How can I launch a browser with no window frame or tabs/address bar

Question

I am looking for a way to launch Chrome, Firefox, or IE9+ (any one will do) from a script or command line without any window frame, address bar, or tabs section.

Illustration:

OrangeBox

For instance, I'd like to only be able to see the section that is comprized of the orange box, and the area inside of it.

The horizontal scroll bar won't be an issue (I control the html that will be displayed and I can ensure it won't need to scroll). Ideally I'd like to cut out the vertical scrollbar, but I could live with it if it were shown.

Does anyone know of any tool or script that would allow me to do this on Windows 7?

If you're writing the HTML, there are ways to make the browser hide the scrollbar through standard CSS. No need to depend on browser flags for it. — ADTC, Jul 07 '15 at 07:10

Alex · Answer 1 · 2012-08-10T00:50:16.360

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For chrome/chromium it is the --app=http://address.com flag.

You would use it by calling chromium-browser --app=http://some.website.org or google-chrome --app=http://www.google.com or chrome.exe --app=http://you.get.it etc.

All available switches: http://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/

EDIT: You might also want to take a look at the --kiosk flag.

edited Aug 10 '12 at 00:50

answered Aug 10 '12 at 00:15

Alex

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[MOG](http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/004/029/disgusted-mother-of-god.png) so many options :D +1 – Zuul Aug 10 '12 at 00:18
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This hides the address bar and tabs but leaves the window frame (with min/max, and exit buttons) +1 anyhow though got me a lot closer than I got myself. – FoamyGuy Aug 10 '12 at 00:44
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@Tim You could try using the --kiosk flag on some versions of chrome/chromium. – Alex Aug 10 '12 at 00:49
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Any idea how I can do this on `macos`/`osx`? – Luke Davis Feb 21 '18 at 19:14
For Chrome in KIOSK mode add "--user-data-dir=c:\temp" before the "--kiosk". This will hide the title bar close and mineralize buttons – andrew.fox Feb 02 '21 at 14:21
Thanks!! this worked for me – Murtuza Ali Khan Mohammed Aug 31 '21 at 12:28

score 27 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

27

Internet Explorer

For Internet Explorer you can use -k (kiosk mode):

Starts Internet Explorer in kiosk mode. The browser opens in a maximized window that does not display the address bar, the navigation buttons, or the status bar.

Example:

iexplore.exe -k http://www.google.com/

Firefox

Firefox command line option -fullscreen didn't work for me:

"firefox.exe" -url http://superuser.com -fullscreen

But the use of R-kiosk 0.9.0 extension by Kimmo Heinaaro works like a charm.

Real Kiosk is a Firefox extension that defaults to full screen, disables all menus, toolbars, key commands and right button menus. Alt+Home still takes you home.

edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

Community

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answered Aug 09 '12 at 23:48

Zuul

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That is nifty and might work for me, is there anyway that I can specify a Height/Width and x/y position for IE to occupy while in this kiosk mode? Ideally I don't want it to occupy the full screen. – FoamyGuy Aug 09 '12 at 23:52
@Tim Updated my answer with the requested solution. – Zuul Aug 10 '12 at 00:13

score 8 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 28 '14 at 21:46

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for firefox use

firefox.exe -chrome http://example.com

Works like a charm but it is not a documented command line option.

Note: the size of the window is calculated based on the size of the body, make sure you specify the necessary window size in html.

answered Jun 28 '14 at 21:46

ggpp23

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It is documented here: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options#-chrome_chrome_URL though I'm note sure if it works as OP asks – Bruno Finger Nov 12 '16 at 22:54
It doesn't work as the OP asked. You cannot load a website as the chrome. I have no idea what you meant by "works like a charm" or how you came to that conclusion. – Synetech Jul 12 '17 at 00:08
This is totally unrelated.chrome urls are this http://kb.mozillazine.org/Dev_:_Firefox_Chrome_URLs – albfan Dec 20 '17 at 21:20

score 6 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 21 '16 at 12:23

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This is trivial to do, via the Chrome extension "Open As Popup".

Opens the current Tab as a Popup-Window

This Extension is really simple: Click on the Icon and the current Tab will be moved to a new Poup-Window. (A Popup-Window is a Window without Navigation- and Tabbar, so it takes much less vertical-space)

You don't know how this could be useful? I use it as example for API-References or Manuals which I use beside or overlapping my Editor so they take less space without the Navigation- and Tabbar.

edited Aug 21 '16 at 12:23

galacticninja

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answered Aug 17 '16 at 17:05

Israel Gale

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That doesn’t *launch* the browser, it opens the current tab (read: browser already running). – Synetech Dec 28 '16 at 03:12
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This suited my needs perfectly; thanks for sharing! – Luke Davis Feb 21 '18 at 19:08

FoamyGuy · Answer 5 · 2012-08-10T15:58:49.700

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To Expand on @Zuul answer with another way to specify Width/Height and x/y position for the window

This autohotkey script will do the trick too:

Run, C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe -k http://www.google.com/
WinWait, Windows Internet Explorer
WinMove,,,100,100,400,300

this example will position the window at x=100, y=100, with width=400 and height=300.

EDIT:Also

<body scroll="no">

in my html will disable(hide) the verticle scrollbar for IE. that + Zuul answer + this AHK script gets me to exactly where I was hoping.

EDIT2: Turns out I didn't even need the scroll-"no" in my html the vert scrollbar was never shown anyway. I imagine this is going to be dependent on what page you are showing though.

edited Aug 10 '12 at 15:58

answered Aug 10 '12 at 00:38

FoamyGuy

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Are you sure this works? Nothing happens when I reload my AHK script. The path is correct. – geotheory Oct 14 '14 at 11:15
it definitely worked for me back when I needed it. Haven't touched it over a year though. Can't vouch for it with current IE versions. that being said, I can't think of a reason off the top of my head that would prevent it from working. – FoamyGuy Oct 14 '14 at 14:43
This is what I assumed I’d have to resort to (which is okay since it is an AHK script that is launching the website anyway), but then I found [this](http://stackoverflow.com/a/19789383/119540) and [this](http://stackoverflow.com/a/26962811/119540). I’ll add the AHK method to my script as a comment in case Google decides to ruin the native options. – Synetech Dec 28 '16 at 05:02

score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Mar 24 '20 at 19:35

1

Use the following extension "Popup window" by Ett Chung in Firefox in combination with this Autohotkey script:

LWin & f::

WinGet Style, Style, A
if(Style & 0xC40000) {
  WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, A
  ;WinMaximize, A 

} else {
  WinSet, Style, +0xC40000, A
 ; WinRestore, A
}
return

edited Mar 24 '20 at 19:35

zx485

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answered Mar 24 '20 at 19:15

Usman

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 19 '19 at 07:08

I've managed to get Firefox to run in an (almost) borderless mode. There's just a thin bar at the top with the red/yellow/green blobs and page title (I use a Mac).

If I point the cursor to the top of the page, a drop-down strip appears with basic tools and address slot. Cursor down and it vanishes again.

BUT! It only works with Firefox 56. Updates after that refuse to work with my add-ons. In case you want to experiment they are: 'Hide Tab Bar With One Tab' and 'Toolbar Autohide'. I also use 'Menu Wizard' to change the first menu item to 'Open in New Window' instead of tab.

Happy experimenting,

Ol.

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 17 '21 at 05:18

To add to @Alex's answer: You can quickly add this to your .bashrc so you don't have to type/remember the whole command everytime

## run chrome w/o frame
chrome-no-frame(){
   chrome --app=$1
}

Then you can just copy the url and run chrome-no-frame https://stackoverflow.com

*** note that https:// is required

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered May 03 '22 at 00:57

0

If you're looking to do this in a mac you can use Pennywise. It's a very basic browser, but it does exactly what you're asking for.

answered May 03 '22 at 00:57

SteveLambert

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score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Apr 27 '23 at 23:31

0

This 10 years old but I was looking for this also. There is an extension from Chrome & Edge, its called open as popup.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/open-as-popup/ncppfjladdkdaemaghochfikpmghbcpc/related

answered Apr 27 '23 at 23:31

Atlantis

1

While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes. - [From Review](/review/late-answers/1186119) – Rohit Gupta Apr 28 '23 at 00:19
Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community Apr 28 '23 at 00:23

How can I launch a browser with no window frame or tabs/address bar

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