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Default behavior of the green button click is full-screen, but option-click maximizes. The behavior of double-clicking the title bar is controlled by the "Dock

Default behavior of the green button click is full-screen, but option-click maximizes. The behavior of double-clicking the title bar is controlled by the "Dock & Menu Bar" settings pane. It can be configured to minimize the window instead. You can also double-click any edge or corner to maximize from that side alone. Option-double-clicking will grow both sides. I like to option-double-click my Terminal windows to maximize their height without changing their width.

jrmg 3y ago
You can discover so many things on Mac by Option-clicking! It’s used in many places to give an ‘alternate’ function to buttons and the like.
- crimsontech 3y ago
  Indeed, I think it’s a relic from the one button mouse.
  - dwaite 3y ago
    not really, that’s control-clicking. They’d need four buttons to cover the permutations (before you even get to command and shift clicking)
- nicbou 3y ago
  Try the volume and wifi icons!
  - malkuth23 3y ago
    I just audibly gasped after clicking.
dombesz 3y ago
Apparently, this was an existing feature on older macOs-es. I used it a lot, but it has been removed as a default setting like ~8 years ago. But luckily you can still add this shortcut to macOs, this is the first thing I do when I get a fresh install: 1. Go to System Settings -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> App Shortcuts 2. Click the small (+) button under the shortcuts table. 3. Choose/Type the following values in the modal: - Application: All Applications - Menu Title: Zoom - Keyboard shortcut: Command + Shift + M (My preferred shortcut) 4. Click Save. 5. Voila, now you are able to maximize any window, and pressing it again it goes back to its original size. A cool trick is that now if you hover the green (+) button on the top of any page you will be able to access that shortcut from there as well. It sits just under the "Enter Full Screen" menu option.
- dombesz 3y ago
  Sorry for the bad formatting, apparently I cannot edit my comment on HN anymore. 1. Go to System Settings -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> App Shortcuts 2. Click the small (+) button under the shortcuts table 3. Choose/Type the following values in the modal: - Application: All Applications - Menu Title: Zoom - Keyboard shortcut: Command + Shift + M (My preferred shortcut) 4. Click Save. 5. Voila, now you are able to maximize any window, and pressing it again it goes back to its original size. A cool trick is that now if you hover the green (+) button on the top of any page you will be able to access that shortcut from there as well. It sits just under the "Enter Full Screen" menu option.
  - ianai 3y ago
    Makes me wish macosxhints was still around. This was precisely what that site was about. I wonder whether there’s a modern day, fastish way to learn all this hidden behavior.
    - da39a3ee 3y ago
      Chat GPT4 gave a good explanation including the option key behavior when I gave the prompt below. GPT3.5 wasn't nearly as helpful though. > Can I maximize or "snap" windows on modern MacOS without entering full screen mode (with its annoying multiple "spaces")?

jrmg 3y ago

You can discover so many things on Mac by Option-clicking! It’s used in many places to give an ‘alternate’ function to buttons and the like.

crimsontech 3y ago
Indeed, I think it’s a relic from the one button mouse.
- dwaite 3y ago
  not really, that’s control-clicking. They’d need four buttons to cover the permutations (before you even get to command and shift clicking)
nicbou 3y ago
Try the volume and wifi icons!
- malkuth23 3y ago
  I just audibly gasped after clicking.

dombesz 3y ago

Apparently, this was an existing feature on older macOs-es. I used it a lot, but it has been removed as a default setting like ~8 years ago. But luckily you can still add this shortcut to macOs, this is the first thing I do when I get a fresh install: 1. Go to System Settings -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> App Shortcuts 2. Click the small (+) button under the shortcuts table. 3. Choose/Type the following values in the modal: - Application: All Applications - Menu Title: Zoom - Keyboard shortcut: Command + Shift + M (My preferred shortcut) 4. Click Save. 5. Voila, now you are able to maximize any window, and pressing it again it goes back to its original size. A cool trick is that now if you hover the green (+) button on the top of any page you will be able to access that shortcut from there as well. It sits just under the "Enter Full Screen" menu option.

dombesz 3y ago
Sorry for the bad formatting, apparently I cannot edit my comment on HN anymore. 1. Go to System Settings -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> App Shortcuts 2. Click the small (+) button under the shortcuts table 3. Choose/Type the following values in the modal: - Application: All Applications - Menu Title: Zoom - Keyboard shortcut: Command + Shift + M (My preferred shortcut) 4. Click Save. 5. Voila, now you are able to maximize any window, and pressing it again it goes back to its original size. A cool trick is that now if you hover the green (+) button on the top of any page you will be able to access that shortcut from there as well. It sits just under the "Enter Full Screen" menu option.
- ianai 3y ago
  Makes me wish macosxhints was still around. This was precisely what that site was about. I wonder whether there’s a modern day, fastish way to learn all this hidden behavior.
  - da39a3ee 3y ago
    Chat GPT4 gave a good explanation including the option key behavior when I gave the prompt below. GPT3.5 wasn't nearly as helpful though. > Can I maximize or "snap" windows on modern MacOS without entering full screen mode (with its annoying multiple "spaces")?