How to snap windows on a Mac

macOS 15 added window snapping to edges and corners. How to use it with the mouse and the keyboard, its limits, and when an automatic layout suits better.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

For years the Mac had no window snapping without an extra app. macOS 15 Sequoia added it. Here is how it works, and what it does not do.

With the mouse

  • Drag a window to the left or right edge for a half.
  • Drag to a corner for a quarter.
  • Drag to the top edge to fill the screen.
  • Hold ⌥ while dragging to see the outline before you let go.

With the keyboard

Hold fn and ⌃ and press an arrow to tile the front window. The Window menu lists every move under Move & Resize, along with Fill and Centre. You can turn the drag to edge behaviour off in Desktop & Dock settings if it gets in your way.

What it does not do

  • It never arranges windows for you. A new window opens wherever the app puts it.
  • Halves and quarters only, no thirds.
  • Snapped windows still overlap anything that was there before.

Snapping versus a layout

Snapping is a move you make. A window manager is a rule that always holds. With ClutterFreeMac there is nothing to snap: every window already has its own column, new ones join the row, and nothing can land on top of anything else. Thirds, halves and two thirds are one key away with ⌃ ⌥ R.

Questions

Does macOS have window snapping?

Yes, from macOS 15 Sequoia: drag to an edge or corner, or use `fn` `⌃` and an arrow key.

Can I snap windows into thirds on a Mac?

Not with the built in tiling. ClutterFreeMac cycles a window through a third, a half and two thirds with `⌃` `⌥` `R`.

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