Snap layouts for your Mac
SnapGrid divides each display into zones, such as three equal columns, and moves windows into them with the mouse or the keyboard. It runs in the menu bar.
macOS 13 or later · Apple silicon and Intel
Layouts and zones
A layout divides the screen into columns. Each column is a zone, and some layouts split a column into a top and bottom zone.
Each display has its own layout, so you can use thirds on one display and halves on another. Change a display's layout from the menu bar icon, in Settings, or while dragging a window.
- Halves50 / 50
- Two-thirds left67 / 33
- Two-thirds right33 / 67
- Thirds33 / 33 / 33
- Wide centre25 / 50 / 25
- Half and two quarters50, then 50 split in two
- Quarters50 / 50, each split in two
- Four columns25 / 25 / 25 / 25
Drag a window into a zone
When you drag a window, SnapGrid outlines the zones of the display's layout and highlights the one nearest the cursor. Release the mouse and the window moves into that zone and takes its size.
- Hold Shift while dragging to move a window without snapping it.
- Drag a snapped window out of its zone and it returns to the size it had before.
Choose a layout while dragging
Drag a window to the top of the screen, just below the menu bar, and the layout picker opens with a small diagram of each layout. Release the window over a zone in any diagram. The window moves into that zone, and that layout becomes the display's layout.
You can choose which layouts the picker shows. Showing fewer makes each diagram larger.
Fill the other zones with Snap Assist
After you snap a window, Snap Assist outlines each remaining zone and lists your open windows in it, as in the picture at the top of this page. Choose a window from a zone's list to move it there. The lists update after each choice.
- Use the mouse, or the arrow keys and Return. At the edge of a list, the arrow keys move to the next zone.
- Press Esc or click outside the lists to close it.
- With Screen Recording access, the lists show a preview of each window. Without it, they show app icons.
- Show it after every snap, only after using the layout picker, or never.
Keyboard
Control and an arrow key move the focused window within the display's layout. The keys follow the layout you chose: with thirds, Control and Right moves a window one third to the right.
A window that isn't in a zone moves to the nearest free zone in the direction of the arrow.
| control ← control → | Moves the window to the next column. At the edge of the screen, moves it to the next display. |
|---|---|
| control ↑ | Makes the window fill its column, then the top half of the column, then the whole screen. |
| control ↓ | Makes the window fill its column, then the bottom half of the column, then minimises it. A window that fills the screen returns to its previous size. |
If another window is already in the zone, SnapGrid can show Snap Assist so you can move the covered window somewhere else, swap the two windows, or leave the other window where it is. You choose which in Settings.
Setup and permissions
The first time SnapGrid opens, a setup guide shows a checklist. Each item is ticked as soon as it's done.
- Accessibility access. Required. macOS only lets an app move and resize other apps' windows with this permission.
- Turn off macOS tiling. Recommended on macOS 15 and later, whose own drag-to-tile gestures conflict with SnapGrid's.
- Open SnapGrid at login, so it's always running.
- Free up Control and the arrow keys, only if they switch Spaces instead of moving windows.
Screen Recording access is optional. SnapGrid uses it only to show window previews in Snap Assist. Previews are taken while Snap Assist is open and are never saved.
Questions
Something not covered here? Email [email protected].
Does SnapGrid collect any data?
No. It doesn't connect to the internet and doesn't collect anything. See the privacy policy.
Does it work with more than one display?
Yes. Each display has its own layout, and the keyboard moves windows from one display to the next at the screen edge.
Control and an arrow key switches Spaces instead
macOS uses those keys for Mission Control. Turn them off in System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, Mission Control, or use Control and Option, Control and Command, or Option instead in SnapGrid's settings.
Which windows does it move?
Standard app windows only. It ignores desktop widgets, panels, dialogs and its own windows.
How is it different from snap layouts in Windows 11?
It works the same way, with one change: in Windows the keyboard always uses halves, whichever layout you chose. In SnapGrid the keyboard follows the layout.
How do I uninstall it?
Choose Quit from its menu bar icon, then move it from Applications to the Trash.