Understanding Windows, Tabs, Full Screen And Split Screen Modes

When working in apps on documents you can choose to have one document open per window, or multiple documents in tabs in that same window. Windows can be floating, resizable objects on your desktop, or you can go into full screen mode to fill the screen with the window or split screen mode to share the screen with exactly two app windows. You can also combine windows, tabs, and screen modes to work in many different ways.

Comments: 12 Responses to “Understanding Windows, Tabs, Full Screen And Split Screen Modes”

    Markus
    5 years ago

    Great tutorial on windows and split screen. Until now, I hadn't thought about the possibility of using tabs instead of separate windows. I had been using separate windows and using CMD ~ to switch between them, but I can think of several instances in which I'd much prefer the tabs. Very cool photo on your desktop too!

    Jean-Marc
    5 years ago

    Thks for this tutorial Gary,
    I personally love to work with multiple desktops as opposed to multiple windows, swipe from one to another seems easier in my way to work. Do you have tips and tricks to suggest on this way to work ?
    Jean-Marc

    5 years ago

    Jean-Marc: People like to work in different ways. That's why we have all the options. If using Mission Control to have everything on separate desktops works well for you, then stick with it, by all means.

    Andreas WERNER
    5 years ago

    How and when to get this pop-up at 2:53 hoovering (enter full screen - tile left - tile right - move to other display)?
    Is this for Catalina only? Or Mojave too?
    It doesn't appear on my system (Mojave).
    Monitor/displays use different spaces is activated in Mission Control.

    5 years ago

    Andreas: That is new to Catalina.

    Derek McCalden
    5 years ago

    Hello Gary. The split screen is not working on my iMac and I have Catalina installed. When I click on the green circle it shows the options for full screen/tile left/tile right but when I click an option nothing happens. Any thoughts on a solution. Thanks for your tutorials

    5 years ago

    Derek: Which app? Have you tried a different app? A restart?

    Alston Ray
    5 years ago

    Succinct as usual, Gary. Many thanks.

    I use tabs, many tabs simultaneously, in Pages. When adding a new merge, Pages alters the previous order. Is there a way to avoid this?

    5 years ago

    Alston: I don't know of any control for that. But I think it highly depends on which window you have in front when you merge.

    Derek McCalden
    5 years ago

    Gary I have tried different app and restarted my computer but it makes no difference. It is odd since if I click Full Screen it works so unable to work out why left/right screen does not work.

    5 years ago

    Derek: Try going to System Preferences, Mission Control, and turn ON "Displays Have Separate Spaces" to see if that makes a difference. Reboot after. If not, try turning it OFF and then rebooting.

    Derek McCalden
    5 years ago

    Excellent. Thanks Gary, changing the option in Mission Control worked great.

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