IDEA always starts in full screen mode

Does it happen with the new projects or only with the existing projects?

The mode is saved per project in .idea/workspace.xml file. Does it help if you remove this file?

You can also try resetting global config by deleting CONFIG/options/window.manager.xml file when IDE is not running: https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/articles/206544519 .

I haven't started a new project in a long while, so I haven't experienced it happening with a new project. Only existing ones.

I have viewed the workspace.xml in all of my projects, and none of them have a full screen setting within them. I even tried adding this:

<component name="PropertiesComponent">
  <property name="FullScreen" value="false" />

I just tried deleting the window.manager.xml file, and it still started up in full screen mode right away.

Please try with a new project.

Same thing with new project. I never selected Full Screen mode. But when I exited IDEA and re-opened it, the new project opened into full screen mode.

I should also include that the full screen mode only happens when I open IDEA after being shut down. If I just close and re-open a project, but leave IDEA open, it does not do this.

Could you please file a ticket at https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issues/IDEA and attach your IDE config directory (https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/articles/206544519) and your project .idea directory visible only for JetBrains? See https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/articles/207241135 .

I have the same problem.  It should be a global setting but I could not find one, so I had to go to the workspace.xml for each project.  I appreciate that we can at least do that, but would be better if we had a global setting. I hate the full screen mode because the keyboard shortcuts in osx do not behave in that mode.

Same problem. Super annoying. No combination of settings will bring the IDE's state back the default settings, and the way I like it, where the Project (and Structure) panels are visible on the left and the main content panel displays the source file(s).  Just when editing files (not changing any configuration) it got like this.  I guess I'll delete the .idea directory and have try it again, but that will delete my local history :-(

Well, that didn't work. :-(  :-(

What has happened to the quality control at jetbrains???

I used Eclipse products for years before using jetbrains... Never had an issue like this, that burned so much of my time on needless configuration product bugs.

I'm very close to simplifying things and using VIM.

With VIM, the IDE will be much faster ... and free.

The main things I'll miss are the local history and file comparison GUI... Those two features are nice; as long as you don't have bugs that preclude you from getting to them ;-)

Hello,

Could you please report an issue on YouTrack attach idea.log ("Help | Show log in..."): http://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issues/IDEA. ?

I've encountered the same issue, I've fixed it by modifying the XML file under ~/.IntelliJIdea2019.2/config/workspace:

* Closed IntelliJ

* Changed fullScreen to false in XML file (and save file)

* Started IntelliJ (program still fullScreen)

* Exited fullScreen

* Closed IntelliJ

Now the relevant section in the XML file looks like this and it no longer starts in full screen mode:

<component name="ProjectFrameBounds" extendedState="6">
<option name="x" value="2183" />
<option name="y" value="171" />
<option name="width" value="1440" />
<option name="height" value="810" />
</component>

I have the same issue, it really makes me annoying to see it and completely not usable. Any recommendation on how to sort it out?

Zhenya12 May you try from the solution from the previous message? First of all, please tell if the issue reproduces with a new project. Just create a brand new empty project, then restart IntelliJ IDEA. Does the just created project open in fullscreen mode? 

The issue reproduced in both new and old projects. The only workaround that I found an open idea, not in full mode.

Zhenya12

Could you please report an issue on YouTrack attaching a short screencast reproducing that? https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/newIssue?project=IDEA

Share the link to the ticket here, so other users could also follow it. 

Any updates on this issue?  Whenever I go to File->Open and open a project it creates a window the size of my entire 4k monitor.  

Hi Ajpoland Could you raise a new issue at https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issues/IDEA , provide a short screencast reproducing the problem and the IDE logs? (Help | Collect Logs and Diagnostic Data) Thank you!

I am launching Idea via X2GO (single application mode) and had similar issue after upgrading up to idea-2021.2.1

Issue resolved by clean up idea config and perform first launch over X11 (ssh tunnel with X11 forwarding).

Hello, after upgrade to last version of Idea IntelliJ and PHP Storm both apps start in full screen mode which is really annoying. Previous version worked well and started in normal mode. I have Fedora Linux 38, GNOME 34, three monitors (primary full HD on notebook, secondary and tertiary external full HD monitors). Idea and PHP Storm open on secondary (external) monitor.

I have `<frame x="1920" y="0" width="1920" height="1080" />` in all entries in `/opt/JetBrains/cache/Idea/config/options/recentProjects.xml`, no matter if I add fullScreen="false" attribute, the IDE is fullscreen on next start again.

Maybe you should locate the problem if you check changes in latest release.

Martin Edlman
It looks similar to this issue: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-313378
Please try it with the latest preview build 2023.1.1, as it should be fixed there: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/articles/IDEA-A-2100661425/IntelliJ-IDEA-2023.1-Latest-Builds

annoyed ... +1

+1

Having this too, super annoying !

Ryan
Have you tried the latest (2023.1.1) release: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download?

Still experiencing this on 2023.1.1 (231.8770.65), I'm on Ubuntu 22.04 with Gnome 42.5, dual screen

To anyone else experiencing this, I recommend binding a keyboard shortcut to "toggle fullscreen mode" until it is fixed inside intellij

Ryan
Ok, could you please raise a new issue on YouTrack and provide a screencast showing the issue and your IDE logs (Help > Collect Logs and Diagnostic Data): https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/newIssue?project=IDEA? 
Also, you can share the link to the new issue here so other users can vote/follow the progress. Thanks!

I don't quite understand what's the problem. As I reported earlier the problem started for me with 2023.1 (and I suppose for others too). Then there had to be some bug or feature in the code commited to this build. So reverting such commit(s) should help, or not?

Martin Edlman

So reverting such commit(s) should help, or not?

Unfortunately, it is not always so simple :) 
This issue was introduced in 2023.1, and the fix was provided in a new JBR library release, which is included in IntelliJ 2023.1.1: https://i.imgur.com/sN2IBUM.png.
If you are still experiencing the same issue in the latest 2023.1.1 release - please open a new issue in YouTrack and provide some additional information for further troubleshooting (screencast, IDE logs - Help > Collect Logs and Diagnostic Data etc.):  https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/newIssue?project=IDEA.
Thank you.

2023-08-16

This is still an issue.

Platform/Tool version:

```

IntelliJ IDEA 2023.2 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-232.8660.185, built on July 26, 2023
Runtime version: 17.0.7+7-b1000.6 amd64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Linux 5.15.0-79-generic
Registry:
    debugger.new.tool.window.layout=true
    ide.experimental.ui=true

Non-Bundled Plugins:
    com.intellij.guice (232.8660.142)
    CheckStyle-IDEA (5.82.0)
    Key Promoter X (2023.2.0)
    com.jetbrains.packagesearch.intellij-plugin (232.8660.142)
    dev.flikas.idea.spring.boot.assistant.plugin (0.14.3)
    PlantUML integration (6.3.0-IJ2023.2)
    org.asciidoctor.intellij.asciidoc (0.38.20)
    org.intellij.prisma (232.8660.129)
    org.sonarlint.idea (8.5.1.75093)
    mobi.hsz.idea.gitignore (4.5.1)
    org.jetbrains.plugins.docker.gateway (232.8660.202)

Kotlin: 232-1.9.0-IJ8660.185
Current Desktop: X-Cinnamon

```

See https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-318214/IDE-goes-full-screen-unintentionally.

2023.2.1 Preview available at https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/articles/IDEA-A-2100661508/IntelliJ-IDEA-2023.2-Latest-Builds contains a fix.