77

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?

FoamyGuy
  • 1,153

12 Answers12

98

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.

Alex
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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/

Read more about this:

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.

Community
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Zuul
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8

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.

galacticninja
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Israel Gale
  • 106
8

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.

ggpp23
  • 81
2

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.

FoamyGuy
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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
zx485
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Usman
  • 11
1

Firefox (since the end of 2019, version 71):

Basic kiosk mode:

[install directory]\firefox.exe -kiosk

Kiosk mode + url + private session:

firefox.exe -kiosk -private-window [target URL]

What is Kiosk mode?

Kiosk mode locks down Firefox in order to protect the kiosk from users. This is specifically relevant to, but not only limited to scenarios where the device is publicly accessed from libraries, vending machines or public transportation.

Key characteristics of the Firefox Enterprise Kiosk mode:

  • Runs in full screen mode by default
  • All menus, awesome bar and toolbar are not visible as well as tabs
  • The X button is not available when you hover at the top of the screen
  • F11 does not work
  • The right-click context menu does not work
  • Hides the status bar at the the bottom when attempting to indicate progress
  • Hides the destination link when hovering over links
  • Available on Windows Source: Mozilla - Firefox Enterprise Kiosk mode
user350726
  • 457
0

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.

Ian Oliver
  • 1
0

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

lenz
  • 101
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.

SteveLambert
  • 258
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

Atlantis
  • 31
  • 3
0

In windows try the following in the command prompt:

Chrome

start chrome --app=http://www.google.com

Edge

 start msedge --app=http://www.google.com

Firefox

 start firefox.exe --kiosk
Riyafa Abdul Hameed
  • 101
  • 5