If you have multiple monitors, try disconnecting extra screens or setting Sea of Thieves to run on your primary monitor.

Correct scaling and resolution are important because mismatched settings can cause fullscreen display problems.

Step 3: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Windows 11 uses a feature called Fullscreen Optimizations to improve gaming performance. However, this can sometimes cause issues with certain games.

  1. Navigate to the Sea of Thieves installation folder. If you installed it via Microsoft Store or Xbox app, the path is usually:
    2. C:Program FilesWindowsApps
  2. Right-click on the Sea of Thieves executable file (SeaOfThieves.exe) and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  4. Check the box that says Disable fullscreen optimizations.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.
  6. Restart the game and see if the fullscreen problem is resolved.

Disabling fullscreen optimizations can prevent conflicts between the game and Windows display features.

Step 4: Adjust Graphics Card Settings

Your graphics card control panel may have settings that impact fullscreen behavior.

For NVIDIA Users:

  1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel from the system tray or Start menu.
  2. Under Display, select Adjust desktop size and position.
  3. Make sure Scaling mode is set to Aspect ratio or Full-screen.
  4. Check the box for Override the scaling mode set by games and programs.
  5. Click Apply.

For AMD Users:

  1. Open AMD Radeon Software.
  2. Go to Display settings.
  3. Look for options related to scaling and fullscreen and set them to Preserve aspect ratio or Full panel.
  4. Save changes and restart your game.

Correct scaling settings in your GPU control panel ensure your game displays properly in fullscreen mode.

Step 5: Run Sea of Thieves in Compatibility Mode

If fullscreen issues persist, running the game in compatibility mode for an older version of Windows might help.

  1. Right-click on SeaOfThieves.exe and select Properties.
  2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  3. Check the box Run this program in compatibility mode for:
  4. From the dropdown menu, select Windows 10.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.
  6. Launch the game and check if fullscreen works correctly.

This method can fix issues arising from Windows 11 compatibility quirks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does Sea of Thieves not go fullscreen on Windows 11?

This can happen due to incompatible display settings, outdated graphics drivers, or conflicts with Windows fullscreen optimizations.

Can updating my graphics driver fix the fullscreen issue?

Yes, updated drivers often include fixes for display problems and improve overall game stability.

Is disabling fullscreen optimizations safe?

Yes, it disables a Windows feature that sometimes causes issues but generally does not harm system performance.

What if Sea of Thieves shows a black screen in fullscreen?

Try switching to borderless windowed mode or update your graphics drivers. Also, check for conflicting applications running in the background.

Does running the game in compatibility mode affect performance?

Usually, it does not significantly affect performance but can resolve display compatibility problems.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above methods and Sea of Thieves still won’t display fullscreen properly, consider these final options:

  • Reinstall the game: Sometimes corrupted files cause display issues. A fresh install can fix this.
  • Reset Windows display settings: Resetting scaling and resolution to default values might help.
  • Check official support: Visit the Sea of Thieves Support page for specific advice and updates.
  • Use community forums: Many players share fixes on forums like Reddit and the official Sea of Thieves forums.

Conclusion

Fullscreen issues in Sea of Thieves on Windows 11 can be frustrating but are usually fixable with some simple steps. Start by adjusting in-game display settings and verifying Windows and driver updates. Disabling fullscreen optimizations and tweaking graphics card scaling settings often resolve most problems.

If needed, running the game in compatibility mode or reinstalling can help as a last resort. Always keep your system updated and check official resources for the latest fixes.

By following this guide, you should be able to enjoy Sea of Thieves in fullscreen without interruptions, enhancing your gaming adventure on the high seas.

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