I’ve been diving into Minecraft lately, and I’ve been having a blast with it. But here’s the thing: I mainly use Linux, and I’m struggling a bit with figuring out how to launch the game in windowed mode instead of full screen. It’s getting kind of annoying switching back and forth between my desktop and the game, especially when I’m trying to chat with friends or check out tutorials while mining for diamonds.
I’ve tried a couple of things, like just launching the game and hoping for the best, but that didn’t work out too well. It always seems to go full screen, and I can’t figure out how to change that in the game’s settings once it’s running. I know there have to be some cool tricks or commands that Linux users can use to input somewhere to change this, but I’m not sure where to look.
I’ve seen various forums talking about different launch options and configurations, but honestly, a lot of the info is a bit overwhelming, especially when it throws around words like “Xorg” and “OpenGL.” I’m more of a casual gamer, so I don’t want to dive too deep into the technical stuff unless I have to. I just want to enjoy the game without having to exit every time I want to do something else on my computer.
Another thing to consider is the specific distribution I’m using. I’m running on Ubuntu, but it seems like there are some differences that could come into play based on what everyone else is using. If anyone has gone through this and figured out a foolproof way to get Minecraft running in windowed mode on Linux, I’d love to hear your tips!
Any advice or step-by-step guidance would be super helpful. I can totally respect if it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but even a few pointers would make a massive difference for me. Thanks in advance for any help you can throw my way!
Running Minecraft in Windowed Mode on Ubuntu
If you’re trying to play Minecraft on Ubuntu and want to run it in windowed mode, there are a couple of simple ways to do that without diving too deep into technical stuff.
Method 1: Using the Launcher
Method 2: Alt + Enter Toggle
While in the game, you can try pressing Alt + Enter. This is a common keyboard shortcut in many games that switches between full-screen and windowed mode. Give it a shot!
Method 3: Graphics Settings
Keep in mind that some Linux distributions may have slightly different settings, but these should work on Ubuntu. If you do run into issues, just check your graphics drivers and ensure they’re updated.
Final Thoughts
If the above methods don’t work, there are a few Linux forums and communities like the Linux Gaming subreddit where you can find more help. Good luck, and happy mining!
To launch Minecraft in windowed mode on Linux, particularly if you’re using Ubuntu, you can adjust the game settings before starting. First, ensure you have the game launcher installed—and right before you start playing, click on “Installations” on the Minecraft Launcher. Create a new installation or select an existing one, and before launching the game, look for a field labeled “JVM Arguments.” Here, you can add the following argument to force windowed mode:
-Dorg.lwjgl.opengl.Display.allowDeviceIdle=false
. This setting helps you hold the game window while allowing you to switch between applications easily. After adding this, launch the game and go to “Options” → “Video Settings” once inside the game, and ensure “Fullscreen” is unchecked.If the above method does not work, you could also use a terminal command to specify the window mode when launching Minecraft. Open a terminal and type in:
java -jar Minecraft.jar --windowed
. This command launches Minecraft in windowed mode directly from the terminal, making it simpler if you prefer that route. Additionally, if you’re running into issues with resolutions, you can specify window dimensions by including--width 1024 --height 768
right after the “–windowed” argument, replacing the numbers with your preferred dimensions. Keep in mind that all distributions can have slightly different defaults, but tweaks like these are often universal. If any further assistance is needed, engaging with the Linux gaming community through forums or Discord can provide customized support tailored to your specific needs.