How To Exit Out Of Fullscreen Minecraft Macos

How to Exit Fullscreen Minecraft on macOS: A Simple Guide

Are you enjoying a Minecraft session on your macOS device, but now you need to get back to other tasks? Exiting fullscreen mode in Minecraft on macOS is surprisingly straightforward, and this guide will walk you through the different methods, ensuring you can quickly and easily return to your desktop. This article covers various scenarios and keyboard shortcuts, making it a comprehensive resource for all Minecraft players on macOS.

Why Exit Fullscreen?

Sometimes, you need to switch to another application without closing Minecraft. Maybe you need to check your email, respond to a message, or look up a crafting recipe. Exiting fullscreen allows you to quickly access your other applications and desktop without interrupting your game.

Method 1: Using the Escape Key

The simplest and most common method is using the Escape (Esc) key. Pressing the Esc key will usually toggle between fullscreen and windowed mode in most applications, including Minecraft. This is a quick and efficient way to return to your desktop.

How it works: The Esc key is a universal shortcut for many applications to exit fullscreen mode. Simply press the key while Minecraft is running in fullscreen, and it should immediately revert to windowed mode.

Method 2: Using the Green Button (Minimize)

If the Escape key doesn't work, you can try using the green minimize button in the top-left corner of your screen. This might seem counterintuitive, but this action minimizes Minecraft to the dock, essentially exiting fullscreen mode without closing the game.

How it works: This method isn't directly exiting fullscreen, but it achieves the same result: returning to your desktop and accessing other applications. You can then resume your Minecraft session by clicking the minimized icon in your dock.

Method 3: Using the Command-M Shortcut

This is a macOS specific shortcut to minimize the active window. Press Command (⌘) + M simultaneously to minimize your Minecraft window. This is very similar to using the green minimize button but is faster for users who prefer keyboard shortcuts.

How it works: This shortcut sends the active window, which is your Minecraft game, to your dock. Again, this effectively removes it from fullscreen.

Method 4: Check Your Minecraft Settings (Rare Cases)

In rare cases, there might be an issue with your Minecraft settings. Though unlikely, you can try checking your video settings within the Minecraft game. It's unlikely this will directly address the issue of exiting fullscreen, but verifying your settings are correct ensures no accidental configuration is blocking the usual methods.

How it works: Navigate to the Options menu, then Video Settings. Ensure your display settings are correctly set. It is possible that an incorrect video setting could affect fullscreen toggling, however this is an unlikely cause.

Troubleshooting

If none of the above methods work, try these troubleshooting steps:

Restart Minecraft: A simple restart can often resolve minor glitches.
Restart your Mac: If the problem persists, restarting your computer might resolve underlying software issues.
Check for Updates: Make sure your macOS and Minecraft are updated to the latest versions. Outdated software can sometimes cause unexpected behavior.

By using these simple methods, exiting fullscreen in Minecraft on macOS should become a seamless process. Remember the Escape key is usually the quickest and most reliable option, but if that fails, the other options provide alternative solutions to help get you back to your desktop quickly. Hopefully this guide has been helpful! Remember to always save your progress before exiting the game!