Can't move a window on your Mac? How to grab it

The title bar is under the menu bar, off screen, or the app has none. Ways to move a stubborn window, including a hidden setting to drag from anywhere.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

Click the window, then use the Window menu: on macOS Sequoia and later, Move & Resize puts it in a half or fills the screen, which brings the title bar back into reach.

Other ways

  • Mission Control (⌃ ↑): drag the window to another desktop and back; it often comes back placed sensibly.
  • Another display: if the window is on a display you no longer have, see bringing a window back on screen.
  • No title bar: some apps use the area at the top of their window instead. Drag from an empty part of the toolbar.

Drag a window from anywhere

A hidden setting lets you hold ⌃ ⌘ and drag any part of a window to move it. Turn it on in Terminal, then log out and back in:

defaults write -g NSWindowShouldDragOnGesture -bool true

To turn it off again, run the same command with false.

Never move windows by hand

ClutterFreeMac places every window for you on its strip. To move one along it, press ⌃ ⌥ ⇧ ← or →, or drag it by its title bar and drop it where you want it.

Questions

How do I move a window that is stuck under the menu bar on a Mac?

Click the window and use Window, Move & Resize on Sequoia and later, or Window, Zoom on older versions, to bring the title bar back on screen.

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