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

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-title-bar-double-click-action-on-a-mac/ · Checked 9 November 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

9 November 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

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

About this guide

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.

Good to know

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

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

📷 Camera Lab: the same 6 scenes photographed with 11 phones, side by side.