macOS 27 compared with macOS 26: We rewrote this guide on macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo): it now has 3 steps instead of 4. The macOS 26 page keeps the steps and screenshots as they were.
howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-title-bar-double-click-action-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1
In this guide
Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, then choose Fill, Zoom, Minimize or No Action from the menu in the Window title bar double-click action row.
3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
- App
- System Settings
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Step by step
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
It is just below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
On our MacBook Neo the setting sits in the Dock section at the top, in the row Window title bar double-click action.
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size Choose the action
Click the menu at the right of the Window title bar double-click action row, then choose Fill, Zoom, Minimize or No Action.
On our MacBook Neo it was set to Zoom, shown with a tick in the menu.
If you do not see this option
- Desktop & Dock is not in the sidebar Scroll down the sidebar, or type "title bar" in the Search field at the top of the sidebar.
- You cannot find the row It is in the Dock section near the top of Desktop & Dock, directly below Minimized window animation and above Minimize windows into application icon.
If this does not work
- Double-clicking the title bar does nothing Check the menu is not set to No Action; Apple says that option does nothing. Source: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac
- The window fills the screen instead of zooming Apple says Fill expands the window between the menu bar and the Dock. Choose Zoom if you want the zoom behaviour instead. Source: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac
- The window disappears into the Dock The menu is set to Minimize. Choose Fill, Zoom or No Action instead.
About this guide
Double-clicking a window's title bar can do one of four things on a Mac. Apple says 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.
Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.
Good to know
Minimized window animation, one row higher, chooses the visual effect used when you minimise a window.
On our MacBook Neo, Minimized window animation was set to Genie Effect, and the next row down, Minimize windows into application icon, was switched off.
In short: Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Window title bar double-click action.
Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.
📷 Camera Lab: the same 6 scenes photographed with 11 phones, side by side.
Did this guide work for you?
Sorry about that. What happened?