---
tags:
  - macOS
  - Tahoe
  - window-management
  - interface
  - basics
title: Window Management Basics
---

# Window Management Basics

Managing windows on macOS differs slightly from other operating systems. Understanding the basic controls and snapping features will greatly improve your workflow.

## The Traffic Lights

Located in the top-left corner of every window are three colored buttons:

### 1. Close (Red)
*   **Action**: Closes the window.
*   **Note**: For most document-based apps (like Word or Pages), closing the window does *not* quit the application. The app remains running in the Dock (indicated by a small dot). To quit fully, press **Command + Q**.

### 2. Minimize (Yellow)
*   **Action**: Swooshes the window down into the right side of the Dock.
*   **Restore**: Click the window's icon in the Dock to bring it back.

### 3. Full Screen (Green)
*   **Click**: Enters Full Screen mode, hiding the Menu Bar and Dock for an immersive experience. Move your mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the Menu Bar.
*   **Option + Click**: If you hold the **Option** key, the Green button changes to **Zoom** (+). Clicking this expands the window to fit the content or the screen without entering Full Screen mode.

## Window Snapping

While macOS does not have "drag-to-edge" snapping enabled by default like Windows, it has a built-in tiling feature.

1.  **Hover** your mouse over the **Green** full-screen button (do not click).
2.  A menu will appear with options:
    *   **Tile Window to Left of Screen**
    *   **Tile Window to Right of Screen**
3.  Select one, and the window will fill that half of the screen. You can then select another open window to fill the other half (Split View).

## Mission Control

Mission Control offers a bird's-eye view of all your open windows and desktops.

*   **Activate**: Swipe up with three (or four) fingers on the trackpad, or press the **F3** key (Mission Control icon).
*   **Usage**: You can drag windows to different "Spaces" (Desktops) at the top of the screen to organize your work (e.g., one desktop for Email, one for Coding).

## App Exposé

To see all open windows for just the *current* application (e.g., all 5 open Word docs):
*   **Activate**: Swipe down with three (or four) fingers on the trackpad.

## Related Guides
*   Window Management in macOS Tahoe (Covers Stage Manager and Split View details)
*   The Menu Bar and Control Center
*   Trackpad Features