How to Exit Split View on Mac Without Closing Apps

Split View in macOS 13 lets you work with two apps side-by-side, but closing the mode often leads users to mistakenly quit their open software. This guide demonstrates how to safely exit Split View in macOS 13 Ventura without quitting your applications, ensuring your active documents and browser tabs remain open and safely transferred back to your standard desktop.

Method 1: Use the Green Window Button

The fastest way to separate your windows without closing them is via the window management buttons.

  1. Move your pointer to the top of the screen to reveal the menu bar and the window controls on the app you want to remove from Split View.
  2. Hover your mouse over the green full-screen button in the top-left corner of the window.
  3. From the pop-up menu that appears, select Exit Full Screen (or simply click the green button directly).

The selected application will instantly return to its original windowed size on your primary Desktop space. The second application will remain open in its own separate full-screen space. To return the second app to the desktop as well, switch to it and click its green button.

Method 2: Use Mission Control

Mission Control provides a visual overview that allows you to dismantle the Split View pair manually.

  1. Open Mission Control by pressing the F3 key, pressing the Mission Control key on your keyboard, or swiping up with three or four fingers on your trackpad.
  2. Move your cursor to the Spaces bar running along the top of the screen.
  3. Locate the thumbnail representing your Split View space.
  4. Hover your pointer over the Split View thumbnail until you see an arrow icon appear, or click and drag one of the application windows out of the thumbnail directly onto the Desktop space thumbnail.

The dragged application drops back onto the desktop in windowed mode, while the remaining application continues running in its own full-screen space without losing any data.

Method 3: Use the Keyboard Shortcut

If you prefer using your keyboard, you can toggle the active window out of Split View instantly.

  1. Click anywhere inside the window you wish to remove from Split View to make it active.
  2. Press Control + Command + F on your keyboard.

The active application will immediately exit the split arrangement and revert to a standard window on your desktop, leaving both programs running and intact.