How to Easily Create Keyboard Shortcuts to Snap Windows on a Mac

ByJim Miller

Do you find yourself constantly resizing and organizing windows on your Mac? Are you tired of the tedious process of clicking and dragging to snap windows into place? Well, we have good news for you! In this article, we will show you how to create custom keyboard shortcuts that will allow you to effortlessly snap windows on your Mac with just a combination of keys.

Create Keyboard Shortcut to Snap Windows Manually

Before we begin, it's important to note that this method will only allow you to create keyboard shortcuts for snapping windows to the left or right. However, if you're looking for more comprehensive keyboard shortcuts, there are third-party apps available that can provide you with additional functionality.

To set a keyboard shortcut for snapping a window, follow these simple steps:

  1. Click and hold the green “Expand” button on the top left corner of any window to bring up the menu. Take note of the snap command written next to the icon. For example, if you want to create a shortcut for tiling a window to the left half of the screen, the command would be “Tile Window to Left of Screen.”

  2. Navigate to “System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts” on your Mac. Click on “App Shortcuts” in the left pane and add a new shortcut by clicking the “+” button.

  3. In the “Menu Title” input field, enter the snap command that you noted down earlier. Then, click on the “Keyboard Shortcut” field and press the keys of your choice to create the keyboard shortcut. Make sure that the combination you choose does not already exist.

Once you've added the shortcut, your custom keyboard shortcut is ready to use. If you click and hold the green expand button on any window, you will see your keyboard shortcut displayed next to it. Simply press the key combination to see the snapping action in action. You can repeat these steps to create additional shortcuts according to your preferences.

Final Words on Mac Window Snapping

Window management has always been an area where macOS has lacked compared to other operating systems. However, with the ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts, you can now easily snap windows into place without the need for third-party apps. Of course, if you prefer more advanced window management features, there are plenty of third-party apps available that offer even more functionality.

In conclusion, creating keyboard shortcuts to snap windows on a Mac is a simple and efficient way to improve your productivity and streamline your workflow. Give it a try and see how it can enhance your Mac experience. And if you have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to share them with us on Twitter.

Also Read: 7 Ways to Snap Windows on macOS with Ease