How to Switch B/w Windowed Mode and Full Screen in Citrix Workspace?

Citrix Workspace lets you switch between full-screen and windowed mode to match your workflow. Many users need an immersive full-screen view for focused tasks and quick access to local apps or multiple monitors. Without knowing how to toggle modes, you may feel stuck in one view and lose productivity.

Professionals often change contexts, presenting on a projector, sharing a screen in meetings, or referencing local files. They struggle when they can’t resize or switch views quickly, which disrupts work and causes delays. Citrix Workspace solves this by letting you change modes with just a few clicks.

This step-by-step guide shows you how to switch between full-screen and windowed mode. This allows you to move smoothly between tasks and avoid common display problems that slow daily operations.

For macOS

Option 1: Manual Method

If this does not work for Citrix Viewer:  

• Use the Green Button on the upper left of the window.
• Click the “View” option in the menu bar.
• Choose “Use All Displays in Full Screen” for success.

Option 2: Use macOS System Shortcuts  

1. Full-screen toggling can be performed with Control + Command + F.

2. If it still doesn’t happen, follow these steps:

• Create a custom shortcut in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.

• Click the “+” button to add a shortcut.
• Click the Application and select Other from the drop-down options.

• The Finder window will open on your screen.
• Go to Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application Support -> Citrix Receiver and select “Citrix Viewer.”

• Add an entry for Citrix Viewer with the exact menu title: View->Enter Full Screen.

• Click the “Add” button on your screen.

• Exit all open Citrix Viewer windows and relaunch.
• In the menu, go to View. Your shortcut for Enter Full Screen should now appear. Use it to toggle the Citrix Viewer in and out of full screen.

Common Considerations

• Don’t click on the Citrix Workspace in the list of applications. You require macOS to map these shortcuts to the Viewer instead of the Citrix Workspace app.
• Do not use the combination Command (Left) + Option alone. Citrix Viewer reserves the right to send the “Alt” key to the remote session.
• Combinations including Control with Command and/or Option keys work best to avoid conflicts.
• Citrix Viewer treats Command (Left) and Command (Right) as different keys, so test your shortcut choice carefully.

For Windows

Option 1: System Shortcuts

1. Full-screen toggling can be performed with Shift+F2 or Ctrl+Alt+F1.

2. If it still doesn’t happen, follow these steps:

• Launch gpedit.msc to open the Citrix Workspace Group Policy administrative template.
• Navigate to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Citrix Components → Citrix Workspace → User Experience.
• Open Hotkeys for Desktop Viewer and set it to Enabled.
• Adjust the hotkey settings as needed and click OK.
• Restart the Citrix Workspace session to apply the changes.

Steps to enable via Registry:

Add the following registry keys to enable the hotkey (example combination Ctrl + Alt + F3):

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\ToggleFullScreenEnabled: 0x00000001
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\FirstKey: “Ctrl” (Ctrl, Alt, Shift)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\SecondKey: “Alt” (Ctrl, Alt, Shift)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\ThirdKey: “F3” (F1, F2, F3)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\ToggleFullScreenEnabled: 0x00000001
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\FirstKey: “Ctrl” (Ctrl, Alt, Shift)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\SecondKey: “Alt” (Ctrl, Alt, Shift)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\THK\ThirdKey: “F3” (F1, F2, F3)

(Also set the corresponding keys under WOW6432Node for 64-bit systems.)

A .reg file to automate this registry configuration is sometimes provided for convenience.

Common Considerations

• You can change but not disable the keyboard shortcut to toggle full screen through Group Policy. The context-menu shortcut, however, can’t be modified.
• The Citrix Workspace app normally sends all keystrokes to the virtual app or desktop. However, the Desktop Viewer reserves certain special keyboard shortcuts by default. If you disable the Desktop Viewer, see the Keyboard Shortcuts section instead.
• Verify your chosen hotkey combination is not already assigned in the local OS; otherwise, it will invoke the local action instead of toggling Citrix Viewer full screen.
• This new hotkey policy is independent of the “allow hotkeys” registry setting and works even if other hotkeys are disabled.
• Disabling the Desktop Viewer toolbar is unnecessary and not recommended.

For Mobile

• Open the Session: Launch the Citrix Workspace app on your mobile device and sign in to your virtual desktop or app. 

• Access the Toolbar: Tap the Toolbar icon (usually a small arrow or menu bar) at the top or side of the screen. 

• Toggle Full Screen: Tap the Full Screen button to enter or exit full-screen mode. 

• When in full screen, the session fills the entire display. 

• Tapping the button again returns the session to windowed mode so you can see your device’s status bar or multitask. 

• Adjust Screen Resolution (Optional):  If the display doesn’t look right, go to Settings → Display → Screen Resolution and choose a preferred option: 

• Match client DPI – Uses your device’s DPI for clearer scaling.
• Match server – Uses the resolution set on the remote server.
• Fit screen (default) – Adjusts automatically to your device size.
• Optimize for high resolution – Prioritizes sharper visuals.
• Optimize for metro apps – Makes screen elements appear slightly larger.

Common Considerations

• Higher resolutions (like Optimize for high resolution) can improve sharpness but may use more bandwidth and affect performance.
• Match client DPI works best if your device has high pixel density; it preserves clarity without shrinking text.
• Switching modes or adjusting resolution may briefly refresh the session if the network is slow.
• The resolution you choose in Citrix Workspace is independent of your phone or tablet’s display settings, so you can fine-tune without changing device preferences.

Final Thoughts

Switching between full-screen and windowed mode in Citrix Workspace is quick and effortless when you follow the right steps. Using the Desktop Viewer toolbar and adjusting your display settings, you can move between modes to match your workflow without interrupting your session.

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