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[macOS] When multiple windows are fullscreened, is it possible to close one fullscreen window at a time instead of all fullscreen windows (with the macOS fullscreen API config enabled)?

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Hi! I previously used Google Chrome, and would typically have multiple windows in fullscreen (different YouTube pages, for example). On Chrome, if I fullscreen multiple windows, and then escape the fullscreen for only one of them, the rest remain in fullscreen.

In Firefox, I enable the macOS fullscreen API, as I prefer my windows to enter the Mission Control space after fullscreening. When I then open multiple fullscreen windows, and escape only one of them, then ALL fullscreen windows also escape and return to normal size at the same time, whereas Chrome allows the rest of the windows to stay in fullscreen.

Is there any way around this such that it has the same behavior as Chrome? This is the only real issue that's holding me back from making the change to Firefox, so if there's any way to fix this, that'd be amazing! Thanks so much!

Hi! I previously used Google Chrome, and would typically have multiple windows in fullscreen (different YouTube pages, for example). On Chrome, if I fullscreen multiple windows, and then escape the fullscreen for only one of them, the rest remain in fullscreen. In Firefox, I enable the macOS fullscreen API, as I prefer my windows to enter the Mission Control space after fullscreening. When I then open multiple fullscreen windows, and escape only one of them, then ALL fullscreen windows also escape and return to normal size at the same time, whereas Chrome allows the rest of the windows to stay in fullscreen. Is there any way around this such that it has the same behavior as Chrome? This is the only real issue that's holding me back from making the change to Firefox, so if there's any way to fix this, that'd be amazing! Thanks so much!

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The behavior you described is the default behavior in Firefox when using the macOS fullscreen API. However, there is a workaround that you can try to achieve the same behavior as Chrome. Please note that this workaround involves making changes to Firefox's configuration, so proceed with caution and follow the steps below:

1)Open a new Firefox tab and type "about:config" in the address bar. 2)You will see a warning message about changing advanced settings. Click on the "Accept the Risk and Continue" button. 3)In the search bar at the top, type "browser.fullscreen.autohide" and you should see the preference listed. 4)Double-click on the "browser.fullscreen.autohide" preference to set its value to "false."

This preference controls the behavior of Firefox when exiting fullscreen mode. By default, it is set to "true," which causes all fullscreen windows to exit when any one of them is exited. Changing it to "false" should allow the other fullscreen windows to remain in fullscreen when you exit one of them.

Please keep in mind that modifying advanced settings in Firefox's configuration comes with certain risks, and it's always a good idea to create a backup or take precautions before making any changes.

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Mich said

The behavior you described is the default behavior in Firefox when using the macOS fullscreen API. However, there is a workaround that you can try to achieve the same behavior as Chrome. Please note that this workaround involves making changes to Firefox's configuration, so proceed with caution and follow the steps below: 1)Open a new Firefox tab and type "about:config" in the address bar. 2)You will see a warning message about changing advanced settings. Click on the "Accept the Risk and Continue" button. 3)In the search bar at the top, type "browser.fullscreen.autohide" and you should see the preference listed. 4)Double-click on the "browser.fullscreen.autohide" preference to set its value to "false." This preference controls the behavior of Firefox when exiting fullscreen mode. By default, it is set to "true," which causes all fullscreen windows to exit when any one of them is exited. Changing it to "false" should allow the other fullscreen windows to remain in fullscreen when you exit one of them. Please keep in mind that modifying advanced settings in Firefox's configuration comes with certain risks, and it's always a good idea to create a backup or take precautions before making any changes.

Thank you so much for the reply! I went ahead and followed the steps you outlined, and it unfortunately still closes all full screened windows when I close one window. By chance, do you have any other ideas on how to keep the remaining windows fullscreened once I exit full screen for one of them?