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MAC TIPS · BUILT IN, NO APP NEEDED

Snap windows side by side on a Mac

Since macOS Sequoia (15), the Mac can tile windows by itself: no Rectangle or Magnet needed for the basics. Here is how to use it, and what to install if you want more.

  1. 1

    Drag a window to an edge

    Drag the title bar to the left or right edge to fill that half, to the top edge to fill the screen, or into a corner for a quarter. Hold Option while dragging to see where it lands right away.

  2. 2

    Use the keyboard

    fn⌃←orfn⌃→orfn⌃F

    Hold the Globe (fn) key and Control, then an arrow key to move the window to that half. fn ⌃ F fills the screen, fn ⌃ C centers the window and fn ⌃ R returns it to its previous size.

  3. 3

    Use the green button

    Hover over the green button in the top-left of a window for a menu of tile layouts, including putting two apps side by side.

  4. 4

    Turn it on or off

    System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Windows: choose whether dragging to an edge tiles windows, and whether tiled windows have margins between them.

  5. 5

    Need more than halves?

    Free open-source apps add thirds, custom layouts and more shortcuts: Rectangle for keyboard snapping, Loop for a radial menu, AeroSpace for full tiling.

Free apps that go further

Rectangle (free)Read more →Loop (free)Read more →AeroSpace (free)Read more →
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FAQ

Does my Mac have window snapping?

Yes on macOS Sequoia (15) and later. On older versions, install the free app Rectangle.

Why do my windows not snap when I drag them?

Check System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Windows and turn on tiling by dragging windows to screen edges.

Do I still need Magnet or Rectangle?

For halves and full screen, no. For thirds, sixths, multiple displays and custom shortcuts, a tiling app is still faster.

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