Add centralized documentation for window modes (full screen, focus, quake)

TerminalDocs/TOC.yml

@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
       href: selection.md
     - name: Panes
       href: panes.md
+    - name: Window modes
+      href: window-modes.md
     - name: Dynamic profiles
       href: dynamic-profiles.md
     - name: JSON fragment extensions

TerminalDocs/window-modes.md

@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+---
+title: Windows Terminal Window Modes
+description: Learn about the different window modes available in Windows Terminal including full screen, focus mode, and quake mode.
+ms.date: 12/18/2024
+ms.topic: how-to
+---
+
+# Window modes in Windows Terminal
+
+Windows Terminal offers three distinct window modes that change how the terminal window appears and behaves. Each mode is designed for specific use cases and workflows.
+
+## Overview of window modes
+
+| Mode | Tabs visible | Title bar visible | Window border visible | Default size | Primary use case |
+|------|--------------|-------------------|----------------------|--------------|------------------|
+| **Full screen** | Optional (configurable) | No | No | Full monitor | Maximum screen space for terminal content |
+| **Focus mode** | No | No | No | Current window size | Distraction-free work on terminal content |
+| **Quake mode** | No (focus mode enabled) | No | No | Top half of screen | Quick access drop-down terminal |
+
+## Full screen mode
+
+Full screen mode expands the terminal window to fill the entire screen, removing the title bar and window border to maximize the space available for your terminal content.
+
+### Characteristics
+
+* Window fills the entire monitor
+* Title bar and window border are hidden
+* Tabs can be shown or hidden (controlled by the [`showTabsInFullscreen`](./customize-settings/appearance.md#show-tabs-in-fullscreen) setting)
+* Works with standard window operations (can be moved between monitors, minimized, etc.)
+
+### How to activate full screen mode
+
+**Using keyboard shortcut:**
+* Press <kbd>Alt+Enter</kbd> or <kbd>F11</kbd> (default bindings)
+
+**Using command palette:**
+* Open the command palette (<kbd>Ctrl+Shift+P</kbd>)
+* Type "toggle full screen"
+* Select the command
+
+**Using command line:**
+```console
+wt --fullscreen
+```
+or
+```console
+wt -F
+```
+
+**From settings (startup launch mode):**
+
+Set the terminal to always launch in full screen by adding this to your [settings.json file](./install.md#settings-json-file):
+
+```json
+{
+    "launchMode": "fullscreen"
+}
+```
+
+### When to use full screen mode
+
+* When you need maximum screen space for viewing terminal output
+* When working with multiple columns of text that need full width
+* When presenting or sharing your screen and want to minimize distractions
+* When you want to keep tabs visible while maximizing content area
+
+## Focus mode
+
+Focus mode hides the title bar and tabs to minimize distractions, allowing you to concentrate solely on your terminal content. The window remains at its current size (not full screen).
+
+### Characteristics
+
+* Title bar is hidden
+* Tabs are hidden
+* Window border is hidden
+* Window maintains its current size (doesn't expand to full screen)
+* Can be combined with maximized or full screen modes
+* You can still work with multiple tabs—they're just hidden from view
+
+### How to activate focus mode
+
+**Using keyboard shortcut:**
+
+Focus mode doesn't have a default keyboard shortcut, but you can add one. Open your [settings.json file](./install.md#settings-json-file) and add this to the `actions` array:
+
+```json
+{ "command": "toggleFocusMode", "keys": "ctrl+f12" }
+```
+
+(Replace `"ctrl+f12"` with your preferred key combination)
+
+**Using command palette:**
+* Open the command palette (<kbd>Ctrl+Shift+P</kbd>)
+* Type "focus mode"
+* Select "Toggle focus mode"
+
+**Using command line:**
+```console
+wt --focus
+```
+or
+```console
+wt -f
+```
+
+**From settings (startup launch mode):**
+
+Set the terminal to always launch in focus mode by adding this to your [settings.json file](./install.md#settings-json-file):
+
+```json
+{
+    "launchMode": "focus"
+}
+```
+
+Or combine focus mode with maximized window:
+
+```json
+{
+    "launchMode": "maximizedFocus"
+}
+```
+
+### When to use focus mode
+
+* When you want a distraction-free environment but don't need full screen
+* When you're working in a single tab and don't need to see the tab bar
+* When you want to maintain your current window size but reduce visual clutter
+* When you prefer to switch tabs using keyboard shortcuts rather than clicking
+
+## Quake mode
+
+Quake mode is a special window mode that creates a drop-down terminal that slides in from the top of your screen, similar to the console in the video game Quake. It's designed for quick access to a terminal that you can summon and dismiss instantly.
+
+### Characteristics
+
+* Window snaps to the top half of the monitor automatically
+* Cannot be resized horizontally or from the top (only from the bottom edge)
+* Automatically enters focus mode (tabs and title bar are hidden)
+* Can have multiple tabs despite being in focus mode
+* When minimized, hides from taskbar and <kbd>Alt+Tab</kbd> switcher
+* Only one quake window can exist at a time
+* The quake window is named `_quake` internally
+* When using `windowingBehavior` settings, the quake window is treated specially and doesn't count as an "existing window"
+
+### How to activate quake mode
+
+**Using keyboard shortcut:**
+
+Quake mode doesn't have a default global keyboard shortcut, but you can set one. This requires a [global summon](./customize-settings/actions.md#global-commands) binding. Add this to your [settings.json file](./install.md#settings-json-file) in the `actions` array:
+
+```json
+{ "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "name": "_quake" }, "keys": "win+`" }
+```
+
+Or use the built-in quake mode shorthand:
+
+```json
+{ "command": "quakeMode", "keys": "win+`" }
+```
+
+(Replace `"win+`"` with your preferred key combination)
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> If you enable quake mode and don't set a keyboard shortcut, you may need to use Task Manager to close the quake window when it's minimized.
+
+**Using command palette:**
+* Open the command palette (<kbd>Ctrl+Shift+P</kbd>)
+* Type "quake"
+* Select "Show/hide quake window"
+
+Note: If you invoke "Show/hide quake window" from a regular (non-quake) terminal window, it will summon or create the quake window but won't affect the current window.
+
+**Using command line:**
+```console
+wt -w _quake
+```
+
+This creates or summons a window specifically named `_quake`, which automatically enters quake mode.
+
+### When to use quake mode
+
+* When you need quick, temporary access to a terminal for running commands
+* When you want a terminal that's always accessible but doesn't clutter your workspace
+* When you frequently switch between your terminal and other applications
+* When you prefer keyboard-driven workflows with a persistent terminal session
+
+## Comparing the modes
+
+### Visual comparison
+
+* **Full screen**: Entire monitor is filled with terminal. Tabs may be visible at the top (depending on settings). No title bar or window border.
+
+* **Focus mode**: Same visual appearance as full screen (no tabs, title bar, or border), but the window is not expanded to full screen—it stays at whatever size it was.
+
+* **Quake mode**: Looks like focus mode (no tabs, title bar, or border) but automatically sized to the top half of your monitor and can only be resized from the bottom.
+
+### Mode combinations
+
+Some modes can be combined:
+
+* **Full screen + Focus mode**: You can enable focus mode while in full screen. This hides tabs even if `showTabsInFullscreen` is set to true.
+
+* **Maximized + Focus mode**: Use the `"maximizedFocus"` launch mode to start with a maximized window in focus mode.
+
+* **Quake mode**: Always includes focus mode; this cannot be disabled.
+
+### Switching between modes
+
+You can toggle between modes dynamically:
+
+* Toggle full screen on/off without affecting focus mode
+* Toggle focus mode on/off without affecting full screen
+* Quake mode is a special window; you can toggle it to appear/disappear but it always maintains its quake characteristics
+
+## Additional resources
+
+* [Actions: Toggle full screen](./customize-settings/actions.md#toggle-full-screen)
+* [Actions: Toggle focus mode](./customize-settings/actions.md#toggle-focus-mode)
+* [Actions: Quake mode](./customize-settings/actions.md#open-the-quake-mode-window)
+* [Startup settings: Launch mode](./customize-settings/startup.md#launch-mode)
+* [Command line arguments](./command-line-arguments.md)
+* [Tips and tricks: Focus mode](./tips-and-tricks.md#focus-mode)
+* [Tips and tricks: Quake mode](./tips-and-tricks.md#quake-mode)