Learn how to use the new window management features on your Mac running macOS Sequoia to better position your apps on a busy desktop.
macOS has had limited built-in window management features compared to a Windows PC. As a result, users have had to rely on third-party apps like Magnet and Rectangle, which work but need system authorizations and customizations.
Thankfully, macOS Sequoia has added useful window tiling and snapping features that make it easy to place your apps in two halves of the screen, one quarter, or some other combination.
It works well, and you will get accustomed to it in no time, provided you open a few app windows on your desktop and spend about five minutes trying all the possibilities.
Note: Not all apps support every tiling and snapping option.
1) Place the pointer over the green traffic light icon in the top left corner of an app window until an option sheet pops out.
2) Select an option under the Move & Resize or Fill & Arrange headings. The visual icons here tell you how the selected app window will snap or position itself, helping you make an informed decision.
Remember that the possibilities under the Move & Resize section only affect the selected app window, while those under Fill & Arrange may also change the size and position of other app windows on your desktop as needed.
3) If you require additional ways to manage your window, hold the Option key to reveal more Move & Resize and Fill & Arrange possibilities.
Method 2: Use drag and snap
I love the above method as it shows exactly where my windows will be positioned. Another way is to drag one of the app windows to one side or corner of your Mac screen and drop it when you see a white outline. That window will snap into that outlined area. If snapping directly using a mouse or trackpad feels like a confusing guessing game, hold the Option key, and now you will have an easy time snapping windows in place.
Method 3: Use a keyboard shortcut
All good things on Mac can be done via a quick keyboard shortcut, and window management is no different.
Take a moment to try and memorize some of these keyboard shortcuts to tile and snap windows on macOS Sequoia.
Move and resize the app window:
- To the left half of the screen: Globe/Fn + Control + Left arrow
- To the right half: Globe/Fn + Control + Right arrow
- To the top half of the screen: Globe/Fn + Control + Up arrow
- To the bottom half: Globe/Fn + Control + Down arrow
Arrange two app windows:
- To the left and right sides: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Left arrow
- To the right and left sides: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Right arrow
- To the top and bottom: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Up arrow
- To the bottom and top: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Down arrow
Arrange three app windows:
These shortcuts help you snap three app windows properly. But they also work if you have just two open windows (one of the areas will remain empty).
- To the left and quarters: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Option + Left arrow
- To the right and quarters: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Option + Right arrow
- To the top and quarters: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Option + Up arrow
- To the bottom and quarters: Globe/Fn + Control + Shift + Option + Down arrow
Return the app window to its previous size: Globe/Fn + Control + R
You can also access the window management features by clicking Window > Move & Resize from the top menu bar. Hold the Option key here to see more options for arranging your windows.
Customize window management
1) Go to System Settings on your Mac running the latest version of macOS Sequoia and click Desktop & Dock.
2) Scroll down to the Windows section and take a look at these options:
- Drag windows to screen edges to tile: Turn it off if you find yourself accidentally snapping windows when moving them around. I have turned it off as I prefer the green button, keyboard shortcut, and menu bar methods.
- Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen: When this is active, you can drag a window slightly up towards the menu bar, and it will make this app window take the whole screen. I find it cool, but it may conflict if you often move windows from one desktop space to another.
- Hold the Option key while dragging windows to tile: Turn it off if you don’t want to snap windows by holding the Option key while dragging them.
- Tiled windows have margins: When you tile windows, you will notice a small gap on all sides of the app window (see the first image of this article). I dislike this and have turned it off, as it gives me a little extra screen area for my apps.
Other options to manage app windows on Mac
In addition to the new options mentioned above, you also have access to all the previous window management tips:
- Split Screen: Use it to put two apps on full screen.
- Left or Right of screen: Place your mouse pointer on the green button and select Full Screen > Left/Right of Screen. If you’re on an old version of macOS, place the pointer on the green button and then hold the Option key.
- Third-party apps: You can continue using third-party snapping apps like Magnet and Rectangle, but some shortcuts may conflict with the built-in feature.
- Put a Mac app window on your iPad: You can use your iPad as an additional screen for your Mac.
I will continue using desktop spaces…
Ninety percent of the time, I just need four or five open apps: Chrome, Notes, Preview, Finder, and System Settings.
I personally find it distracting to have multiple apps on one desktop. So, for the last ten years, I have been using multiple desktop spaces to put one open app on each. I use the four-finger drag on the trackpad to go to the various spaces quickly.
If I ever open two or more apps or windows in one space, I have set a Hot Corner to trigger Mission Control to see all the app windows and switch to one.
I love my setup and am accustomed to it, so I rarely use multiple apps on the same desktop space. Still, I think these new window management features are handy in some situations, and I’m glad Apple has added them to macOS Sequoia.
Check out next: All the ways to multitask on iPad