> Source URL: /resources/window-management-macos.guide
# macOS Window Management Guide

## Why this matters

When coding, you need to quickly move between:

- VS Code (current assignment)
- VS Code (reference project)
- Browser (instructions)

If every app is full screen in different Spaces, this gets slow and confusing. This guide shows a reliable setup.

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## Mental model (simple version)

- **App**: VS Code, Chrome, Terminal
- **Window**: one rectangle belonging to an app
- **Space**: a virtual desktop
- **Full screen**: a window in its own separate Space

Most students work faster in **normal windows** (not full screen) with side-by-side layout.

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## Core shortcuts (macOS)

- `Cmd + Space`: open Spotlight Search (quickly launch apps like VS Code, Terminal, or Chrome)
- `Cmd + Tab`: switch apps
- `Cmd + \``: switch windows in the same app (for example, two VS Code windows)
- `Control + Up Arrow`: open Mission Control (see all windows and Spaces)
- `Control + Left/Right Arrow`: move between Spaces
- `Control + Cmd + F`: toggle full screen for the active window

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## Put two windows side-by-side

### Option A: Tile with the green button

1. Move your mouse over the green button in the top-left of a window
2. Choose **Tile Window to Left of Screen** (or Right)
3. Click the second window to fill the other side

### Option B: Manual resize

1. Drag a window to the left half of the screen
2. Resize it by dragging its edges
3. Place the second window on the right half

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## Recommended coding layout

1. Keep your **exam/lab VS Code window** on the left
2. Keep your **reference VS Code window** on the right
3. Keep your browser either:
   - behind one of those windows, or
   - in a second Space (`Control + Right Arrow` to switch)

Try to avoid putting every app in full screen.

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## 2-minute practice drill

- [ ] Open two VS Code windows
- [ ] Put them side-by-side
- [ ] Press `Cmd + Space`, type `VS Code`, and press Enter
- [ ] Press `Cmd + \`` three times to switch between VS Code windows
- [ ] Press `Cmd + Tab` to switch to browser and back
- [ ] Press `Control + Up Arrow` to confirm where each window lives
- [ ] If a window is full screen by accident, press `Control + Cmd + F`

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## Common confusion fixes

**"My window disappeared."**

- Press `Control + Up Arrow` and click the window you want
- Or use `Cmd + Tab` to switch back to the app

**"Cmd + Tab gets me to VS Code, but not the window I want."**

- Use `Cmd + \`` after switching to VS Code

**"Everything is in separate Spaces and I keep getting lost."**

- Exit full screen on the windows you need (`Control + Cmd + F`)
- Keep your active coding windows on one Space


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## Backlinks

The following sources link to this document:

- [Window Management (macOS)](/resources/resources.index.llm.md)
- [macOS Window Management Guide](/resources/window-management.guide.llm.md)