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Window management on a Mac
Guides to arranging windows on macOS: what a scrolling window manager is, how to get the niri, i3 or Hyprland workflow on a Mac, setups for small and very wide screens, and honest comparisons with other tools.
Start here
- What is a scrolling window manager?A scrolling window manager puts each window in a column on a strip that runs past the screen. How it differs from tiling and floating, and options for Mac.
- Set up LanesMacSet up LanesMac step by step: install from the disk image, allow Accessibility, check for conflicts, and the trackpad and macOS settings that make it work best.
- How to tile windows on a MacPut windows side by side on a Mac: drag to the screen edge, the green button, the Fn‑Control shortcuts and Split View, and when a window manager is better.
Coming from Linux
- Niri for Mac: can you run niri on macOS?No, niri is a Linux Wayland compositor and can't run on macOS. How to get the same scrolling workflow on a Mac, with niri actions mapped to LanesMac.
- A PaperWM-style window manager for MacLooking for PaperWM or niri on macOS? LanesMac brings scrollable tiling to the Mac: windows as columns on an endless strip, stacks, tabs and trackpad swipes.
- i3 for Mac: the closest setups on macOSi3 and sway don't run on macOS. The Mac tools closest to the i3 workflow, what each one gives up, and which fits the way you work.
- Hyprland for Mac: the closest alternativesHyprland is a Linux Wayland compositor and won't run on macOS. What comes closest on a Mac for dynamic tiling, for a scrolling layout and for smooth animations.
Your screen
- The best way to manage windows on a MacBook screenOn a 13- or 14-inch MacBook, grids leave windows cramped and full screen hides the rest. How to manage windows on a small Mac screen, compared honestly.
- Window management for an ultrawide monitor on MacA maximized window on a 34- or 49-inch ultrawide is absurdly wide. Every way to split an ultrawide screen on a Mac, from macOS tiling to a scrolling strip.
- A Stage Manager alternative for MacNot getting on with Stage Manager? How to turn it off, and the alternatives explained simply: built-in tiling, snapping apps and a scrolling window manager.
Alternatives and comparisons
- AeroSpace alternatives for MacLooking for an AeroSpace alternative? Mac window managers compared honestly, from scrolling and automatic tiling to snapping, with who each one suits.
- yabai without SIP: what works and what doesn'tDoes yabai need SIP disabled? No for basic tiling, yes for some features. What works with SIP on, what doesn't, and window managers that never touch SIP.
- LanesMac vs AeroSpaceLanesMac vs AeroSpace compared: scrolling strip vs i3-style tree tiling, settings window vs config file, trackpad swipes, workspaces and price.
- LanesMac vs yabaiLanesMac vs yabai compared: scrolling strip vs binary space partitioning, no SIP changes, built-in shortcuts and settings, Spaces support and price.
- LanesMac vs RectangleLanesMac vs Rectangle compared: an automatic scrolling layout where nothing overlaps vs snapping windows to halves and thirds when you ask.
- LanesMac vs AmethystLanesMac vs Amethyst compared: automatic xmonad-style layouts that resize your windows vs a scrolling strip where opening a window never shrinks the others.
- LanesMac vs LoopLoop is a free radial-menu window mover for Mac, not a tiler. When Loop is all you need, and when a scrolling window manager like LanesMac saves more time.