Magnet is a simple yet incredibly useful utility app for macOS that helps you manage and organize open windows with ease. If you often find yourself dragging windows around or switching between apps, Magnet can boost your productivity by letting you snap windows into place using intuitive keyboard shortcuts or drag gestures.
This guide will walk you through installing Magnet and show you the top features to help keep your workspace neat and efficient.
✅ How to Install Magnet on macOS
1. Purchase and Download
2. Install and Launch
- After purchasing, download and install the app via the App Store
- Open Magnet from your Applications folder
3. Grant Accessibility Permissions
- macOS will prompt you to grant Accessibility permissions
- Go to:
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility- Enable Magnet to allow it to control windows
4. Enable Menu Bar Access
Magnet runs in the background and lives in your menu bar (top right of your screen). From here, you can:
- Snap windows manually
- View shortcut keys
- Access preferences
🧠 Must-Know Features of Magnet
🧩 1. Snap Windows to Halves and Quarters
With one keystroke, send any window to:
- Left or right half
- Top or bottom half
- Top-left, top-right, bottom-left, or bottom-right quarter
Default shortcuts include:
Control + Option + ← (Snap left)Control + Option + → (Snap right)Control + Option + U (Top-left corner)Control + Option + I (Top-right corner)
You can customize all shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts.
🖱 2. Use Mouse for Drag-and-Snap
Just drag a window to the left, right, or top edge of your screen to snap it. This works exactly like Windows-style snapping and requires no keyboard input.
🖥 3. Supports Fullscreen and Centering
Control + Option + F: Fullscreen the current windowControl + Option + C: Center a window on your screen- Useful for distraction-free work or focusing on one app.
🧭 4. Multi-Monitor Support
Magnet works across multiple displays, letting you move and snap windows between screens seamlessly.
🧹 5. Eliminate App Overlap
Snapping windows side-by-side eliminates the need for constant resizing or toggling. It's perfect for:
- Coding + Previewing in browser
- Research + Writing
- Chatting + Working
💾 6. Lightweight and Battery-Friendly
Magnet uses minimal system resources, making it ideal even for MacBooks running on battery. There’s no bloat or background activity to slow things down.
🔧 7. Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
You can assign or reassign shortcut keys for any layout:
- Use System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts → App Shortcuts
- Add your own combinations for the layout you use most often
💡 Bonus Tip: Pair Magnet with Stage Manager or Mission Control
Magnet can complement macOS’s Stage Manager or Mission Control by giving you more precise control over window placement while still letting you switch between sets of apps.
🚀 Final Thoughts
If you're serious about staying organized and multitasking efficiently on your Mac, Magnet is a must-have utility. Its low price, minimal interface, and powerful functionality make it the ideal choice for developers, writers, students, designers, or anyone who wants a cleaner desktop and better focus.
Whether you're comparing notes and code, working on side-by-side documents, or just trying to tame your desktop clutter, Magnet keeps your workspace sharp and stress-free.