Window Arrangement Tips Every Mac User Should Know

[@tylerbenner]

Wow. I’m a Mac OS power user of 25 years and I still learned things in this video. I’ve resorted to other apps to do a less good job than what Gary shows here as built into the OS. And I use windows a mindboggling number of times in the day. Gary thank you for the time and research and curiosity you have to make these videos. This one got me good!

[@drendelous]

im need him to explain life to me as well. so good

[@artmaltman]

I have been using Macs since 1987 and did not know most of this. Thanks!

[@loisskiathitis8926]

This video is a saver. A very useful and informative video tutorial today! Thank you, Gary!👏🏻❤️

[@stewartluscott-evans2216]

Excellent video! As others have commented, even after 25+ years as a Mac user, I'm learning new 'wow' things! My top pick from this video is the benefit of switching off 'Close windows when quitting an application.' Keep them coming!

[@DmitriiBorisov-l6n]

Absolutely useful and helpful video. Thank you!

[@stephenbridges2791]

Very helpful. For those a bit more experienced, you can write an Applescript to put the window in the same place every time as well. I have to admit I don't use the hide function as much as I probably ought to. I still probably have the old mind set of memory usage. Good video.

[@georgee3401]

Excellent tutorial. Very useful information. Many thanks!

[@gosich]

OMG so many moves and clicks and keys to just make windows fill parts of screen! This information is very useful, but the approach Apple chose is no less painful...

[@TheDanEdwards]

There are other ways to do it. Sonoma has some shortcuts, but this video covers a large set of methods and people just settle into what fits them best.

i've been looking for the zoom command for so long. Thank you sooooo much !!!

[@mehmd1913]

So you can determine the action that double clicking on the title bar does by going to: Desktop & Dock >> scroll to double click on title bar to >> select either minimize, zoom, or do nothing. I like to minimize the window and not zoom. I believe the zoom option was selected as default. It messed me up until I figured it out. Hope that helps to clarify where you can enable this action.

[@zoltanzana]

I think hiding the window then using the app switcher to bring it back is a better option than minimising the window.

[@alohakeithb]

Very helpful Gary. There are some great tips here. As a longtime windows user, I think Mac could learn from Windows snap which is much simpler. I use Rectangle on my Mac but it’s good to know more about arranging windows without third party tools.

[@Semantsen62]

Really, windows snap is just a key-combination away. Windows key + left arrow / right arrow. I do not understand why there is not such a combination in mac. 😢

[@axelBr1]

I absolute hate Microsoft's Windows snap feature, one of the first things I turned off when working on a new (to me) system 😀

[@meeluanistyn1644]

Love videos like this that remind me of all the things I should be doing to make my user experience easier.

[@dominicvani7752]

Thank You Gary...never knew most of these tricks with windows...I always use F3 Mission Control, now I have other options.

[@congo367]

Thanks for putting this together. I have used Macs since 2009 and didn't know about these features.

[@mehmetaksu2485]

This was very helpful I was a bit disappointed with my Mac (first time user) unable to arrange windows as I wanted. Thanks Gary! 👍🏻

[@jbponzi1]

Learned new stuff. Even with being a Mac user since the beginning. The Shift, Option and Shift+Option modifier keys have always have fun and useful tricks.

[@herrvierkoetter]

My mac is a so much more user friendly machine with a super sophisticated system since I found your channel. Thank you Gary.

[@jayzn1931]

13:14 is a really nice tip!!

[@valeriocostilla3232]

You are always teaching me new tricks for my Mac! Always appreciate you sharing.

[@radharcanna]

I’ve been using Macs for 25 years but never knew most of these tips. Thank you Gary.

[@thisisnonpractice]

All these days, I was thinking MacOS window management is inferior to Windows/Linux. This video proved me wrong!! Great one man!!

[@geoffhawkins6063]

Brilliant - must study several times …. Next point of confusion - rt click in dock; select Options; choose a display/window; Can you explore the options pls; if a window subsequent dragged to another display it seems uncertain what rules are then followed?

[@macmost]

Do you mean the "Assign To" section? See kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGqUiYx9l7d-ZrM

[@tarotnomad]

Another banger hit! Thanks, Gary!

[@alonsogonzalez_cr]

Such a saver! The way you explain things is fantastic :)

[@carolinebarlow4795]

Thanks very much, Gary, for this immensely informative video! Learned a few more window sizing tips today 👍

[@chucksaeger7500]

Lots of cool stuff here. Thanks!

[@TempleGuitars]

The only window related Mac thing I have ever wanted to know, was how to make Finder windows not open on top of each other. Seems like whenever I have a window open, and I want to drag an item in it to another folder in a new window, the new window always opens right on top of the old one. My Mac always knows exactly where I don't want a new window to open, and opens the new window there. Every time.

[@FortunOfficial]

just open a new tab instead of a new window. I never have different windows open in finder

[@dtannenb]

Great video, learned a few tips today.

[@snappycattimesten]

Just buy magnet. I did years ago and it handles windows snapping just like windows.

[@bobcubsfan]

Thanks, Gary. Brilliant as usual.

[@IRVremy]

WoW, can't believe I did not know this :-) Great video Gary, you have saved me so much money over the years by using what is already built into my devices.

[@mrtim6479]

Good stuff Gary. The solution I need, which is beyond the scope of your video, is to remember finder window positions for a finder window, and it's tabs. I never close them, but since some of the tabs are mounted volumes, if there is any network issues, and the volumes dismount, then the tabs revert to the default volume. I have to recreate the tabs manually each time, and this is something I have had to so about 6 times in the past month. Any solutions for this come to mind?

[@macmost]

There's no easy solution. Fortunately it only takes a few seconds to navigate to the location.

[@smile768]

This is very useful. I wish I had known this a long time ago.

[@DiveDiva2007]

I thought I knew all about moving windows - until I saw this. Thanks.

[@ChristianBacker]

Great tutorial! Thanks for that. But how can you resize the system settings window?

[@macmost]

Grab the bottom and drag down. You can't change the width in that particular app though.

[@renan00almeida]

2 words: Thank you

[@thesplinteredfinger]

Another great tip Gary!

[@Aljobritt]

Thank. you so much for the video!

[@AntonelloM]

VERY useful, thanks

[@robertconroy8686]

Great video as usual--thanks

[@jordanlonsdale9468]

great vid. one question: why does safari always opening a different size after I closed it

[@macmost]

If you want the window to remain the same size, don't close the window. Hide the app, or just quit the app and let it launch again by restoring the previous windows.

[@AyahuascaDataScientist]

What are your tips that mimic the Bartender app for MacOS (e.g., menu bar manager)?

[@MicrobyteAlan]

very informative, thanks

[@JBrettM1]

Gary - have you heard of window snapping not working in Sonoma? First thing I noticed with updating to Sonoma is the window snapping wasn't working for click-and-drag, only resizing. I figured it was a bug and hoping to have it fixed in an update, but still the same in 14.1.1 . *SOME* applications seem to work some time, but as an example two Safari windows won't snap when using drag and drop. I don't remember a switch needed to turn it on/off. (Mac mini 2023 M2 running 14.1.1)

[@macmost]

I don't think there is any switch. Not sure why it isn't working for you in that case. I know if you hold down the Option key it will not snap, which is an intentional feature.

[@JBrettM1]

Thanks @@macmost. I too can't figure it out. I even tried holding down Option to see if the feature was somehow "reversed". I also noticed when updating to v13 the menu short cut for most apps (Shift-Command-/) wasn't coming up, or working as intended, and same thing happened with v14. Just going to leave it under "mystery". All the best!

[@eugenn2848]

6:53 The problem with that is that the content may change every time you navigate into another folder (or a website) with a different amount of content, so you may need to 'zoom' multiple times. They should have ditched this feature in favor of a more convenient maximize window function.

[@kristyboxx]

Holly smokes, I’m just starting with mac and it feels so overwhelming right now :D But thank you for these vids they help a lot.

[@829tommy]

excellent work 🎉

[@razvanmihai4884]

Thank you, Gary. I appreciate the point about treating a new Finder window as a new document in Pages. On a related note, I wish opening a new desktop would offer the option to make that desktop function as a truly independent workspace, instead of having to be cautious to avoid inadvertently switching from one desktop to another.

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean. What are you doing that you are "inadvertently switching from one desktop to another?"

[@razvanmihai4884]

Thanks for asking. Say you are in Desktop 1, and you open two apps: Finder and Notes. Then, you create Desktop 2 and open Safari. If you now click on the Finder icon in the Dock, it will take you to Desktop 1, where presumably the last most active Finder window is open. Command + Tab into Finder will make the app active without taking you into the last active window of the app. It is inconsistent behavior, and I sometimes go inadvertently into another desktop. I may be doing something wrong. I appreciate your input.

[@macmost]

@@razvanmihai4884 System Settings, Desktop & Dock, "When switching to an application, switch to a space with open windows for the application."

[@razvanmihai4884]

@@macmost Thank you, Gary. In my case, this option is disabled. I tried to play with it after you mentioned it, but clicking the icon in the dock still takes you to the app's most active window regardless. Command + Tab, on the other hand, does not do that and behaves as expected when the option you indicated is disabled. I guess it's one of those inconsistencies that will be resolved at some point. Thank you anyway for your time and willingness to help.

[@Jeff_H_the_Guitarist]

The Mac is already a wonderful user experience, and then you come along and make it even better!

[@rchaas53]

how about having Preview change its opening position? (i hate it on the left side)

[@brianerock]

For multi-display set up, does closing a window remember TO WHICH MONITOR to restore?

[@macmost]

If you close a window and reopen the SAME window (document, for instance) it should. But I suppose the app has the final say on how it handles its own windows.

[@desertpatient]

Thanks bunches

[@ErinLady85]

do you mention double clicking on the window? that sizes to the exact size of your window and it's a life saver for ex Windows users like me (still miss the square button though)

[@macmost]

Do you mean the top of the window? That is the old "zoom" function that has always been around. It resizes the window to the largest size according to the content. In many cases it gives you the same size as the new "Fill" option, but in other cases doesn't fill the window but only gets as large as is needed to display all of the window content.

[@djvalentinoz]

🆘 I need your help please, but first: Thanks a lot, I moved from Win to Mac 3 years ago, and this finder windows was making me crazy 😅. Please: 1️⃣) How to set the finder window open as a full size window directly? I don’t want to double click or resize it every time. 2️⃣) How to disable the new big camera and Microphone icon from the menu bar on the new macOS Sonoma? I stream a lot and since I upgraded to macOS Sonoma, I have many issues with the external camera, mic and video capture device. Every time I restart the mac, I must unplug the cables for all of them and plug it again. Especially the camera and the video capture device. I did some research and I understood that this new macOS Sonoma camera icon is used for Presenter mode and Overlay. and when I open the elgato Facecam or HD60 X app or The streaming app, I don’t get a signal from them and sometimes I get a message that this source is open in another application. I must unplug the cable and plug it again. I found that when I move the mouse crosshair to this green camera icon in the menu bar, it opens a small window and I can see the camera, this makes me so nervous. Can you tell how to disable this icon “Presenter mode” Please. Thanks.

[@technicaldifficulties123]

Hi Gary, loved your video. Do you recommend fullscreening an app. I mostly use only one app at a time but most people don't use the fullscreen or i don't find it intuitive. But then it feels weird that apple tries to push the full screen by putting a green button on each window. What do you recommend? And in which cases do you fullscreen a window?

[@macmost]

See my answer to your other comment.

[@BillLund]

I have a question about your advice to never shutdown your Mac. I have a MacBook Pro, which is my main computer. If I leave it plugged in and on I seem to recall that this will effect the battery. Do you have any advice about that case?

[@macmost]

No. Maybe 20 years ago, but the tech is way past that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haWWk62BgMytppo

[@technicaldifficulties123]

Hi Gary, loved your video. In which cases do you fullscreen a window?

[@macmost]

When the app has a large multi-faceted interface, like Final Cut Pro, Xcode, Photoshop. Or, when I simply want to concentrate on one thing to boost productivity, like writing in Pages.

[@technicaldifficulties123]

Thank you so much!@@macmost

[@nandhaucam8530]

hi gary, for me it is not working dragging edges with option keys should i enable anything?

[@macmost]

Maybe try a different app? Not all apps can be resized.

[@themaccat]

Color me impressed. I consider myself to be smarter than the average cat when it comes to dealing w the finer details of Macs, but damn if there weren't a few new things I learned from this video. And damn if that DeskTop & Dock setting you mentioned didn't just solve the exact issue I've been having. Rock on with your bad self internet stranger..rock on.

[@georgewashington3012]

You’d think Apple would make this more intuitive.

[@MaiElizabeth]

I really need this tips because my windows always changing to different sizes everytime I reopen them

[@shubhendumaity4403]

How to get all windows which are opened in secondary monitor to primery monitor or vis-versus when one monitor is on sleep mood??? Please make a video on this 🙏

[@macmost]

Probably depends on the display and exactly what it is doing that makes it sleep when the Mac isn't sleeping. If the display has some sort of independent sleep mode, you should be able to disable it.

[@tschulz]

Finder doesn’t remember the width of the name column, does it? Is there a way to have it adjust to the length of filenames?

[@macmost]

It does. But on a per-folder basis. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHy7dJ16aa2Xprs

[@spencerchen4563]

Hi, Gary, great video! but somehow the windows snapping sensitivity isn't high enough on my macbook(sonoma14) that I'll always go over the edge of the other window or no close enough to trigger the snapping? any tweaks you would recommend to fix this?

[@macmost]

Perhaps your trackpad speed is too high?

[@spencerchen4563]

looks like it, thanks!@@macmost

[@MJLondn]

Thank you. I am trying to figure out how to keep my Chrome and my WhatsApp (just updated) apps where I put them. The new WhatsApp shifts annoyingly to the right when I open a chat, no matter what I do. I also use a 2nd Chrome tab for KZbin which annoyingly shifts to the left from where I like it, every time I return it to its normal size from full screen. I couldn't see how to anchor a browser or an app like WA from your video. Is there a way? Thank you.

[@macmost]

Sounds like those apps aren't handling window positioning right, maybe?

[@MJLondn]

@@macmost Thanks, I'm not sure. I just wish I could get them to stay where I put them. I am a little OCD about where I like them.

[@JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

That was very educational. Thanks!

[@julianvanderkraats408]

Wow. Thx.

[@ohmygil]

Mac is simple, they said, my grandma can use it... great videos, as always, so many tiny different options, whatever happened to the KISS principle, Apple?

[@jeannedarc1566]

Is there a way to adjust the column width so that a window always opens with the columns wider? I find I have to click/drag them wider but would love to edit the default width.

[@macmost]

They should stay where you set them, but keep in mind it is set on a folder level. So if you open another folder it wouldn't know the width you want.

[@jeannedarc1566]

​@@macmost they don't stay but I will try the Opt+drag option, I saw somewhere that it sets it that way? Thanks for your vids, I've used Mac for years and am learning a lot!

[@44ten]

I just found, with multiple desktops, you can switch between them by using two fingers to scroll left and right on your Magic Mouse.

[@LuNacyGoose]

Is there a way to keep one window "floating" above the others even when you're not actively using that window?

[@macmost]

Only if the app has that as a feature. For instance, Notes can do it. But it has to be something the developer of the app sets up.

[@LuNacyGoose]

Thanks!@@macmost

[@mdnafizrahman761]

Finder Arrangement tips plz......

[@macmost]

Do you mean Finder window arrangement tips? All of these would apply to the Finder too.

[@maikaimakena9424]

Is there a command key to take two windows one to the Left and one to the right. Instead of having to do this manually

[@macmost]

Yes. You can set one up in System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts.

[@strengthbydesign]

I don't think I've ever grabbed a side to resize a window, I've been using Macs since 1989 - SE 2/20 Finder and then Multi-finder, remember? but never ever done that, only the corners. I feel so silly. I had no idea about the double clicking option thing either!. Then you added the shift key, well my head was spinning. I feel like I've wasted my life. Why didn't I know these things. I don't know how you remember all this stuff, my head is full

[@alohakeithb]

I just thought of a question. I might set up a space like yours with three windows on it and then I want to open something small like Calculator to do something and it starts Calculator in a new space and that’s really annoying. I want to calculated to start on top of the work I’m doing. Is there a way to make it work that way? I’m sure it’s user error.

[@macmost]

If it is a regular Desktop space, then it should open in the current space. Maybe you already had Calculator open on another Desktop space and so it simply switched to it?

[@alohakeithb]

@@macmost OK, yes Well I was experimenting with Stage Manager and I think it's that that was causing it to jump to a new space. I turned it off and it works as you say, Gary. Thanks so much. As I said, User error! I'm getting the hang of this Mac thanks to your super helpful videos...

[@richardgarcia1293]

Very new to the Mac world coming from a pc. Lately when I click to open a link or a new window it downloads instead of opening. Why is that? How do I stop it?

[@macmost]

Click what, exactly?

[@user-xt7jt4zg9d]

A bit of a long shot that anyone has an idea here, but I am having issues with my windows randomly losing focus. So for example, if I'm typing an email the OS will switch focus on another window and while I continue typing, the system isn't picking up my inputs and the words don't continue to show up on the email. So I have to click on the email window again to get it to allow me to finish typing. This happens intermittently but persistently. And it only happens when connected to a monitor/dock (never when using as a traditional laptop). I'm on an M1 MBP. Any ideas on what this is and how to fix it?

[@macmost]

Hard to say. Does it always switch to the same app? If so, then that app is somehow assessing itself and gaining focus. Start your investigation there.

[@innovativeit]

I can't use two windows simultaneously on the desktop how could I fix this?

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean. Using two (or more) windows is how it usually works. Maybe you are using one window in Full Screen mode. Or, maybe you have Stage Manager switched on?

[@gpellmind]

I sure wish TextEdit would remember document window size and position.

[@macmost]

It does. But remember this is on a per-document basis. So if you position a window with document 1, close it, and then open document 2, it has its own position.

[@dianefuchs7567]

Where is Systems Settings? I don't see that on my system. I have Monterey 12.7.1. I only see Systems Preferences and I don't have that sidebar thing that you are showing in the video at minute 13:13.

[@macmost]

You are using an older version of macOS. Back in Monterey it was called System Preferences. There will be other differences as well. A lot has changed since then.

[@dianefuchs7567]

@@macmost Thanks for your quick reply! Can Macs only be updated to a certain level because of how old it is? My computer hasn’t suggested I update to the newer versions. I think I’ve missed two versions, right?

[@macmost]

@@dianefuchs7567 Yes. See macmost.com/macos-system-requirements-list.html

[@dianefuchs7567]

@@macmost Thanks for the link! It looks like I could've updated to at least Ventura because I bought my computer in Feb. of 2017, according to my records. (I couldn't find the model and year under the Apple menu.) But since my computer never suggested I do so, I just waited. Maybe I will call Apple to see if updating is a good idea for my particular computer.

[@tomv3999]

I've never found macOS window management to be exceptional. On top of that, using multiple desktops in macOS I've found inferior to pretty much every desktop environment in Linux. It's better than Windows, but I'll take KDE or GNOME over macOS window management / multiple desktops.

[@ThePeterasd]

on a windows laptop, one can double tap on the window and keep where ever possible.

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean. "Keep" how?

[@BaronPantoufle]

Moom ❤

[@AA-tb7rg]

As a former windows power user, I am still missing the ease of use of managing multiple windows in WINDOWS. I do not like Microsoft and also not their founder, so I switched over. But what I still cannot get my head around is the lack of ease of use compared to Windows.

[@lordiblees]

Windows gets flak for no reason. It's a lot more intuitive and user friendly than macos. It's the hardware really where mac really shines for me, not the software

[@MrPrzempas]

Rectangle is the answer ;)

[@jeanbiroute]

Well I do restart my Mac after I’m finished with Photoshop to kill all creative background processing. Otherwise you’re right no need to ever close it

[@TheDanEdwards]

If you want to kill a process, why not just use Activity Monitor?

[@jeanbiroute]

@@TheDanEdwards they restart. Adobe is a trash company

[@AyahuascaDataScientist]

Also, if you have windows in a stage manager stage, and close them, I find they’ll often open up in their own respective stages, which I find annoying.

[@macmost]

Yes (they are called "App Sets"). App Sets are build to be transient, not permanent, like Desktop Spaces.

[@eugenn2848]

8:09 Why would they hide these essential features under a layer of function keys? That's not sensible to do. Or do the developers not want users to know about these features so that we won't use them? Or just they don't care? 🤔

[@radenmulyadi2589]

And why you have no dock in your video

[@macmost]

Are you asking why I chose to have Dock Hiding on when making this tutorial? Or how to turn on Dock Hiding?

[@radenmulyadi2589]

@@macmostas windows user I feel the dock looks unattractive, it have space on it sides

[@logaandm]

Great video, but 90% of the tricks are not what people really want to do, which is intelligently and quickly tile windows on a large screen. MacOS windows management is decidedly third rate and this video doesn't change that. While I'm at it, I will ask (for the 1000th time), why no HDMI volume control? This has been a standard feature in other operating systems for more than 20 years!

[@macmost]

You'd have to ask Apple that, not me. But for me it makes sense since over HDMI it should just send the sound and let the device (TV) handle the volume. But if that bothers you, use DisplayPort which is probably better for other reasons too.

[@logaandm]

@@macmost Spoken like a true Apple apologist. Life would be perfect if I just did it the Apple way at double the cost? I use an inexpensive Samsung TV as my monitor. Turn off the "TV" features and it is a good 30Hz monitor with good colour accuracy and 1/4 the cost of the Apple Monitor, at 1/3 the cost of a computer monitor with slightly more features. The Window management and HDMI volume are simple things that Apple could implement over a weekend. Why don't they when these have long been two highly requested feature upgrades that would cost Apple virtually nothing and have zero impact on their protected "eco-system" of rent serfs.

[@macmost]

@@logaandm I'm just presenting you with a solution to the problem you asked about. You didn't mention you have an HDMI-only TV and that cost is a factor. Most people have computer screens so I merely suggested that you use the DisplayPort connection instead. If that solution doesn't work for you then fine.

[@logaandm]

​@@macmostAh, yes. Display Port because of all the dongles that have Display Port. Or maybe an adapter from the Apple supplied HDMI port? Apple has, let me check..... exactly zero dongles with a Display Port adapter. Oddly enough, Apple does sell dongles with HDMI. Pretty good one's too. By their own products, Apple is aware most people use HDMI and doesn't really care about Display Port, or the user. I liked the video, but it is especially annoying when influencers like you make up and support the BS Apple excuses for what is actually very poor customer support.

[@macmost]

@@logaandm You don't need a DisplayPort adapter. ALL of the USB-C ports on a modern Mac ARE DisplayPort. Just get a USB-C DisplayPort cable. They are cheap, but many displays come with them, in fact.

[@trevorpsy]

I tried putting my Mac to sleep rather than shutting it down, and it didn't work because I have cats that take pleasure in awakening it. What can you do?

[@macmost]

If it is a MacBook, close the lid. If it is a desktop Mac, turn off the keyboard.

[@trevorpsy]

@@macmost Good Suggestions. I would also have to unplug the mouse. It's never been much of an issue, but you make a good point.

[@jimcoon]

I apologize for coming to this channel with this issue - I'm 70 yrs old and trying to understand how my work email (Exchange) works with Contacts app in Mac OS Sonoma. I have ALL these contact lists and I don't understand how they appeared. All Contacts Exchange All Exchange Contacts Contacts Contacts Suggested Contacts Suggested Contacts Suggested Contacts iCloud All iCloud Directories Exchange Global Address

[@macmost]

In the Contacts app, look in Contacts, Settings, Accounts and then see what accounts you have there and edit them as needed.