How to turn off window tiling when dragging on a Mac (macOS 26)

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 4 October 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-turn-off-window-tiling-when-dragging-on-a-mac/ · Checked 4 October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open System Settings
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
Scroll to Windows and switch off the edge tiling
Switch off filling the screen from the menu bar
Decide about the Option key
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, scroll to Windows and switch off Drag windows to left or right edge of screen to tile. Switch off Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen as well if windows grow to full size when you move them to the top.

5 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: System Settings
Real screenshots: 5 of 5 steps
Checked: 4 October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap 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.
Done
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Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Scroll to Windows and switch off the edge tiling
Drag windows to left or right edge of screen to tile is on in the picture.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Switch off filling the screen from the menu bar
Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen is the next row.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Decide about the Option key
Hold Option key while dragging windows to tile: press the Option key to accelerate tiling when you drag windows to the edge of the screen. Tiled windows have margins leaves some space around each tiled window.
Done

What we saw on our device

Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar: On our MacBook Neo, Desktop & Dock sits just below Appearance in the sidebar.
Switch off Drag windows to left or right edge of screen to tile: On our MacBook Neo this switch was on.
Decide about Hold ⌥ key while dragging windows to tile: On our MacBook Neo the label uses the ⌥ symbol rather than the word Option, and the switch was on.

About this guide

macOS tiles a window when you drag it to the left or right edge of the screen, and fills the screen when you drag it to the menu bar. That is handy when you want it and annoying when you only meant to move a window. Each behaviour has its own switch.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

Spaces and Mission Control settings are further down the same page: how to stop Spaces rearranging themselves on a Mac.

In short: System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Windows: switch off Drag windows to left or right edge of screen to tile and Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen.

Sources