Use This App to Control Mac Windows (If You Don’t Have Sequoia)
Window management has been a hot topic on the Mac for years. Many people are migrating to Mac from Windows computers and find macOS’s window management to be completely lacking in comparison . Apple is finally adding more robust window snapping to macOS Sequoia (currently in developer beta), but until you get that update, I suggest using Loop . The free Loop app does the same thing and has plenty of handy keyboard shortcuts.
Arguments for a window management application
There are still various reasons to choose third-party window management apps over Apple’s built-in option, which will be available this fall. The first and foremost reason is that not all Macs receive the Sequoia update . If your Mac isn’t getting updates (or if you can’t immediately switch to Sequoia because the app you need for work doesn’t support it), using third-party tools remains a good option.
Second, these window management apps do some things better than Apple’s tools. First, they have simpler keyboard shortcuts by default. For example, Loop uses the globe (fn) key along with the arrow keys to move windows easily. Other apps, like Rectangle Pro, let you hide windows at the edges of the screen, create your own on-screen snap objects, and even customize your window size and snap it to a shortcut.
Although Apple has eliminated the need for a core window management app, power users will still find value in using a third-party alternative.
Why You Should Use Loop
Loop is fast, free and easy to use. After installing the application, review its settings and remember the keyboard shortcuts. Since it uses a global key (fn), most of its keyboard shortcuts are easy to remember. The globe arrow keys allow you to move any window to any corner of the screen. You can even press two arrow keys at the same time to select quarters of the screen, for example using the Globe-Up-Left arrow to send a window to the top-left corner. Loop has a shortcut that allows you to send a window to the center of the screen, one for full screen mode and another for maximizing the current window.
You can also hold down the Globe key and keep pressing any arrow key to switch between window sizes. For example, you can configure the window to occupy the right half of the screen or a third of the screen. You can also restore the window to its original size by dragging it around the corner.
Loop’s most important feature is the ability to exclude apps. This allows you to avoid changing preferred window sizes for certain applications that don’t behave well when moved.
Although Loop works very well, its radial menu keeps appearing on the screen every time you move the app. This can be annoying if you use the app frequently. Fortunately, you can get rid of this in the application settings in the “Radial Menu” section. The app has several different app icons and you will be able to unlock them as you continue to use the app.