Moving a window occasionally shrinks it while moving it.

When I want to move a window, I click a neutral part of the window and hold, then drag the window to a new place, then let go. The weird thing is that once in a while the window shrinks to a narrow horizontal window, making it easier to see where I am putting it. Once in place, I let go, and it pops back to the normal window size. Happens randomly--with different apps, IINM. It certainly happens with the Finder, and possibly Mail and others. I'll take note moving forward.

But I can't reproduce this on demand! Is there some feature I'm unaware of that I stumble upon from time to time?

TIA!

asdf

zxcv

iMac 24″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jan 15, 2025 4:13 AM

Top-ranking reply

betaneptune Author

Level 2

220 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2025 2:27 AM

GOT IT!

OK, I can reproduce it now. You click and hold the title, then the window shrinks, you can move it around in its shrunken form, then release the mouse and the window expands back out, but in its new place. In the Finder here, you need to click and hold anywhere in the SORT_ORDER window. As soon as you start to move it, it ends up shrunk, as in the 2nd screenshot. Move it where you want, and then it is restored to regular size in the new place. Must be an ultra-secret mouse function. Is this documented somewhere? I couldn't find it.

I mean anywhere in the SORT_ORDER tab, that is, above the Date Modified box and below the control icons. Or just click and hold on the tab label SORT_ORDER, then drag it around.

Only happens on some apps, at least the Finder, Firefox, Safari, Mail. In Mail, open your Inbox, then click and hold Inbox, and move it around. As soon as you start to move it, it will shrink and become semi-transparent.

TIA!

asdf

zxcv

asdf

zxcv

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Moving a window occasionally shrinks it while moving it.

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