Apple - How to change the default behaviour of the fullscreen/maximize button?
I found that BetterTouchTool solves this problem nicely (Note: BetterTouchTool is no longer free, the trial expires after 45 days). The Preferences aren't quite intuitive:
- Select "Other" category at the top of the window.
- Make sure that "Global" is selected at the left side.
- Click "Configure New Trigger" button in the bottom part of the window.
- Select "Leftclick Green Window Button" as trigger.
- Select "Zoom Window Below Cursor" as predefined action.
- Enjoy!
BetterTouchTool also allows defining a keyboard shortcut for this action (under "Keyboard"). However, the action will still be "Zoom Window Below Cursor" then - it will zoom whichever window your mouse cursor happens to be on, not the currently active window. So this isn't as helpful as it could be unfortunately.
Spectacle has been discontinued. They recommend using Rectangle.
Use spectacle, a free open source app that has a bunch of handy window management shortcuts.
While it doesn't change the default behavior of the green button, it makes it superfluous for me to do so as I can do everything using keyboard shortcuts without using the mouse.
For full screen, press:
cmd + option + F
It also has a bunch of options for 1/2 screen, 1/3 screen, top half, bottom half, etc.
You can go to System Preferences -> Dock uncheck "Double-click a window's title bar to minimize" and then, when you double click on the title bar in a window, it will maximize the window without going into full screen mode.
I find it easier than having to hold down the option key and clicking on the green button.