How to exit full screen on Windows and Mac 2024

Have you ever found yourself stuck in full screen mode on your computer and not sure how to exit it? Whether you’re working on a Windows or Mac device, navigating out of full screen can be confusing if you don’t know the right steps. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to exit full screen on both operating systems so that you can easily switch back to regular desktop mode and get back to work (or play!) in no time. So let’s dive in!

Windows

Exiting full screen mode on Windows is a simple process, yet it can be frustrating if you’re not familiar with the steps. There are several ways to exit full screen mode depending on the application or program you’re using. Here’s how:

1. Use keyboard shortcuts: Press F11 or Fn + F11 (if your device has a function key) to quickly exit full screen mode in most applications.

2. Click the exit button: Some programs have an X or an Exit Full Screen button located at the top right corner of the window. Simply click that button and you’ll be back to regular desktop mode.

3. Double-click anywhere on the screen: In some cases, double-clicking anywhere on the screen will also take you out of full screen mode.

Remember, these methods may vary depending on what program or application you’re using but they should work for most instances when exiting full-screen view on Windows devices.

Mac

Mac users might find themselves in full screen mode and not know how to exit it. However, the process is quite simple.

First, move your cursor up to the top of the screen until you see the menu bar appear. Then, look for a green button with two arrows pointing away from each other. This button indicates that you are currently in full screen mode.

To exit full screen mode on a Mac, simply click on this green button or press “Control + Command + F” on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can also swipe left or right with four fingers on your trackpad if you have enabled this gesture in your settings.

If none of these options seem to work for you or if there seems to be another issue preventing you from exiting full screen mode, try force quitting the application by pressing “Command + Option + Escape.” This will bring up a window where you can select which application to quit.

Exiting full screen mode on a Mac is an easy process that shouldn’t take too much time or effort once familiarized with it.