The green button on Mac windows: every option

Click it, hover over it, or ⌥ click it: the green button on every Mac window does more than full screen. What each option does and how to skip full screen.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

The green button at the top left of a window does three different things depending on how you use it.

YouIt does
Click itFull screen: the window takes the whole display in its own space
Hover over itA menu: full screen, Move & Resize layouts (Sequoia and later), Split View tiles, or move to another display
⌥ click itFill or zoom: the window grows to fill the screen without going full screen

Getting out of full screen

Move the pointer to the top of the screen until the title bar shows, then click the green button again. Or press ⌃ ⌘ F, or Fn F.

Can I make it fill instead of full screen?

There is no setting for it. Hold ⌥ when you click, or use Fn ⌃ F on Sequoia and later. Many people find full screen awkward because each one becomes its own space; see full screen vs maximise.

With ClutterFreeMac most people stop using full screen at all: ⌃ ⌥ F gives a window the full width on the strip, and the other windows are still one swipe away, not in another space.

Questions

What does the green button do on a Mac?

Clicking it makes the window full screen. Hovering shows layout options. Holding ⌥ while clicking fills the screen without going full screen.

How do I maximise a window on Mac without full screen?

Hold ⌥ and click the green button, or on Sequoia and later press Fn ⌃ F.

Read next