What double clicking a window's title bar does on a Mac
Double clicking a title bar can fill the screen, zoom or minimise, depending on one setting. Where to change it, and what each option does.
What happens when you double click a window's title bar is set in System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Double-click a window's title bar to. Choose the action there.
The options
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fill (Zoom on older versions) | The window grows to fill the screen, without going full screen. Double click again to go back |
| Minimise | The window drops into the Dock |
| Do Nothing | Nothing happens; useful if you double click by accident |
Zoom in older versions lets each app decide how big "zoomed" is, so some windows only grow a little. Fill always fills the screen.
Related tricks
- Hold ⌥ and click the green button to fill or zoom instead of going full screen.
- On Sequoia and later, Fn ⌃ F fills the screen from the keyboard.
- See maximise without full screen for more.
In ClutterFreeMac, ⌃ ⌥ F gives the current window the full width of the screen on the strip, and pressing it again puts its width back. The other windows stay in their columns either side.
Questions
How do I make double clicking the title bar maximise a window on Mac?
In System Settings, Desktop & Dock, set Double-click a window's title bar to Fill (or Zoom on older versions).
Read next
- Guide
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.
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How to maximize a window on a Mac (without full screen)
The green button makes a window full screen in its own Space, which is not what most people want. Four ways to fill the screen and keep the menu bar and Dock.
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Full screen or maximised: which is better on a Mac?
Full screen gives an app its own Space and hides the menu bar. Maximised keeps everything in one place. What each is good at, and a third way.
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