Parallels Exit Full Screen: Quick Ways to Leave Fullscreen

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To exit full screen in Parallels Desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+Enter (or Control+Option+Return on a Mac keyboard) to return to windowed mode. You can also move your cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the Parallels menu bar, then click the green traffic-light button or choose View > Exit Full Screen.

What Full Screen Mode Is in Parallels

Parallels Desktop runs Windows and other operating systems inside macOS. Full screen mode hides the macOS desktop and the Parallels window frame, making the virtual machine occupy the entire display. It is useful for immersive work, presentations, or gaming, but many users find it confusing when they cannot see the usual macOS menu bar or Dock.

When you enter full screen, Parallels creates a separate Space (in macOS Mission Control) for the virtual machine. This means you can swipe between macOS and Windows with a trackpad gesture, but it also means the familiar green button and menu bar are hidden until you move the cursor to the top edge.

How to Exit Full Screen (Step by Step)

There are several ways to leave full screen, and the best one depends on your keyboard and preferences.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl+Alt+Enter (Windows keyboard) or Control+Option+Return (Mac keyboard). This toggles full screen on and off.
Menu bar method: Move your mouse to the very top of the screen. The macOS menu bar (with the Parallels menu) will slide down. Click View and then Exit Full Screen.
Green button: While in full screen, hover at the top-left corner of the screen. The green traffic-light button appears; click it to exit full screen.
Mission Control: Press Control+Up Arrow (or swipe up with three fingers) to open Mission Control. You will see the Windows virtual machine as a separate Space. Click the thumbnail to return to windowed mode, or drag it back to the main desktop.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, make sure the Parallels menu bar is visible and that no Windows application is intercepting the key combination (some remote desktop or gaming apps do).

Why the Shortcut Sometimes Doesn’t Work

A common frustration is pressing Ctrl+Alt+Enter and seeing nothing happen. Here are the usual causes:

Keyboard layout mismatch: If you are using a Mac keyboard, the Control and Option keys are different from a Windows keyboard. The shortcut is Control+Option+Return, not Command+Option+Return.
Windows app is capturing the keys: Some applications (like remote desktop clients or games) capture Ctrl+Alt and prevent Parallels from seeing it. Try clicking on the macOS desktop first (if you can) or use the menu bar method.
Parallels preferences changed: You may have customized the shortcut in Parallels > Preferences > Shortcuts. Check that it is still set to the default.
Full screen is actually a “Coherence” mode: Coherence hides the Windows desktop and shows Windows apps directly on the macOS desktop. To exit that, go to View > Exit Coherence or press Control+Shift+Return.

If all else fails, you can always quit Parallels (right-click the icon in the Dock and choose Quit), but that will shut down Windows, so save your work first.

Full Screen vs. Coherence vs. Windowed

Parallels offers three main display modes, and confusing them is a frequent source of “how do I get out of this?” questions.

Full Screen: Windows takes over the entire display. macOS is hidden but still running. Exit with Ctrl+Alt+Enter.
Coherence: Windows desktop disappears; Windows apps appear in separate windows alongside macOS apps. The Windows taskbar and Start menu are integrated into the macOS Dock. Exit with Control+Shift+Return or via View > Exit Coherence.
Windowed (Normal): Windows runs in a resizable window on the macOS desktop. This is the default mode when you first install Parallels. You can always return to it by exiting full screen or coherence.

Each mode has its use. Full screen is best for focus, Coherence for multitasking between macOS and Windows apps, and windowed for quick access.

How to Change the Default View Mode

If you find yourself accidentally entering full screen or want to always start in windowed mode, you can adjust the settings:

Open Parallels Desktop and go to Parallels > Preferences (or press Cmd+,).
Click the General tab.
Look for “On startup” or “View” options. Some versions have a checkbox for “Start in full screen” or “Start in Coherence.” Uncheck those to start in windowed mode.
You can also set a specific view for each virtual machine by going to View menu while the VM is running and selecting the mode you want.

Note that the exact menu names may vary slightly between Parallels versions, but the general location is the same.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Here are additional issues users report and how to resolve them:

Mouse cursor disappears: In full screen, the cursor may be hidden until you move it. Press Ctrl+Alt to release the mouse from Windows, then move it to the top edge.
Screen resolution looks wrong after exiting: Parallels adjusts resolution automatically. If it stays stretched, go to View > Adjust Window Size or restart the VM.
Can’t see the macOS menu bar at all: Some versions hide it completely. Use the keyboard shortcut or press Control+Up to open Mission Control.
Windows is frozen and won’t respond to the shortcut: Try pressing Control+Option+Esc to open the Windows Task Manager, then end the unresponsive app. If that fails, force quit Parallels from the Dock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact keyboard shortcut to exit full screen in Parallels?

On a Windows keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Enter. On a Mac keyboard, press Control+Option+Return. This toggles full screen on and off.

How do I exit full screen if the shortcut doesn’t work?

Move your mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the menu bar, then click View > Exit Full Screen. You can also press Control+Up to open Mission Control and click the Windows Space thumbnail.

Why does Parallels start in full screen every time?

Check Parallels Preferences under the General tab. There is usually an option like “Start in full screen” or “On startup, open in” – change it to “Windowed” or “Normal.”

Does exiting full screen close Windows?

No. Exiting full screen just changes the display mode. Windows keeps running in the background. You can re-enter full screen anytime with the same shortcut.

What is the difference between full screen and Coherence?

Full screen hides macOS entirely and shows only Windows. Coherence hides the Windows desktop and shows Windows apps as separate windows on the macOS desktop. Exit Coherence with Control+Shift+Return.

Can I set a different shortcut for exiting full screen?

Yes. Go to Parallels > Preferences > Shortcuts and look for “Full Screen.” You can assign a new key combination there.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.