Open Nav

How to Make L.A. Noire Full Screen on PC: Complete Guide

L.A. Noire is an iconic detective game, renowned for its cinematic storytelling and immersive visuals. However, many PC players encounter issues when trying to play the game in full-screen mode. Whether it’s black bars, resolution mismatches, or the game defaulting to windowed mode, this guide will help you fix these problems and enjoy the game as it was meant to be played.

Understanding L.A. Noire Display Settings

Understanding L.A. Noire Display Settings

L.A. Noire’s display settings were designed with older hardware in mind, which can cause problems on modern systems. By default, the game may open in windowed mode or use a resolution that doesn’t match your monitor. Some common issues include:

  • Letterboxing (Black Bars): Often occurs on widescreen monitors due to incompatible aspect ratios.
  • Defaulting to Windowed Mode: Happens when the game doesn’t save your settings correctly.
  • Resolution Limitations: The game may not detect or apply your monitor’s native resolution automatically.

Knowing these challenges helps you understand why the game might not display correctly and how to address them effectively.

Enabling Full-Screen Mode in L.A. Noire

The simplest way to enable full-screen mode is through the in-game settings. Follow these steps to adjust your display:

  1. Open L.A. Noire on your PC through Steam or your game launcher.
  2. Go to the main menu and click on Options or Settings.
  3. Navigate to the display or graphics section.
  4. Locate the option for display mode and select Full Screen.
  5. Set the resolution to match your monitor’s native resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 for most Full HD displays).
  6. Save your settings and restart the game if necessary.

If this doesn’t work, don’t worry—there are other methods to force full-screen mode.

Advanced Solutions for Persistent Issues

If enabling full-screen mode through the settings doesn’t resolve the problem, you can try these advanced fixes:

Using Steam Launch Options

Steam’s launch options allow you to apply custom commands to the game. Here’s how to use them:

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
  2. Right-click on L.A. Noire and select Properties.
  3. Under the General tab, find the Launch Options field.
  4. Enter one of the following commands:
    • -fullscreen to force full-screen mode.
    • -noborder to run the game in borderless windowed mode.
  5. Close the properties window and start the game.

Editing Configuration Files

For more control, you can edit the game’s configuration files:

  1. Locate the game’s installation folder (typically in Steam/steamapps/common).
  2. Open the settings.ini or similar configuration file in a text editor.
  3. Look for lines related to resolution or display mode, such as:FullScreen=0
    Width=1920
    Height=1080
  4. Change FullScreen=0 to FullScreen=1 and set the resolution to match your monitor.
  5. Save the file and relaunch the game.

Fixing Black Bars and Aspect Ratio Issues

Fixing Black Bars and Aspect Ratio Issues

Black bars or letterboxing often occur on ultrawide or widescreen monitors. To fix this:

  • Modify Aspect Ratio in Launch Options: Use the command -aspectratio 16:9 (or the appropriate ratio for your monitor) in the Steam launch options.
  • Adjust GPU Scaling Settings:
    1. Open your GPU control panel (NVIDIA or AMD).
    2. Find the scaling settings and enable “Maintain Aspect Ratio” or “Full-Screen Scaling.”
    3. Apply the changes and restart the game.

These fixes should eliminate black bars and ensure the game fills the screen properly.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If the above solutions don’t work or other issues arise, here’s how to address them:

Game Reverts to Windowed Mode

  • Ensure you save your settings after switching to full screen.
  • Disable any screen recording or overlay software that may interfere with the game’s display settings.

Flickering or Stuttering in Full Screen

  • Update your graphics drivers to the latest version. Use tools like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin for easy updates.
  • Lower graphics settings, such as shadows or anti-aliasing, to reduce performance strain.

Distorted or Stretched Visuals

  • Double-check the resolution and aspect ratio settings to match your monitor.
  • Disable GPU scaling options that force the game to stretch beyond its intended resolution.

Optimizing Performance for Full-Screen Mode

While resolving full-screen issues, it’s also a good idea to optimize the game for smooth performance. Here are some tips:

  • Adjust Graphics Settings: Reduce demanding settings like reflections or draw distance for smoother gameplay.
  • Use Third-Party Tools: Tools like DXVK can improve compatibility with modern hardware and enhance performance.
  • Close Background Applications: Ensure no unnecessary programs are running in the background to free up system resources.

Conclusion

Playing L.A. Noire in full screen enhances its cinematic visuals and immersive experience. By using the in-game settings, advanced fixes, and troubleshooting tips, you can resolve common issues like black bars, windowed mode, and resolution mismatches. With these steps, your gameplay will look and feel as it should.

Have you encountered unique challenges with L.A. Noire? Share your experiences or additional tips in the comments below. If this guide helped, feel free to share it with other fans of the game!

Published on January 17, 2025 under .

rizwanrkiff