Big Sur - Top left of windows - What does the middle YELLOW button do, between the Read and Green?

[Marty_Macfly]

hi All,

Newbie question here!

What does the Yellow button actually do below?
OK - RED = QUIT, GREEN = MAX screen


I see the window minimises to the dock, on RHS.
Is this just for show, to keep work desk tidy?

Or is it for multitasking as well?

Hope you can advise!

Regards
Martin

 

[Quackers]

Minimise
Whether or not it minimises to the dock is up to a setting you can chose.

 

[macintoshmac]

hi All,

Newbie question here!

What does the Yellow button actually do below?
OK - RED = QUIT, GREEN = MAX screen


I see the window minimises to the dock, on RHS.
Is this just for show, to keep work desk tidy?

Or is it for multitasking as well?

Hope you can advise!

Regards
Martin



View attachment 1695646

It minimises the window into the macOS Dock by default.

These settings control how the minimise function works:

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Huh, why do you ask about something you already figured out?

 

[MiniApple]

Related question from upcoming MacOS newbie: is there a setting to open the "mac os apps" in always in "green" mode, rather than to click on it every time? Drove me nuts on my aunts old Macbook when she needed help.

 

[macintoshmac]

Huh, why do you ask about something you already figured out?

Because he wants to know if that is all or if he is missing out on something.

To that effect, @Marty_Macfly, you can hover pointer over the green dot and see more options. When you are seeing them, press the Option/ alt key on the keyboard, you will see more options. Enjoy.

 

[Nigel Goodman]

What does the Yellow button actually do below?
OK - RED = QUIT, GREEN = MAX screen

Just to clarify, Red does not necessarily mean Quit. It normally only closes the current window. Some apps may auto-quit when the last window is closed, and some apps stay open even with no windows. And some apps do quit when clicking Red (such as System Preferences* for instance). Confusing if coming from Windows I know. Check the Dock; unless the setting has been changed the dot under the app icon will indicate where the app is still running or not.

*Debate: is System Preferences an app?

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Just to clarify, Red does not necessarily mean Quit. It normally only closes the current window. Some apps may auto-quit when the last window is closed, and some apps stay open even with no windows. And some apps do quit when clicking Red (such as System Preferences* for instance). Confusing if coming from Windows I know. Check the Dock; unless the setting has been changed the dot under the app icon will indicate where the app is still running or not.

*Debate: is System Preferences an app?

Thanks Nigel,

That's really helpful for a newbie



Debate: is System Preferences an app?

IMHO - In this context "yes 100%"

IMHO - The Windows UI should be consistent as possible for the same windows. Else a view from outsiders can be that the UI is a half finished, work in progress, bit off a fickle mess. (Diving for cover now! 😆 )


Outcome:
Not great for Newbies
Not great for experienced guys - having to explain the same stuff to newbies... like me



Thanks for the info Nigel

Martin

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Related question from upcoming MacOS newbie: is there a setting to open the "mac os apps" in always in "green" mode, rather than to click on it every time? Drove me nuts on my aunts old Macbook when she needed help.

Hi M,

A couple of things I found out these last few days

Enjoy! 😀




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusting the Windows on a M1 Mac - under Big Sur 11.0

1. Max the Window - But still show menu and Dock
   >> WIDTH - Only for some apps - e.g. Excel and NOTES
   >> Height - All apps - that I have tried…
   
   OPTION + “Click GREEN Button”
   
   
   
2. Full Screen - Enter / Exit
   However, blocks out Menu and dock (Includes clock - pain)
   
   CONTRL + CMD + F
   
   
   
   
3. To bring up Dock
   External Keyboard = Control + F3
   Macbook = Fn + Control + F3

 

[Nigel Goodman]

IMHO - The Windows UI should be consistent as possible for the same windows. Else a view from outsiders can be that the UI is a half finished, work in progress, bit off a fickle mess. (Diving for cover now! 😆 )

I'm with you on this, and I've been a Mac user for a VERY long time!