ARCHIVED: In Windows, how do I switch the MS-DOS command prompt between windowed and full-screen mode?

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If the MS-DOS prompt (also known as the command prompt) takes up all of your screen in Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP, press Alt-Enter to switch from full-screen mode to windowed mode. The screen may flicker when you switch modes, but this is normal.

If you like having the command prompt displayed full-screen, press Alt-Tab to move between open windows.

You have two options for closing the Command Prompt window if it is not full-screen. You can enter exit at the prompt, or click the close box (small box with an X in it, in the upper right corner of the window). To close the command prompt from the full-screen mode, you must enter exit. Windows remembers what mode the program was in when you exited it, and will reopen it in that mode.

Note: Windows 7 and Windows Vista do not have native support for for full-screen or "DOS" mode. While it is possible to resize the command prompt window to occupy the whole screen, the windowed elements will remain (i.e, the title bar and minimize/maximize/restore buttons).