The Frustrating Window Resizing Mystery on MacOS 26
A recent blog post by Norbert Heger titled 'The Struggle of Resizing Windows on macOS Tahoe' (https://noheger.at/blog/2026/01/11/the-struggle-of-resizing-windows-on-macos-tahoe/) has shed light on a peculiar issue. Heger noticed that after upgrading to macOS Tahoe, resizing windows has become a hit-or-miss affair, which is baffling for any seasoned computer user.
Here's the crux of the problem: the instinctive click in the window's corner to resize it often falls in an unresponsive area. The window expects this interaction in a tiny 19 × 19-pixel zone near the corner. But with MacOS 26's rounded corners, a whopping 75% of this area lies outside the window, making resizing a frustrating guessing game.
But here's where it gets controversial:
Heger's illustration of the invisible resize button's hit target on MacOS 26 reveals a design decision that might spark debate. Apple's choice to remove the visual indicator in the lower right corner, which once showed where to click to resize, has made it harder for users to identify resizable windows.
The author argues that while the 10.7 Lion GUI is an improvement over 10.6 Snow Leopard, the omission of the resize affordance in the corner is a misstep. The visible resize indicator not only showed the resizing location but also indicated that the window was resizable. In earlier versions, windows with this indicator could be resized, while those without it had a fixed size. Now, users must guess and try resizing from the corner.
And this is the part most people miss:
The decision to remove the resize affordance was likely influenced by the ability to resize windows from any corner or edge, making the lower-right corner indicator seemingly redundant. Additionally, the space for this indicator was previously provided by the intersection of scrollbar channels, which are now invisible by default. But was this change truly necessary?
While Apple's design choices in 2011 had their logic, removing the visual cues might have been a step too far. The grippy-strip affordance provided valuable contextual information. Making scrollbars invisible and removing the resize affordance could be seen as a double-whammy of usability issues.
MacOS 26's window resizing dilemma is a prime example of how small design changes can significantly impact user experience. The author suggests that the oversized corner radiuses are not just aesthetically questionable but also functionally detrimental.
A potential solution?
Heger's advice is straightforward: avoid upgrading to MacOS 26 Tahoe. If you've already taken the plunge, consider downgrading (https://www.macworld.com/article/671318/how-to-downgrade-macos-revert-back.html). Why endure a UI that makes simple tasks like window resizing a frustrating experience?
What do you think? Are these design choices a step forward or a misstep? Share your thoughts in the comments, especially if you've experienced similar frustrations with MacOS 26's window resizing.
