How To Snap Windows In Mac

BetterSnapTool Custom Snap Areas

Yesterday, nosotros wrote a post about hiding the menu bar, and in the corresponding video tutorial, we used window snapping to highlight one of the benefits of a hidden menu bar. Later, I received several tweets and emails request how to perform window snapping, since this is not a feature that appears natively in Os X.

Window snapping allows you lot to position windows in specific areas of the screen, unremarkably by dragging the window to the edge of the screen, causing the window to "snap" into place. This feature was first popularized by Microsoft'due south Aero Snap on Windows. Even though Apple doesn't natively support information technology, window snapping is available on the Mac via a diversity of third-party apps.

Dissever View != window snapping

To be off-white, Apple tree did implement a Split View function in Os X El Capitan, which allows you to use full screen apps side-by-side. Unfortunately, Split view is limited to just ii apps, and doesn't compare 1:1 with true window snapping in a diversity of other central means. Split View is a nice choice to have, but information technology simply doesn't compete with the flexibility and customization afforded past many of the window snapping apps that we highlight below.

Magnet

If you're looking for an cheap option that'south solely focused on window snapping, and then yous tin't go wrong with Magnet, a $0.99 app on the Mac App Store that runs in the carte du jour bar. Magnet is simple, only it does feature the ability to assign keyboard shortcuts to whatsoever window snapping area bachelor.

Video walkthrough

BetterSnapTool

BetterSnapTool is a $ii.99 app that takes the idea of window snapping to the next level. It not only features keyboard shortcuts, appearance customizations, and modifier support, but it nigh notably allows users to create their own custom-defined snap areas. If you're serious about window snapping and want the deepest feel available, and then BetterSnapTool is the app for you.

BetterSnapTool Custom Snap Areas

BetterSnapTool lets users define custom snap areas

HyperDock

We've covered HyperDock in the past, primarily for its ability to show window previews of apps running in the OS X dock. But HyperDock isn't merely nigh adding new features to the Dock, as information technology also contains window snapping features. Although HyperDock isn't equally deep as BetterSnapTool when information technology comes to window snapping, when combined with its other abilities, it'southward quite the compelling pick.

HyperDock is available on the Mac App Store for $half-dozen.99 or for $half-dozen.95 via its website with a free trial. Keep in heed that the App Store version has a slightly reduced feature set up due to App Store restrictions.

Spectacle

If yous're in need of a free OS 10 window snapping option, you might consider taking Spectacle for a test drive. The downside to using Spectacle is that it simply works via the menu bar or keyboard shortcuts, and doesn't allow you to drag windows to the edge of the screen to initiate snapping. While keyboard shortcuts are nice to have as an culling option, I much prefer to employ dragging to initiate window snapping in my workflow.

Conclusion

I've personally used all of the options listed in this post, and I can make a good case for using each of them depending on your needs. That said, HyperDock is the app that I've decided to utilize on a long term ground. I don't demand the depth afforded by BetterSnapTool, and I beloved HyperDock's dock-axial features. But if yous're merely concerned with bones window snapping, and you have a buck to spare, it'due south hard to go incorrect with Magnet.

Any you decide to practise, I'm certain you'll concur that having window snapping makes multitasking a breeze on the Mac. Split View is nice, but for true multitasking power, window snapping is where it's at.

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