macOS Window Management Guide

Why this matters

When coding, you need to quickly move between:

• VS Code (current assignment)
• VS Code (reference project)
• Browser (instructions)

If every app is full screen in different Spaces, this gets slow and confusing. This guide shows a reliable setup.

Mental model (simple version)

• App: VS Code, Chrome, Terminal
• Window: one rectangle belonging to an app
• Space: a virtual desktop
• Full screen: a window in its own separate Space

Most students work faster in normal windows (not full screen) with side-by-side layout.

Core shortcuts (macOS)

• Cmd + Space: open Spotlight Search (quickly launch apps like VS Code, Terminal, or Chrome)
• Cmd + Tab: switch apps
• `Cmd + ``: switch windows in the same app (for example, two VS Code windows)
• Control + Up Arrow: open Mission Control (see all windows and Spaces)
• Control + Left/Right Arrow: move between Spaces
• Control + Cmd + F: toggle full screen for the active window

Put two windows side-by-side

Option A: Tile with the green button

1. Move your mouse over the green button in the top-left of a window
2. Choose Tile Window to Left of Screen (or Right)
3. Click the second window to fill the other side

Option B: Manual resize

1. Drag a window to the left half of the screen
2. Resize it by dragging its edges
3. Place the second window on the right half

Recommended coding layout

1. Keep your exam/lab VS Code window on the left
2. Keep your reference VS Code window on the right
3. Keep your browser either:
   • behind one of those windows, or
   • in a second Space (Control + Right Arrow to switch)

Try to avoid putting every app in full screen.

2-minute practice drill

• Open two VS Code windows
• Put them side-by-side
• Press Cmd + Space, type VS Code, and press Enter
• Press `Cmd + `` three times to switch between VS Code windows
• Press Cmd + Tab to switch to browser and back
• Press Control + Up Arrow to confirm where each window lives
• If a window is full screen by accident, press Control + Cmd + F

Common confusion fixes

"My window disappeared."

• Press Control + Up Arrow and click the window you want
• Or use Cmd + Tab to switch back to the app

"Cmd + Tab gets me to VS Code, but not the window I want."

• Use `Cmd + `` after switching to VS Code

"Everything is in separate Spaces and I keep getting lost."

• Exit full screen on the windows you need (Control + Cmd + F)
• Keep your active coding windows on one Space