How to Link Windows to MacOS Sequoia
Until now, Windows has always offered better split-screen multitasking and window management features than Mac. Sure, it’s right there in the name, but Windows Snap Assistant offers perhaps the most intuitive way to split and manage multiple windows on the same screen. Mac tried using Stage Manager, but it’s not the same.
Now, with macOS Sequoia (currently available as a developer beta), Apple is finally offering its own approach to window snapping, and it’s very similar to what Windows offers, albeit lighter. Let’s get to it.
Installing the macOS Sequoia beta
Before we begin, let’s install the macOS Sequoia beta. I recommend using a backup device for this if possible, as using the beta version may lead to instability. Start by backing up your Mac. Then open System Preferences , select General > Software Update , and click Beta Updates . Select the latest macOS Sequoia developer beta and follow the instructions to install it.
Positioning windows in macOS using mouse gestures
macOS Sequoia supports window tiling using mouse gestures. When you drag the window to any edge of the screen, you will see a white outline. Release the cursor and the window will freeze, filling the outline. You can speed up this process by holding down the Option key while moving the window. This will highlight the left or right panel of the screen without having to move the mouse to the edge of the desktop.
Once you’ve snapped a window, you’ll notice that macOS surrounds it with a small border even though the window covers the entire screen. It’s one of those weird Apple design touches, but it can be turned off. Go to System Settings > Desktop and Dock > Windows and turn off Tiled windows have margins .
Automatically arrange windows on macOS
If you don’t like dragging your mouse cursor all over your screen, macOS Sequoia also has the ability to automatically arrange all open windows (or at least the most recent ones) using the layout of your choice. Hover your mouse over the green traffic light icon in the top left corner of any window to see new layout options. You can either move the current window to a specific section of the screen, or choose one of four Fill and Arrange options to automate the process.
Choose one of the options, and macOS will automatically take the windows in the foreground and arrange them according to that pattern. Unfortunately, that’s all he can do. Unlike Windows, the grid is limited to four apps per screen, and there are no layout options for six apps. Plus this process is automatic. Windows will show you all the other applications that can be placed in the grid, and you can choose which window to place where. This feature is not available on macOS and I hope it will be added in a future update.
If these features limit you, take advantage of third-party options like Loop , which give you much more freedom in exactly how you can tile and arrange your windows on the screen.
The old method of split-screen multitasking , which opens windows both full screen and on a new desktop, also still exists. It is now located in the Full Screen section of the green traffic light menu.
Snap windows using keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts offer a great option for neatly arranging windows in halves and sections. In most cases, you will still have to split the screen in two. In macOS Sequoia, you can use the keyboard shortcuts Globe + Control + Left to dock a window to the left, or Globe + Control + Right to move it to the right.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to automatically arrange two windows. Use Globe + Control + Shift + Left to dock the current window to the left and the next available window to the right. You can change the order using the Right key of the same keyboard shortcut. This also works with the Up and Down key combination. To see all available keyboard shortcuts, choose Window > Move & Resize from the menu bar.