How to open documents in tabs instead of new windows on a Mac

How do I make Mac apps open documents in tabs?

1. Open System Settings, Desktop & Dock.
2. Under Windows, set Prefer tabs when opening documents to Always.

Apps that support window tabs, including TextEdit, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Preview, Maps and many others, now open new documents as tabs in the window you are using. In Full Screen does this only when the app is full screen; Never keeps one window per document.

How do I show the tab bar?

Choose View, Show Tab Bar in the app. With only one document open, the bar is hidden unless you show it. Click the add button at the end of the tab bar for a new document tab.

How do I combine windows that are already open?

Choose Window, Merge All Windows. Every window of that app becomes a tab in one. See merge all windows. To pull one back out, drag its tab away, or use Window, Move Tab to New Window.

Why does an app ignore the setting?

Some apps, especially ones not made for the Mac first, use their own windows or tabs and do not take part. Browsers and Finder have their own tab settings too.

Finder folders the same way: open folders in tabs. Tabs or windows, which suits you: tabs versus windows.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Prefer tabs when opening documents was read from Desktop & Dock, and the AppleWindowTabbingMode setting behind it is present in the system.