You can finally choose from multiple window layouts on macOS without using a third-party program. But the Windows 11 option still does it better.
1. Windows offers more layouts to choose from
Window Tiling in macOS is a game changer. There’s no doubt about it. However, one thing Apple hasn’t done is give users multiple ways to snap windows to different locations.
macOS lets you place windows side by side, stack them on top of each other, and place one in each corner—four windows total. You can also place a window vertically next to two smaller windows, giving you three windows on screen at once.
Windows gives you all those options, plus a few more. You can set up three windows side by side in equal columns, or take two windows and have one take up 75% of the screen while the other only takes up 25%.
There is also the option to place a smaller column on either side of the larger central window, which is useful when working on in-depth research projects. However, the number of options you have will vary depending on your screen size and resolution.
The real highlight of Windows is the ability to create custom Windows Snap Layouts using Fancy Zones. This feature is available in PowerToys , a set of free tools that Microsoft provides to all Windows users.
2. Windows makes it easier to choose a layout with a pop-up chooser
Another area where Windows Snap Layouts has an edge over Window Tiling in macOS is the pop-up selector. Both Windows and macOS offer a pop-up that appears when you hover over the maximize button to open a window. While convenient, the pop-up can also take a while to appear.
However, Windows has a much quicker pop-up window that you can take advantage of. This window appears whenever you drag a window to the center of the screen. It lets you drop the window into any of the configurations that Windows Snap Layouts offers to make arranging windows more efficient, and that’s how most people use Snap Layouts.
This feature should be enabled by default. If you have disabled it, here's how to enable it again:
Open Settings > System > Multitasking to find the Snap windows option . Press the down arrow to see all the different options. Click the checkbox next to Show snap layouts when I drag a window to the top of my screen .
3. Dock windows with fewer keystrokes in Windows
Another convenient way to use Windows Snap Layouts and Window Tiling is through keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts are also easier to use on Windows because you don't have to press multiple buttons to move windows.
On macOS, you need to interact with three different keys to move windows into different positions: Fn + Control + arrow keys . With Windows 11 , you just need to press the Windows key and then press the arrow keys.
Shortcuts offer fewer docking locations, but they're a great option if you're trying to quickly stack windows side by side.
It’s great that Apple has finally brought Window Tiling to macOS, and users no longer have to install a third-party app to take advantage of this great feature. However, Windows still offers more functionality, especially when you consider the custom layouts you can create with Fancy Zones. Hopefully Apple continues to expand Window Tiling in macOS with more layouts and customizations. Until then, the Windows option will still have the upper hand.
The Spotlight wallpaper on the Windows 11 desktop and lock screen has an annoying “Learn More About This Picture” icon. Here is a guide to remove the “Learn More About This Picture” Windows 11 icon.
The Apps & Features control panel is the settings equivalent to the Programs and Features tool from the Control Panel.
The Libraries folder in Windows 11 is hidden in the File Explorer interface, but you can easily show it again with just a few taps.
Are you getting a High Memory Usage Detected warning while browsing on Microsoft Edge? It means that some browser processes are using too much memory (RAM).
Follow these steps to set up speech recognition on your Windows laptop or PC.
In many cases, it is usually due to virus attacks that the hidden folders of the system cannot be displayed even after activating the “Show hidden files and folders” option in Folder Options. Some of the following methods will help to handle this problem.
Sometimes you still need to turn off the firewall to perform certain functions. The 3 ways to turn off the Win 10 firewall below will help you in such situations.
If you're looking for a quicker method, here's how to add a dedicated shutdown shortcut to your Windows 11 desktop or taskbar.
Windows 11 doesn't support the JPEG X image format by default, but you can install an add-on that does. Here's how to add JPEG XL support in Windows 11.
In the process of pinning applications, sometimes we encounter some errors such as not being able to pin the application to the Taskbar. Below are some ways to fix the error of not being able to pin the application to the Windows 11 Taskbar.
Windows BitLocker offers an easy-to-use solution for encrypting your hard drive. However, it also has its drawbacks, so it may not be a great choice for everyone.
This guide will show you how to overwrite (securely erase) deleted data on a drive so that it cannot be recovered or accessed in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If you regularly use Copilot on Windows 11, there is a very simple way to quickly access Copilot, which is to add Copilot to the right-click menu.
Adding a printer to Windows 10 is simple, although the process for wired devices will be different than for wireless devices.
A new utility is being developed that will help remove the strict system requirements of Windows 11.
