How to change the title bar double-click action on a Mac

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Desktop & Dock

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

A double-click on the title bar of a window can do four different things on a Mac. Apple describes them: Fill expands the window to fill the space between the menu bar and the Dock, Zoom zooms it, Minimize sends it to the Dock, and No Action does nothing.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar

   It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.

   Done

3. 

   Choose the action

   Click the menu in the Window title bar double-click action row. In the picture it is set to Zoom.

   Done

4. 

   Choose where minimised windows go

   Minimize windows into application icon, the next row, sends a minimised window into the icon of its app. With it off, the window goes to its own place in the Dock.

   Done

Good to know

Minimized window animation, one row higher, chooses the visual effect used when you minimise a window.

In short: System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Window title bar double-click action.