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I have created a restricted user which logs in automatically and Chromium runs the default home page with the screen starting maximized but I want it to run in fullscreen (F11) mode. I tried kiosk mode but I don't want to be that restricted and it doesn't seem to behave properly at all (keyboard is almost broken).

I would consider digital signage software but don't really want anything client/server. I just want the machine to boot straight into fullscreen mode. Does this work for firefox?

Kevin
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  • check [How to start firefox in fullscreen mode?](http://askubuntu.com/questions/36287/how-to-start-firefox-in-fullscreen-mode) and [Launch Google Chrome in Fullscreen mode](http://superuser.com/questions/430862/windows-launch-google-chrome-in-fullscreen-mode) – nutty about natty Mar 26 '13 at 18:09
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    Please clarify if you want to have full desktop environment (e.g. ability to switch to other applications) or just a browser running? The answer might differ. – oerdnj Mar 28 '13 at 15:21
  • I don't really care but for the sake of argument, let's say I want the ability to switch to other applications. That was what I meant by (not kiosk). – Kevin Apr 01 '13 at 14:44

3 Answers3

51

For people finding this now, you can start Chromium fullscreen from the command line by executing:

chromium-browser --app=http://example.com --start-fullscreen

Tested on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

ligi
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RadicalRaid
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    better than the default answer – ligi Jan 29 '16 at 17:49
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    better than my answer from 2013, which was the only solution because the -start-fullscreen was not present in chromium browser as I remember. – Dee Feb 25 '16 at 08:55
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    can confirm that this still works (tested with Chromium 65.0.3325.181), although it is still not listed in the chromium-browser man page (after 3+ years) – patpir Mar 03 '19 at 18:33
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    Still works, here in 2020. – Brad Mar 19 '20 at 05:37
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What about using xdtool http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/lucid/man1/xdotool.1.html

xdotool key F11

this will work for any kind of standard focused window. Include it into start-up script.

don't have xdotool? 

sudo apt-get install xdotool

in combination with --start-maximized (which does not do F11, just maximized window) on command line can fulfil your needs

shell script should make the job

chromium-browser --start-maximized
sleep 5
xdotool key F11

Firefox differs only in -fullscreen command line option. The option for F11 mode is missing as well. But consider to use Firefox and Rkiosk extension https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/r-kiosk/?src=search or the Fullscreen extension https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/full-fullscreen/

If the script stucks at chromium-browser invocation - add a & at the end:

chromium-browser --start-maximized &
...
fty4
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Dee
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4

Based on this and other sources, you could try the following, with good chances of success :-)

cp /usr/share/applications/chromium-browser.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/chromium-browser.desktop
nano ~/.local/share/applications/chromium-browser.desktop

(you may alternatively want to use gksu and the editor of your choosing)

Now, simply add -start-maximized to the line saying exec in chromium-browser.desktop, save and you're done.

nutty about natty
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  • Combine with RadicalRaid's answer and change the line to `Exec=chromium-browser --start-fullscreen %U`, or `Exec=chromium-browser --start-fullscreen --app=http://example.com %U`. Include `--kiosk` flag to avoid the message `Press F11 to exit full-screen` (from [here](https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/69204/open-chromium-full-screen-on-start-up)). I like this solution best. – miguelmorin Jan 03 '20 at 11:26