Even though Windows 11 is supposed to remember the location and window size of all the programs and apps you use on the operating system, it's pretty damn useless at doing it, especially if you have more than one monitor connected. But since that is pretty hit and miss, Microsoft has recently added a dedicated feature that forces programs to open maximised every single time you open them. So follow along as we quickly take you through the steps to enable the new feature.
Takeaways:
- Is there a way to force programs and apps to always open maximised on Windows 11?
- How do you make apps always open maximised and on the same screen on Windows 11?
Table of Contents
How to Always Open Apps Maximized on Windows 11
You can enable the setting from the Windows 11 Settings app. No third-party tools or registry changes are required, which makes things nice and simple!
- Open Settings on Windows 11.
- Click Accessibility.
- Select Visual effects.
- Turn on the Open apps maximised toggle.
After you enable the setting, Windows 11 will automatically maximise apps when you launch them.
If you prefer Windows to remember the window size you used previously, go back to the same page and turn off the Open apps maximised toggle. Windows will then go back to restoring the last window size for each app. Annoyingly, both of these settings aren't always that great on multi-monitor setups, but in my experience, opening them maximised has less chance of them opening across multiple screens.
Can't Find the Option in Settings?
If the Open apps maximised Option is missing from the Visual effects page, you don't have the correct version of Windows 11.
The option is available after installing the October 2026 Security Update or a newer version. Microsoft also releases some Windows features gradually, so installing the required update does not automatically mean the setting will immediately pop up on every PC. So if you have installed the latest available updates and still can't find the option, you're going to have to wait a little while longer.
What happens when you change the setting?
So what actually happens when you change this setting on your computer?
When the option is enabled
Windows 11 launches apps in a maximised window instead of restoring their previous size. This provides a more predictable workspace and can be useful when you want every app to fill the available desktop area.
When the option is disabled
Windows returns to its normal behaviour of restoring the previous window size used by an app. If you resized an app before closing it, Windows can use that size the next time you launch it.
The setting can therefore be changed at any time depending on how you prefer to organise your desktop. Again from my experience using both options, it can still be quite hit and miss on multi-monitor setups, but the open as maximised setting seems to be a fair bit more consistent in placing the program or app on the screen that you usually keep it on. In future, it would be handy if Windows would remember the exact snapped location of stuff. It honestly shouldn't be that hard to set up.
