Okay, let's talk about getting apps full screen on your Mac. Seems simple enough, right? Just hit that little green button. But honestly, it took me way longer than I'd like to admit to figure out all the nuances when I switched from Windows years back. Sometimes it works perfectly, other times... not so much. You click the green button expecting full blissful immersion, and instead, the window just resizes weirdly. Frustrating! This guide aims to cut through the confusion and show you every possible way how to do full screen on Mac, whether you're using the latest macOS Sonoma or something a bit older like Monterey.

What Does "Full Screen" Actually Mean on a Mac?

First things first. On a Mac, "full screen" isn't just about making a window big. It's a dedicated mode. Think of it like the app taking over its own virtual desktop. When you put an app into true full screen mode:

• The app window fills your entire screen, edge to edge.
• The menu bar automatically hides up at the top (don't panic – just move your mouse pointer to the very top edge of the screen to temporarily bring it back).
• The Dock slides away (similarly, move your mouse pointer to the bottom edge to bring it back temporarily).
• The app gets its own Space in Mission Control (swipe up with three/four fingers on your trackpad, or press F3/Control-Up Arrow). You can swipe left/right between your full-screen apps and other desktops.

This is different from just maximizing a window, which might make it larger but still shows the menu bar and Dock, and doesn't create a separate Space. That green button is smarter (and sometimes more confusing) than it looks!

The Green Button: Your First (But Not Only) Stop for Full Screen

Let's tackle that infamous green traffic light button in the top-left corner of most app windows. It's the most visible way how to do full screen on Mac, but it has a few tricks:

• The Simple Click: Click the green button once. If the app supports standard full screen mode (and most do), it will immediately enter full screen mode as described above. Boom, done.
• The Hidden Menu (The Long Press/Option-Click): This is where many users get tripped up. If you press and hold the green button for a second, or hold down the Option (⌥) key and *then* click the green button, a small menu pops up giving you three choices:
  • Enter Full Screen: The standard full screen mode we just talked about.
  • Tile Window to Left of Screen: Half-screen magic! This is the gateway to Split View.
  • Tile Window to Right of Screen: The other half for Split View.

  I wish Apple made this menu more obvious – it's super useful, especially for multitasking!

Keyboard Shortcuts: The Power User's Way to Full Screen

Once you get used to them, keyboard shortcuts are often the fastest way to work. Here's the main one for entering and exiting full screen:

• Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + F: This is the golden key combo. Press it once while the app window is active, and it *enters* full screen mode. Press it again, and it *exits* full screen mode. Much quicker than moving the mouse.

Bonus tip: Some apps use different shortcuts. For example, many video players (like VLC) use just Command (⌘) + F.

Menu Bar Navigation: The Classic Route

Prefer menus? No problem. Most apps that support full screen mode offer it in their menu bar:

1. Look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen.
2. Click the app name (like "Safari", "Finder", "Notes").
3. Navigate to the "View" menu.
4. Select "Enter Full Screen". To exit, go back to View > Exit Full Screen, or use the keyboard shortcut.

Sure, it's a couple more clicks, but it's reliable and always there if you forget the shortcut or the green button isn't cooperating.

Using Touch Bar (For Those Who Still Have It)

If your MacBook has a Touch Bar (mainly models from late 2016 to 2019/2020), it offers another way:

1. Make sure the app window you want is active.
2. Look at your Touch Bar. You should see virtual function keys.
3. Swipe left/right on the Touch Bar if necessary to find the "Full Screen" button (it usually looks like two diagonal arrows pointing outwards).
4. Tap it once to enter full screen. Tap it again to exit.

Honestly, while the Touch Bar was neat, I found myself using the keyboard shortcut more often – it was just faster for me. But it's a valid option!

Split View: Full Screen Power for Two Apps at Once

This is one of macOS's best multitasking features, yet it feels strangely hidden. Split View lets you have two apps truly full screen, side-by-side, each taking exactly half the screen. Perfect for comparing documents, coding while referencing docs, or watching a tutorial while you practice. Here’s how to do full screen Split View on your Mac:

Method 1: The Drag & Drop Way

1. Open the two apps you want to use.
2. Hover your mouse over the green button on the *first* app's window until you see the dropdown menu (or press and hold the button).
3. Choose "Tile Window to Left of Screen" or "Tile Window to Right of Screen". The window snaps to that half, and the rest of your screen shows thumbnails of your other open windows.
4. Click the thumbnail of the *second* app you want to use in the other half. It instantly fills the remaining space. Both apps are now in a shared full-screen Space.

Method 2: Mission Control Launch

1. Enter Mission Control (Swipe up with three/four fingers on trackpad, press F3, or press Control-Up Arrow).
2. Drag one app window (from the Mission Control view) onto the thumbnail of another full-screen Space at the top.
3. Alternatively, drag an app window from the main Mission Control area to the top bar where it says "Desktop" – this creates a new Space, then drag a *second* app window onto that same Space thumbnail at the top. They'll automatically enter Split View within that new Space.

Managing Split View

• Swap Sides: Click and hold the green button on either app within Split View and choose the opposite side.
• Resize Panes: Hover your mouse over the thin black vertical divider line between the two apps until the cursor changes to a double arrow (↔), then click and drag left or right.
• Exit One App: Move your mouse to the very top center of the screen to reveal the window title bars. Click the green button on the app you want to exit. That app will return to a normal window, while the other app remains full screen.
• Exit Both: Press Esc while either app is active, or use the Control + Command + F shortcut on one app. Or, click the green button on one app and choose "Exit Full Screen".

Split View is incredibly handy, but it took me a few tries to get comfortable with the dragging. Stick with it!

Full Screen in Specific Apps: Tips & Quirks

While the core methods usually work, some apps have their own ideas about full screen.

Web Browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)

• Standard Methods Work: Green button, keyboard shortcut, View menu – all get you true macOS full screen.
• Browser-Specific Full Screen (F11 / Command+Shift+F): Web browsers often have their *own* full-screen mode triggered by pressing F11 (might require holding Fn key) or Command (⌘) + Shift + F. This mode typically:
  • Fills the screen.
  • Hides ONLY the browser's toolbars/tabs/bookmarks bar.
  • Does NOT hide the macOS menu bar or Dock. It also does not create a separate Space.

  This is fantastic just for focusing on web content without distractions, but it's not the same as the system-level full screen. I use this browser-specific mode way more often for reading articles. To exit, press the same key again or Esc.

Video Players (QuickTime, VLC, IINA)

• They generally respond well to the green button or Command (⌘) + F (sometimes Command (⌘) + 0 for zoom).
• True full screen usually hides controls. Move the mouse to reveal playback controls temporarily.
• Exiting is usually Esc or the same keyboard shortcut.

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Microsoft implements its *own* full-screen view, separate from the macOS system version.
  • Click the "Full Screen" button usually found in the top-right corner of the app ribbon/window (it looks like a box with diagonals, similar to the macOS green button but within the app).
  • Or look for it under the View tab in the ribbon.
• This mode hides the macOS menu bar and Dock like system full screen, but often maximizes within the current Space rather than always creating a new one. To exit, press Esc or click the "Exit" button that appears on screen.
• Using the standard macOS green button will trigger the *system* full screen (creating a new Space). Which one you use depends on your preference!

That Office quirk definitely confused me the first time I encountered it. Why not just use the system feature, Microsoft?

Finder

The Finder works perfectly with all standard full screen methods. Putting Finder full screen is actually a neat way to browse files without desktop clutter.

Exiting Full Screen Mode: You're Not Stuck!

Getting out is just as important as getting in. Here are all the ways:

• The Green Button (Again): Move your mouse to the very top-left corner where the traffic lights would be (they reappear when you hover). Click the green button. Done.
• Keyboard Shortcut: Press Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + F again.
• Escape Key: Press Esc. This works probably 95% of the time.
• Menu Bar: Move your mouse to the very top center of the screen to reveal the menu bar. Click the app name > View > Exit Full Screen.
• Mission Control: Enter Mission Control (swipe up, F3, Control-Up). You'll see your full-screen app as a separate Space at the top. Move your mouse pointer to the top-right corner of its thumbnail – a small "X" appears. Click it to close that Space/exiting full screen for that app. Alternatively, just click your main Desktop thumbnail to switch back, leaving the app full screen but inactive.

Common Full Screen Problems & Annoyances (And How to Fix Them)

Full screen isn't always perfect. Here's what can go wrong and how to wrestle back control:

Full Screen Settings You Can Tweak (System Settings)

Want more control? Head to System Settings > Desktop & Dock. These are the key ones affecting full screen behavior:

• Displays have separate Spaces: OFF (Recommended for Split View on a single screen). ON if you use multiple monitors and want full-screen apps bound to one specific screen.
• Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use: OFF (Prevents your Spaces from jumping around unexpectedly when switching).
• When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application: ON or OFF based on preference. ON means clicking an app's icon will jump you to the Space where its window is open.
• Group windows by application: ON (Keeps an app's windows together in Mission Control).
• Automatically hide and show the menu bar: ON (Essential for full screen immersion).
Automatically hide and show the Dock: ON (Essential for full screen immersion).

Frequently Asked Questions About Full Screen on Mac

Let's tackle those lingering questions people type into Google:

Q: Is there a difference between "full screen" and "maximize window" on Mac?

A: Absolutely, yes! This is crucial:

• Full Screen: Takes over the entire screen, hides menu bar/Dock, creates a new Space.
• Maximize/Zoom: Makes the window as large as possible without hiding the menu bar or Dock, and without creating a new Space. It usually respects app-defined maximum sizes. Triggered by double-clicking the window title bar (if enabled in settings) or clicking the green button *without* the hidden menu options sometimes.

Understanding this difference solves half the confusion about how to do full screen on Mac versus just making a window big.

Q: Why doesn't the green button make my window full screen?

A: A few possibilities:

1. The specific app doesn't support macOS's native full screen mode (less common nowadays).
2. You're accidentally triggering the "Zoom" (maximize) function instead. Try the long press/option-click on the green button to force the full screen menu.
3. Try the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + F – it bypasses some app-specific button behaviors.

Q: How do I get the menu bar back in full screen mode?

A: Just move your mouse pointer to the very top edge of the screen. It will slide down temporarily. Move the pointer away from the top, and it hides again automatically. You can adjust the sensitivity/delay in System Settings.

Q: How do I get the Dock back in full screen mode?

A: Move your mouse pointer to the very bottom edge of the screen. The Dock will temporarily slide up. Move the pointer away from the bottom, and it hides again.

Q: Can I force an app that doesn't support full screen to go full screen?

A: Sort of, but it's not true system full screen. You can:

• Maximize it manually (drag the window edges/corners out).
• Use third-party apps like "Rectangle" (free) or "Moom" (paid) which give you more window management controls, including keyboard shortcuts to make a window fill the screen without creating a Space (essentially an enhanced maximize).

True system-level full screen hiding menu bar/Dock and moving to a Space requires the app developer to implement it.

Q: How do I use full screen mode with multiple monitors?

A: It depends on your "Displays have separate Spaces" setting (System Settings > Desktop & Dock):

• OFF: Full-screen apps will cover the screen on the display where they were opened. You can have different full-screen apps on each monitor. Spaces apply globally across all monitors.
• ON: Each monitor gets its own independent set of Spaces. A full-screen app on one monitor creates a Space only on *that* monitor. Swiping between Spaces (Control+Left/Right) affects only the currently focused monitor.

Q: Why is Split View not working on my Mac?

A: Top causes:

1. Check System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > Displays have separate Spaces is OFF.
2. Both apps must be open and not minimized to the Dock.
3. Make sure you're using the long-press/Option-click method on the green button, *not* just a quick click.
4. Try dragging via Mission Control instead.
5. Restart your Mac (sometimes glitches happen).

Final Thoughts: Mastering Your Mac Screen Space

Getting comfortable with full screen modes on your Mac is honestly one of the best ways to boost your focus and productivity. That initial frustration with the green button? Totally normal. Once you understand the logic behind the macOS approach – the dedicated Spaces, the auto-hiding menu/Dock – and you have the tools (green button tricks, keyboard shortcut!), you'll be flipping apps into full screen or slick Split View setups without a second thought.

Remember, it's not just about clicking the green button once. Explore long-pressing it for Split View options. Burn that Control-Command-F shortcut into your muscle memory. Tweak your Dock and menu bar settings for a smoother experience. And don't be afraid to use Mission Control to manage it all.

Whether you're diving deep into a document, binge-watching your favorite show, or juggling code and documentation, knowing exactly how to do full screen on Mac (and how to get out!) gives you control over your digital workspace. Happy full-screening!