Maximize current file/tab/editor

[dfroze]

• VSCode Version: 1.7.2
• OS Version: Linux Mint

I've looked a bit but couldn't find a solution. Is there a way to toggle maximize (full screen) only the current tab/file? Even if there is split editor, it shouldn't display it, only the current file/tab.

Thanks

[bpasero]

@dfroze there is a new "Zen Mode" coming up which is maybe what you want?
Can you try to reproduce with our nightly insider builds? You can give our preview releases a try from: http://code.visualstudio.com/Download#insiders

[dfroze]

Thank you @bpasero . I tried the insiders build:
Version 1.7.2
Commit 7ba55c5
Date 2016-11-21T22:14:18.217Z
Shell 1.3.8
Renderer 52.0.2743.82
Node 6.5.0

But couldn't find the zen mode (not in the menu bar, keyboard shortcuts conf or showCommands bar). And the full screen is the same as the release one.
Where can I find the nightly builds? Or where can I find the build you mentioned?

[bpasero]

@dfroze that is not the insiders build, it should be Version 1.8.0!

[alefragnani]

The Zen Mode will not maximize only the current file/tab but instead, the entire window with all groups/editors, which I prefer by the way 😄

Maybe a setting to accomplish what @dfroze is asking?

[LiTiang]

what's @dfroze talk about is called maximize-panes in Atom,

this is so important that Eclipse, Sublime Text . . . also have this feature

i could not have this functionality when dev 😨

see how it work by this

[danielrob]

Yeah the problem with zen mode is when switching application tabs, you can't toggle onto the zen mode on mac. I find this makes the feature basically unusable. I want Zen mode without fullscreen.

[mauro3]

Yes, this would be great to have. One example when this would be useful: three editor panes open, then open the Settings. Now the Settings are displayed in a completely unusable way (on my screen at least).

Note, that this toggle and the zen mode toggle should operate independently.

[bpasero]

You can use this command to make the active editor maximum width and hide the side bar:

[PixelT]

+1 for this issue:
Atom -> https://github.com/santip/maximize-panes
SublimeText -> https://github.com/jisaacks/MaxPane

[tnhu]

+1
Brackets -> https://github.com/tnhu/brackets-maximize-editor

[tiagoaquino]

+1

[rdlaner]

+1!

[etlds]

+1

[mclang]

This is currently also my main one missing feature in VS Code, since I learned using "maximize panel" in tmux with ctrl + <space> + z

[Rosseyn]

@bpasero that's handy, but heavy-handed.. need to be able to restore layout afterwords.. do you know of a good way to at least un-maximize an editor group perhaps?

[bpasero]

@Rosseyn there is also:

[ashlinchak]

+1

[Rosseyn]

That could definitely help!

…

On Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 12:53 AM Oleksandr Shlinchak ***@***.***> wrote: +1 — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#16927 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAS3eeXMrSoYmA8QDGC2yu9oazFog2FOks5tgLV9gaJpZM4LH3BS> .

[aecspades]

This seems like a shocking omission for a code editor not to have this capability in 2023, and is probably one of the most basic and useful features that I use on a daily basis - for example in Eclipse v1 2004 this capability existed: double-clicking on an existing code tab maximizes the code tab and minimizes any ancillary tool window/view(s); another double-click "resets" the view/perspective(s) to how they were before the double click.

Right now there is nothing in VSCode to match this capability - "Zen Mode" is somewhat similar but doesn't expand the editor horizontally to fill available space for some reason?!? "Maximize Editor Group and Hide Sidebars" is better but doesn't minimize the Output/Problems panels at the bottom of the screen. Neither action has a way to reset the windows to its state before the action, which is also important, and no key press combination is nearly as useful as a simple double-click (although having both double-click and a key press combination would be even better)

[kirilovb]

This seems like a shocking omission for a code editor not to have this capability in 2023, and is probably one of the most basic and useful features that I use on a daily basis - for example in Eclipse v1 2004 this capability existed: double-clicking on an existing code tab maximizes the code tab and minimizes any ancillary tool window/view(s); another double-click "resets" the view/perspective(s) to how they were before the double click.

Right now there is nothing in VSCode to match this capability - "Zen Mode" is somewhat similar but doesn't expand the editor horizontally to fill available space for some reason?!? "Maximize Editor Group and Hide Sidebars" is better but doesn't minimize the Output/Problems panels at the bottom of the screen. Neither action has a way to reset the windows to its state before the action, which is also important, and no key press combination is nearly as useful as a simple double-click (although having both double-click and a key press combination would be even better)

Totally agree - 2023 and VSCode has no such useful tool - besides, from what I see in this thread, it's been at least 6 years since users started voted for such a feature ... I thought VSCode is being pushed in development to become one of the best IDEs, but apparently such a feature is not feasible for this editor ...

[dandavison]

Neither action has a way to reset the windows to its state before the action, which is also important,

I agree with this also -- it would be fantastic if VSCode made it possible to navigate back to a previous window configuration after changing it.

I thought VSCode is being pushed in development to become one of the best IDEs, but apparently such a feature is not feasible for this editor ...

Making snide comments and criticizing the developers isn't an appropriate or helpful contribution. Please don't do that -- we'd all like this issue to remain open and be resolved, but that will make it more likely to be closed.

[asumaran]

+1 can't believe we can't do this in VS Code. Makes me want to switch back to Sublime. Everyday. 😢

[kyochou]

+1

[astralaster]

+1

[kferrone]

Need it, desire it. Please make us happy with double click to get focused.

[apj68]

I've made several attempts over the past few years to swap from Emacs to VS Code and I always stumble onto something that puts in a wrinkle in my process. I've been using VS Code for a week or so now (this time around) and this is my latest frustration. If I get a window all configured like I want it then I lose the ability to focus on just a single editor unless I totally remake the window, it doesn't make sense. Zen Mode and "focus" aren't much of a focus if you can't just look at the single editor you're in! And this has been opened since 2016 (thanks, @dfroze, for getting the ball rolling).

I know it will take some time to adjust and VS Code is coming really well considering it is 30 years the younger. I'm not trying to start an editor war but just saying that I thought this would be possible.

[apj68]

@Rosseyn there is also:

For some reason I don't see that option (1.74.2/macOs).

[starball5]

Is this technically somewhat implemented? I just encountered How do I stop VS Code from maximizing the size of an editor group when double-clicking one of its tabs' handles? and noticed that double clicking a tab causes the editor group for that tab to be maximized- not full-screened, but the editor group becomes as large as it can be, and all other editor groups become as small as they can be.

[apj68]

... causes the editor group for that tab to be maximized- not full-screened, but the editor group becomes as large as it can be, and all other editor groups become as small as they can be.

But I think what some of us are looking for is for the editor (vs editor group) to be maximized (preferably, available through a keyboard shortcut). And then unmaximizing would return to the original state of the entire window (editor group/s and layout).

[garretwilson]

When I'm in the terminal in VS Code and I want it bigger, on Windows I hit Ctrl+Shift+J, the terminal suddenly expands to fill the screen vertically. It would be nice if it would hide the sidebar, too, but hey, I can do that myself. I can't hit Ctrl+B because the terminal eats that character. So I can un-maximize the terminal with Ctrl+Shift+J again, switch back to the main window with Ctrl+1, hit Ctrl+B to minimize the sidebar, hit Ctrl+~ to get back to the terminal, hit Ctrl+Shift+J again to maximize it … ah, there we go! Wasn't that easy? (not)

Even if I can live with Ctrl+Shift+J to sort-of mazimize the terminal when I'm there, what happens when I'm back in the editor? I can't hit Ctrl+Shift+J, because that will maximize the terminal (even though I'm in the editor). Maybe there is some other keystroke that maximizes the editor. I don't know. Why should I have to know? Why can't we just have one keypress that says "maximize this thing I'm in right now, whether it's the editor or the terminal"?

Eclipse has had this for literally decades. Ctrl+M just maximizes the thing where you are. Ctrl+M un-maximizes it. I don't understand where the confusion lies on the functionality being requested.

Even simply improving Ctrl+Shift+J to detect if you're in the editor or the terminal would be a huge improvement as far as I'm concerned, even though it's only halfway (actually about 40%) there.

[wuzhen0808]

+1

[starball5]

@garretwilson if you want to sync toggling visibility of things, see VS Code shortcut key to hide/restore all view and panels but the editor panel for ideas on approach.

[benibenj]

In the newest Insider release we support maximizing editor groups. You can give it a try here: https://code.visualstudio.com/insiders/

The following ways can be used to maximize a group:

• Command Palette: Maximize Group (If at least two groups are available)
• Editor Title Menu: Maximize Group (If at least two groups are available)
• Double Click Tab: Requires workbench.editor.doubleClickTabToToggleEditorGroupSizes: 'maximize'

[kopili]

In the newest Insider release we support maximizing editor groups. You can give it a try here: https://code.visualstudio.com/insiders/

The following ways can be used to maximize a group:

• Command Palette: Maximize Group (If at least two groups are available)
• Editor Title Menu: Maximize Group (If at least two groups are available)
• Double Click Tab: Requires workbench.editor.doubleClickTabToToggleEditorGroupSizes: 'maximize'

I'm sorry, but this is totally not the required feature - currently the tab only maximizes the group to the maximum window size. What we actually need is to maximize to the whole IDE size - which means to use the space of the explorer on the left, this utilizing the whole possible window size - you can try double clicking on a tab in IntelliJ IDEA and check what happens - it fully maximizes the window, thus allowing you to read the code better! At the same time you still see the tabs on the top, so you can switch between files and look at them at full size ...

[starball5]

@benibenj thanks. I've written up some info and history in my answer to How can I temporarily maximize an editor group in VS Code?

@kopili see In VS Code, how can I toggle maximization of the current workbench part / editor group?.

[neo-anderson]

I didn’t get to test the feature yet, but if what @kopili is saying is true, we should probably leave this issue open

[benibenj]

I created a new feature request for maximizing the editor across the workbench. I made a suggestion how this could work. Let me know if this is what you would expect the feature to do. Planning to add it in the next iteration. #196722