How to Use Magnet for Window Management on macOS

Edited 28 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Magnet AppmacOSWindow ManagementProductivity ToolsDesktop CustomizationMac UtilitiesScreen OrganizationApp ShortcutsApple

Managing your windows effectively on your Mac can greatly boost your productivity. Magnet is a popular window management tool for macOS that allows you to easily organize your open application windows. Whether you have multiple monitors or just one, keeping your desktop neat and organized is vital for streamlined work. This article will walk you through the steps to use Magnet for effective window management on macOS.

Overview of Magnet

Magnet is a third-party application available on the Mac App Store. It is specifically designed to help you snap windows into different positions easily and quickly. With Magnet, you can tile your windows in different configurations, making multitasking more efficient as you can view multiple windows simultaneously without overlapping.

Main characteristics of magnets

• Arrange windows in half, quarter or full screen.
• Supports vertical snapping to enable top or bottom snapping.
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts for efficient window management.
• Seamless integration for multiple displays.
• Compatibility with all major macOS applications.

Installing the magnet

Installing Magnet is the first step towards managing your Windows effectively. Here is how you can install it from the Mac App Store:

1. Open the Mac App Store on your macOS device.
2. Type "magnets" in the search bar and find the app in the search results.
3. Click the buy button to purchase and download the app. Note that Magnet is a paid application, so you will have to pay a small fee to download it.
4. Once the download and installation is complete, you can find Magnet in your Applications folder.
5. Open Magnet to start using its features for window management.

Using Magnets to manage windows

Understanding window alignment

Magnets allow you to align windows in several ways, which is especially useful for multitasking. Here's how you can align windows using magnets:

• Half screen: You can position any window to cover either the left or right half of your screen. This is useful when you want to work on two files or applications side by side.
• Quarter screen: Divide your screen into quarters so that four windows can appear simultaneously. Each window will occupy a quarter of your screen, making efficient use of space.
• Full screen: Expand the window to use the entire screen, which is useful when you need to focus completely on a single application.
• Top or Bottom Half: Align windows to fill the top or bottom half of your screen. This alignment option provides a great way to stack windows vertically.

Using keyboard shortcuts

While Magnet allows you to click and drag to align windows, keyboard shortcuts can speed up the process. Here are the default shortcuts you'll find useful:

• Command+Option+Left Arrow: Aligns the active window to the left half of the screen.
• Command+Option+Right Arrow: Aligns the active window to the right half of the screen.
• Command+Option+Up Arrow: Zooms the active window to full screen.
• Command+Option+Down Arrow: Restores the active window to its previous size.
• Command+Control+Left Arrow: Moves the active window to the left display in a multi-monitor setup.
• Command+Control+Right Arrow: Moves the active window to the right side of the display.

Customizing keyboard shortcuts

Magnet allows you to customize the keyboard shortcuts to your liking. Here is how you can change the default shortcuts:

1. Open the Magnet application by clicking on its icon in the menu bar.
2. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Preferences window, you can see all the available shortcuts.
4. To change the shortcut, double-click the current shortcut, then type the new keys you want.
5. Test your new shortcuts to make sure they correctly perform the window management actions you want.

Advanced features of Magnet

Multiple displays and magnets

If you are using multiple monitors, the magnets become even more powerful. You can easily move windows between screens, and the magnets will remember the position of each window on each display. Follow the steps below to effectively use the magnets in a multi-monitor setup:

1. Use the Command + Control + Left Arrow keys to move the window to the desired monitor. - For example, Command + Control + Left Arrow will move a window to the leftmost monitor.
2. Once you reach the desired screen, you can use the same alignment methods discussed earlier to arrange your windows.
3. You can have different window arrangements on each monitor, maximizing workplace efficiency.

Working with magnets and space

macOS also allows you to use “Spaces” to create multiple desktops, which when combined with magnets can further boost your productivity:

• Create new locations using Mission Control (with F3 or by swiping up with three fingers on the trackpad).
• Once you've set up multiple spaces, you can use magnets to manage the windows in each space separately.
• Keyboard shortcuts like Control+Left Arrow and Control+Right Arrow can help you quickly switch between spaces when rearranging windows with magnets.

Setting the default layout

One of the most useful features of Magnet is its ability to help you quickly set up your preferred workplace layout every morning. Although Magnet doesn't directly support predefined layouts, you can develop a routine using its shortcuts:

• Decide on your ideal window layout based on the applications you use most often.
• Open all the necessary applications and use magnets to position them according to your workflow.
• Memorize the shortcuts needed to achieve this setup. Over time, performing these actions will become second nature.
• Using automation software like Automator can help you open and organize apps according to your magnet configuration.

Troubleshooting common problems

Magnet not working

If you encounter any problems with magnets, here are some troubleshooting tips that may be helpful:

• Make sure MacOS is up to date. Sometimes older versions may not support new features of Magnet.
• Restart Magnet by clicking its icon in the menu bar and selecting "Quit." Restart the application.
• Make sure "Enable" is checked in the Magnets menu.
• Verify that the shortcuts are configured correctly and are not conflicting with other system shortcuts.

Compatibility with other applications

Although Maget is designed to work seamlessly with most Mac applications, you may find some exceptions. Here are a few points to consider:

• Some highly customized or non-native Mac applications may not respond correctly to magnet commands.
• If some apps don't work with magnets, check for updates or look in your app's preferences for a possible solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Magnet is a powerful and versatile tool for window management on macOS, making it ideal for users who handle multiple applications simultaneously. By installing and configuring Magnet, you can substantially improve your desktop workspace, save time, and increase your productivity. With the use of keyboard shortcuts and compatibility with macOS features like Mission Control and Spaces, Magnet equips you with all the tools you need to master window management with ease.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update