Maximize a window on a Mac without going full screen

Why it happens

On Windows, the maximize button makes a window as big as the screen. On a Mac, clicking the green button usually sends the window into full screen, which hides the menu bar and gives the app its own space. Fill is the Mac's plain maximize: the window just gets bigger.

How to fix it

1. Click the window you want to make bigger, so its app is in front.

2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Window, then Fill. The window stretches to cover the screen.

   Menu bar›Window›Fill

3. Next time, use the keys: hold Fn (the Globe key) and Control, then press F. If your keyboard has no Fn key, use the menu as in step 2.

4. To put the window back how it was, choose Window, then Move & Resize, then Return to Previous Size.

   Menu bar›Window›Move & Resize›Return to Previous Size

Still not fixed?

1. Prefer the mouse? Drag the window by its title bar up to the menu bar and let go. If that doesn't fill the screen, turn on Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen in Desktop & Dock.

   Desktop & Dock›Windows›Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen

2. You can also set a double-click on the title bar to fill the window. Open Desktop & Dock and choose Fill for Window title bar double-click action.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Window title bar double-click action

3. If you went full screen by mistake, press Control-Command-F to come back out, or move the pointer to the top of the screen and click the green button.

4. Some apps have no Fill in their Window menu, or only allow certain sizes. Hold Option and click the green button to use Zoom, or drag a corner of the window. If Fill is missing in every app, contact Apple Support.