Accessibility Enable or Disable Open Apps Maximized by Default in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:

Maximize_header.webp

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off always open apps maximized by default for your account in Windows 11.

You can manually maximize an app window in Windows 11 to "fit to screen" or "fill the screen" with the window.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26340.9233 (Experimental 26H2) and build 26220.9223 (Beta 25H2) for Insiders, Microsoft is introducing a new accessibility setting, Open apps maximized, that automatically maximizes app windows when they open, so you no longer have to do it yourself every time. This small change removes a bit of everyday friction, whether you use a screen reader or magnification, work in tablet mode, or simply prefer a consistent, full-screen workspace.

Once enabled, Windows maximizes app windows for you as they open. You can still restore app windows back to their original size and position if wanted.

If you don't have the new Open apps maximized setting in the builds above and would like to test it now, then you can use the vivetool command below to enable this feature.

vivetool.exe /enable /id:62915050




Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Open Apps Maximized in Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Open Apps Maximized using REG file




Option One

Turn On or Off Open Apps Maximized in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accessibility in the left pane, and click/tap on Visual effects under the "Vision" section. (see screenshot below)


Open_apps_maximized_Settings-1.webp

3 Turn On or Off (default) Open apps maximized for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Open_apps_maximized_Settings-2.webp

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Turn On or Off Open Apps Maximized using REG file


1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.

2 Turn On Open Apps Maximized

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_ON_open_apps_maximized.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Accessibility]
"MaximizeWindowsByDefault"=dword:00000001

3 Turn Off Open Apps Maximized

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_OFF_open_apps_maximized.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Accessibility]
"MaximizeWindowsByDefault"=dword:00000000

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink



 

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