You enlarge a Mac window, but it still sits on the desktop instead of taking over the screen. The green window button and a keyboard shortcut get supported apps into full screen. Once you’re there, you can reveal hidden controls, switch apps, or return to a window without closing anything.
Start with the green window button
Using Fill enlarges a window on the desktop without putting it in native full-screen mode.
To enter full screen in a supported app, click the green window button at the upper-left of its window.
For the menu route, hover over the green window button.
Choose Full Screen > Entire Screen.
That is the menu path in macOS Tahoe 26. The direct Enter Full Screen label shown in older tutorials belongs to the Sonoma 14 green-button menu.
Press the full-screen keyboard shortcut
Control-Command-F toggles full screen in apps that support the standard Mac shortcut.
- 1.Click the app window you want to make full screen.
- 2.Press Control-Command-F to enter full screen.
- 3.Press Control-Command-F again to return to the window.
Leave full screen or switch apps
Move your pointer to the top of the display to reveal the menu bar and window controls.
Click the green window button again to exit.
For the menu alternative, hover over the green window button.
Choose Exit Full Screen. To switch to another desktop or full-screen app while keeping the current app full screen, the shortcut is Control-Left Arrow or Control-Right Arrow.
Check your browser’s own controls
Chrome uses Control-Command-F on Mac. For its menu route, click More at the upper-right.
Click the Full screen icon beside Zoom.
Firefox uses Command-Shift-F. For its menu route, click the upper-right menu button.
Select the full-screen icon.
To leave Firefox’s full-screen view through the menu, move the pointer to the top.
Open the menu button.
Select the exit-full-screen icon.
In Microsoft Edge, press Control-Command-F to turn full screen on or off. Edge also supports Esc to exit.
If your browser’s shortcut or menu route fails, try clicking the green window button at the upper-left of its window.
Make the video itself full screen
The player’s full-screen control lets the video take over the screen.
On YouTube, open your video.
Click Full screen at the bottom-right of the player.
To return to the page, click Exit full screen or press Esc.
For YouTube’s keyboard alternative, click the video player to give it focus.
Press F to enter full screen.
Press F again to exit.
For a local video, open the media file in QuickTime Player.
Choose View > Enter Full Screen.
Press Esc to leave QuickTime’s full-screen view.
Keep the menu bar within reach
The menu bar appears temporarily when your pointer reaches the top of the display. For persistent visibility, open Apple menu > System Settings > Menu Bar.
Set Automatically hide and show the menu bar to Never. The In Full Screen Only option instead hides it automatically during full-screen use. Earlier macOS versions locate this setting elsewhere.
Safari has a separate toolbar setting. With Safari already full screen, choose View > Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen to change toolbar visibility.
To reveal the Dock, move the pointer to its location.
Share the screen between two apps
Split View puts two compatible apps together in a separate full-screen space.
- 1.Hover over the first app’s green window button.
- 2.Choose Full Screen > Left of Screen or Right of Screen.
- 3.Click the second app on the other side.
- 4.To give one app the entire screen later, activate its window.
- 5.Hover over that window’s green window button.
- 6.Choose Make Window Full Screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t F11 make my Mac app full screen?
F11 is not a universal Mac full-screen shortcut. Apple assigns Fn-F11 to showing the desktop. Chrome’s F11 shortcut applies to Windows and Linux; its Mac shortcut is Control-Command-F.
Can I maximize a window without entering full screen?
Yes. Hover over the green window button, then click Fill below Fill & Arrange. The keyboard alternative is Fn-Control-F with the window active and a compatible Fn key. Fill enlarges the window on the desktop without entering a separate full-screen space.
Does Esc always exit full screen on a Mac?
No. Esc is app-specific, so it is not a universal exit shortcut. QuickTime Player, Photos, Microsoft Edge, and YouTube support it.
Can I use Split View on another monitor?
Yes, with compatible apps. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Enable Displays have separate Spaces. On the desired display, hover over the app’s green window button, choose Full Screen > Left of Screen or Right of Screen, then click the second app.
Can I exit full screen through Mission Control?
Yes. Press Control-Up Arrow to enter Mission Control. Move the pointer to the Spaces bar. Hover over the full-screen app’s thumbnail, then click the Exit button that appears.