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How to Stop Word from Expanding to Full Screen on Mac
Question details
The user wants to prevent Word windows from automatically resizing to full-screen or a large window when moved, so they can freely view two documents side by side.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Organizing multiple document windows side by side after a recent system or software update.
- Observed behavior
- Word windows automatically snap into full-screen or maximize when dragged near the edges or corners of the Mac screen.
Ensure you know which macOS version you are running, as window management features like edge snapping (Window Tiling) were introduced or updated in recent macOS versions.
Disable Window Snapping in macOS System Settings
Turn off the macOS feature that automatically resizes windows when dragged to the screen edges or corners.
Recent updates to macOS introduced a native window tiling and snapping feature. When this is active, dragging a Microsoft Word window to the edge of your MacBook screen tells the operating system to expand it to fill the screen or half the screen. Disabling this global setting will restore your ability to manually place windows side by side.
Click the Apple menu icon located at the top-left corner of your Mac's screen and select 'System Settings' from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down the left sidebar in the System Settings window and click on 'Desktop & Dock'.
Scroll down to the 'Windows' section (or 'Window Tiling' in newer macOS versions). Find the option that says 'Tile by dragging windows to screen edges' or similar resizing options, and toggle the switch to the off position.
Use WPS Office for a Built-in Tabbed Interface
Tired of wrestling with overlapping windows and macOS auto-resizing? WPS Office is a free, lightweight Microsoft Office alternative that uses a web-browser-like tabbed interface. You can easily manage multiple documents in a single window or use the built-in split-screen feature without triggering macOS window snapping.
- 1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download and install WPS Office. Open your .docx files, and they will automatically open in clean, organized tabs.
- 2. Enable Side-by-Side View: Go to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and click 'View Side by Side' to instantly compare two documents within the same application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word suddenly go full screen when I drag it?
Recent macOS updates introduced native window tiling, which automatically snaps and resizes application windows to full screen or half screen when you drag them near the edges or corners of your display.
How do I view two Word documents side by side on a Mac without full screen?
After disabling the edge-snapping feature in your Mac's Desktop & Dock settings, you can manually drag and resize the two Word windows to place them next to each other. Alternatively, use the 'Window' menu in the top menu bar to arrange your open documents.
Can I disable this feature only for Microsoft Word?
No, the window snapping feature is a global macOS setting. Disabling it in System Settings will turn it off for all applications on your Mac, preventing any window from auto-resizing.
How do I exit full-screen mode if Word is already stuck in it?
Move your mouse pointer to the very top edge of your screen to reveal the macOS menu bar, then click the green circular button in the top-left corner of the Word window, or simply press the Esc key on your keyboard.
