Learn how to enter, use, and exit full-screen mode on Mac to use apps and windows on the entire screen for a distraction-free experience.
Full screen mode on Mac is a simple way to have the app you’re using cover the entire screen. This is great for things like design and image work, distraction-free writing, movie watching, or immersive gaming.
If you just got your very first Mac, then we want to help you make the most of your experience by showing you how to use full-screen mode on your Mac.
Enter full screen mode
It’s really easy to put an app or other window into full-screen mode. You can use whichever of these three options is most comfortable for you.
- Click the green button on the top left of the window.
- Click and hold the green button and pick Enter Full Screen.
- Use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + F.
Access other items in full screen mode
Since the window you put into full-screen mode covers everything else, including your menu bar and Dock, here are a few tips for accessing other items like those while in full-screen mode.
To access your menu bar or Dock when using an app in full-screen mode, just move your mouse to their location. The menu bar is at the top, and the Dock is normally at the bottom unless you’ve moved it to the right or left side.
To access other windows, apps, or your desktop, you can swipe left or right using your trackpad. Alternatively, you can open Mission Control easily by swiping up on your trackpad with three or four fingers. You can also check out additional ways to access Mission Control in our tutorial on the feature.
Related: How to show your Mac’s top menu bar even when apps are in full screen
Exit full screen mode
Exiting full screen mode is as simple as entering it. Use the green button, which you can see when you put your cursor on the top left of the open window. Or again, use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + F.
Not all apps support full-screen mode
While you can use popular apps in full-screen mode, not all apps support this. As an example, you can’t have System Settings take the full screen. Clicking the green button will just expand the window length and not the width.
Some apps do not work well in full-screen
While full-screen mode does not curtail the user experience in most apps, in some it can cause trouble. For instance, when I put Google Chrome in full-screen on my Mac, the tabs at the top of the screen are no longer visible.
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