Stage Manager and Full Screen Apps in macOS 13

Stage Manager in macOS 13 Ventura redefines multitasking by grouping active windows in the center while keeping recent apps on the left side of the screen. However, engaging with full-screen applications alters this standard interface dynamic. This article explains how macOS 13 handles native full-screen applications alongside Stage Manager, how the interface adapts, and how you can manage maximized workspaces efficiently.

Native Full-Screen Mode and Spaces

When you click the green maximize button in the top-left corner of an application window to enter native macOS full-screen mode, macOS treats that application as a separate, dedicated "Space."

Because full-screen mode is designed to dedicate 100% of the display to a single task without distractions, Stage Manager is effectively hidden within that view. The sidebar containing your app groupings (the "Stage") disappears entirely. You cannot summon the Stage Manager strip via cursor hover while an app is in native full-screen mode.

Even though Stage Manager is hidden while inside a full-screen application, it remains active on your standard Desktop Space:

  • Trackpad and Mouse Gestures: Swiping left or right with three or four fingers on a trackpad or Magic Mouse will slide you out of the full-screen application and back to your Desktop Space, where Stage Manager and its app groups instantly reappear.
  • Mission Control: Pressing the Mission Control key (or swiping up with three fingers) reveals all active Spaces at the top of the screen. Here, full-screen apps appear as standalone thumbnails alongside your main Desktop Space hosting Stage Manager.

Maximizing Windows Without Losing Stage Manager

If you want an application to use the entire display without losing access to Stage Manager, you should maximize the window rather than entering native full-screen mode:

  • Option-Click: Hold down the Option key and click the green window button. This zooms the window to fill the desktop workspace without creating a new Space.
  • Double-Click Title Bar: Depending on your System Settings, double-clicking the title bar of a window can expand it to fit the screen.

When a window covers the entire desktop space, Stage Manager automatically hides the app strip on the left to maximize screen real estate. To bring the strip back into view, simply move your cursor to the extreme left edge of the screen, and the Stage Manager shelf will slide out, allowing you to switch groups or drag other apps into your active workspace.