How to dim inactive windows on a Mac
Fade everything except the window you are working in. Why it helps, what macOS offers on its own, and how to dim the windows you are not using.
When several windows are visible, the eye drifts. Dimming all but the focused one gives it a gentle pull back.
What macOS has
The focused window gets a stronger shadow and coloured window buttons, and inactive windows fade their title bars slightly. In Dark Mode that difference is subtle. Accessibility, Display, Increase contrast adds window borders, which helps a little.
Dimming the rest
ClutterFreeMac has Dim other windows in Settings, Layout. Windows on your strip that do not have focus are shaded so the one you are in stands out. It only applies while a window on the strip has focus, and never covers a full screen app.
It pairs well with the Focus layout, where neighbours peek in from the sides.
Questions
Can macOS dim windows that are not active?
Not as a setting. A window manager such as ClutterFreeMac can dim the windows you are not using.
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