Windowed and Fullscreen Mode in WoW 1.12.1
Vanilla WoW Classic 1.12 · x5 realm · wowx5.ruWindowed mode is useful when you keep a guide, an auction tracker or a voice chat on a second screen. In fullscreen the WoW window 'grabs' the display and Alt+Tab can minimize the game with a delay. Windowed mode avoids that.
Three display modes
| Mode | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fullscreen | Game fills the screen, max FPS | Single monitor, top performance |
| Windowed | Game in a movable bordered window | Dual monitors, guide work |
| Windowed (Fullscreen) | Borderless window covering the screen | Fast Alt+Tab, no minimizing |
Method 1. In-game menu
Open Esc → System → Video. Under Resolution find Windowed / Windowed (Fullscreen) and uncheck fullscreen. Apply — the game rebuilds without a restart.
Method 2. Alt+Enter hotkey
The fastest way is to press Alt+Enter in game. It instantly toggles fullscreen and windowed. Remember it — it works in most other games too.
Method 3. Editing Config.wtf
The advanced way is to open WTF\Config.wtf in the client folder and set values manually:
SET gxWindow '1'— enable windowed mode;SET gxMaximize '1'— borderless windowed;SET gxResolution '1920x1080'— window size.
Change one value at a time and launch to test. If something breaks, delete Config.wtf — the client rebuilds a default one.
Borderless windowed — the sweet spot
Windowed (Fullscreen) looks like fullscreen but is technically a window. It gives fast Alt+Tab without minimizing and barely loses FPS. On our x5 server it is the best choice for dual monitors.
FAQ
Which hotkey enables windowed mode in WoW?
Press Alt+Enter in game — it instantly toggles fullscreen and windowed mode, no client restart needed.
What is the difference between windowed and windowed fullscreen?
Plain windowed is a bordered, movable, resizable window. Windowed fullscreen looks like fullscreen but lets you Alt+Tab instantly without minimizing the game.
Does windowed mode reduce FPS?
Plain bordered windowed may drop a few frames. Windowed fullscreen has minimal loss and is the best option for dual monitors.