RetroArch not displaying in true fullscreen + taskbar displaying over it [Solved]

Arpy · October 17, 2025, 11:37am

Hi! I just installed the verified flatpak package from the software manager for RetroArch, and the fullscreen mode won't take up the entire screen estate, whether in borderless or true fullscreen mode. The taskbar also won't go away for some reason. This doesn't happen in other games running through Steam or Lutris. What gives, and how does one fix these two issues?
Using Zorin OS 18 Core.

Forpli · October 17, 2025, 11:49am

Maybe you can get some ideas here. Are you on wayland or XOrg/X11?

github.com/libretro/RetroArch

Fullscreen not working with Gnome/Mutter on X11 since Gnome 44

opened 04:47AM - 07 May 23 UTC

future-figs

## Description Retroarch can't enter "exclusive" fullscreen; the titlebar is …still present. ### Expected behavior Pressing `f` or launching with `--fullscreen` etc. puts RetroArch into fullscreen mode ### Actual behavior Retroarch takes up a maximized window on the screen. The window's titlebar and the GNOME clock/menubar are still visible, like in ordinary windowed mode. If the GNOME menubar is present on the active monitor, then the bottom gets cut off, but otherwise the content is sized correctly. Screenshot of "attempted" fullscreen with default config file: ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/8206263/236656833-ab86f78c-9487-499e-bfee-6f03a2f70a20.png) Turning off "Show Window Decorations" hides the titlebar the GNOME menubar, but presumably it's still running through the compositor, a la windowed-fullscreen. Weirdly, GroovyMAME works fine on the exact same system, and I haven't seen the same issue with any other 3D/fullscreen applications either—RetroArch is the only one affected that I can find. I have tried with other video drivers but got the same results (or a crash). My baseline is `glcore`. ### Steps to reproduce the bug 1. Launch RetroArch 2. Press `f` to enter fullscreen ### Bisect Results Issue arose after updating from Fedora 37 to Fedora 38. More likely it is a weird interaction with GNOME 44 (updated from GNOME 43 in F37). I tried RetroArch v1.14.0 (known-good on F37), and reproduced the issue on F38, so I do not think that any RetroArch update in particular is causing the issue. I am running the same NVIDIA driver version (530) as before the update, so I do not think that is related. ### Version/Commit You can find this information under Information/System Information - RetroArch: 1.15.0 ### Environment information - OS: Fedora 38 - GNOME 44.1 - NVIDIA proprietary drivers v530 - X11

It sounds in this link that a switch to wayland could help.

Ponce-De-Leon · October 17, 2025, 1:31pm

Welcome to the Forum!

For the Taskbar, You can enable Autohide. Then the Taskbar will disappear in full Screen Mode. On the Program the upper Bar with the Name and min/max/close Buttons is normal.

Arpy · October 17, 2025, 1:36pm

I'm not too knowledgeable about those things, I couldn't tell you. I'm what you'd call a "Windows 10 refugee" lol
So I'm gonna need to have those things you mentioned explained to me and how I can check those in my settings, if you don't mind.

EDIT: according to the software information, I'm using X11 as my windowing system. I don't know if it is possible to change to Wayland?

EDIT 2: I did a bit of research and figured out how to change at the login screen. Thank you for pointing me towards the good direction!

Arpy · October 17, 2025, 1:37pm

Thank you for the warm welcome!
I found out how to make the taskbar autohide, however I also want the upper bar gone, it is fullscreen I'm looking to achieve after all. Any way to achieve that?

Arpy · October 17, 2025, 1:47pm

Thank you both for your help. I was able to switch to Wayland through the login screen, and autohide my taskbar. Now I can actually game in fullscreen.

I'm unsure how to mark my topic as solved though!

Ponce-De-Leon · October 17, 2025, 1:57pm

In the Gaming Category is unfortunate no Solution Marker. But I will edit Your Thread Title for You to mark it as solved. Good when it now runs like You want it.

StarTreker · October 18, 2025, 12:19am

Please disable "Windowed Full Screen."

Also, make sure your Fullscreen Width & Height, are set at your correct screen resolution.

I also recommend running in Xorg.

PS: I love your avatar!

Arpy · October 19, 2025, 12:25pm

My problem is already solved, but I'm curious, why should I disable windowed fullscreen? It seems to be working fine on my end.

And thank you <3