Playing L.A. Noire in glorious fullscreen should be a given, but sometimes the game defaults to windowed mode or stubbornly refuses to cooperate. This guide provides several solutions to get your detective work done in full-screen splendor. We'll cover various troubleshooting steps to ensure you can enjoy the game as intended.
Understanding the Problem: Why Isn't LA Noire Fullscreen?
Before jumping into solutions, it's helpful to understand why L.A. Noire might be stuck in windowed mode. Several factors can contribute:
- Incorrect In-Game Settings: The most common culprit is simply having the wrong settings within the game's options menu.
- Outdated Graphics Drivers: Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause compatibility issues, leading to display problems.
- Resolution Conflicts: A resolution mismatch between your monitor and the game's settings can prevent fullscreen mode from activating.
- Conflicting Applications: Other applications running in the background might interfere with the game's ability to go fullscreen.
- Compatibility Issues: Though rare, certain system configurations might experience compatibility issues with L.A. Noire.
Methods to Fix L.A. Noire Fullscreen Issues
Here's a breakdown of the most effective solutions, starting with the simplest:
1. Check In-Game Settings: The Easiest Fix
The first and most likely solution is to double-check the game's display settings.
- Launch L.A. Noire.
- Access the Settings Menu: This is usually found in the main menu, often labeled "Options" or "Settings."
- Locate Display Settings: Look for a section dedicated to display, video, or graphics options.
- Adjust Resolution and Display Mode: Ensure the resolution matches your monitor's native resolution. Crucially, select "Fullscreen" as the display mode. Experiment with different display modes if "Fullscreen" doesn't resolve the issue.
- Apply Changes and Restart: After making changes, save the settings and restart the game to see if the problem is solved.
2. Update Your Graphics Drivers: Crucial for Stability
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of display glitches. Updating them is a vital step.
- Identify Your Graphics Card: Determine if you have an NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card.
- Visit the Manufacturer's Website: Go to the official website for NVIDIA (nvidia.com), AMD (amd.com), or Intel (intel.com).
- Download the Latest Drivers: Navigate to their driver download section and select your specific graphics card model. Download the latest drivers compatible with your operating system.
- Install the Drivers: Install the downloaded drivers, following the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer after installation.
3. Adjust Your PC's Resolution: Matching is Key
Ensure your computer's display resolution matches the game's settings. Inconsistent resolutions frequently cause fullscreen issues.
- Access Display Settings (Windows): Right-click on your desktop and select "Display settings."
- Adjust Resolution: Choose a resolution that matches your monitor's native resolution.
- Restart Your Computer: Restart your PC to apply the changes.
4. Close Conflicting Applications: Minimizing Interference
Background applications, especially those demanding resources, can interfere with fullscreen capabilities.
- Close Unnecessary Applications: Close any unnecessary programs running in the background before launching L.A. Noire. This includes web browsers, media players, and other resource-intensive software.
5. Verify Game File Integrity (Steam): Checking for Corruption
If you're playing L.A. Noire through Steam, verifying the integrity of your game files can identify and fix corrupted files.
- Open Steam: Launch the Steam client.
- Locate L.A. Noire: Find L.A. Noire in your Steam library.
- Right-Click and Select Properties: Right-click on L.A. Noire and select "Properties."
- Verify Integrity of Game Files: Navigate to the "Local Files" tab and click "Verify integrity of game files…" Steam will check and repair any corrupted files.
6. Compatibility Mode (Windows): For Older Systems
If you're using an older operating system, running L.A. Noire in compatibility mode might help.
- Locate the Game Executable: Find the L.A. Noire executable file (usually a
.exefile). - Right-Click and Select Properties: Right-click on the executable and select "Properties."
- Compatibility Tab: Go to the "Compatibility" tab.
- Run in Compatibility Mode: Check the box "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and select an older version of Windows (e.g., Windows 7 or Windows 8).
- Apply Changes: Apply the changes and try launching the game.
Still Having Trouble?
If you've tried all these steps and L.A. Noire is still refusing to go fullscreen, consider searching online forums or contacting the game's support for further assistance. Providing details about your system specifications can help others provide more targeted solutions. Remember to always back up your data before making significant changes to your system. Good luck, detective!
