Built-in snapping
Since macOS Sequoia (2024), Mac has native window snapping. Hover over the green traffic-light button on any window and a tiling menu appears with options for left half, right half, top/bottom, and a few preset combinations. You can also drag a window toward the top of the screen to maximise it.
For users who only need occasional left/right splits and don't mind using the mouse, the built-in option is convenient because it requires no installation.
Limitations
- No keyboard shortcuts — everything is mouse-driven
- No thirds, quarters, or corner snapping
- No multi-monitor window-moving shortcuts
- No size cycling or custom fractions
How Rectangle helps
Rectangle App fills every gap the built-in system leaves. A full keyboard shortcut for every snap position, thirds and quarters out of the box, multi-display shortcuts, and a cycling-sizes option that multiplies effective layouts from one shortcut.
Importantly, Rectangle and macOS built-in snapping don't conflict — you can use either or both.
Install Rectangle even if you use macOS built-in snapping — the keyboard shortcut layer alone saves significant time every day.
Frequently asked questions
When did Mac add window snapping?
macOS Sequoia (released autumn 2024) introduced the traffic-light hover tiling menu and drag-to-snap-zone behaviour.
Does Mac have Windows-style Snap Assist?
macOS built-in snapping is simpler than Windows Snap Assist — no shortcut triggers and fewer layout zones. Rectangle App is the closest macOS equivalent to the full Windows Snap experience.
Can I snap to thirds natively on Mac?
No — native macOS snapping doesn't support thirds. Install Rectangle for left, centre, and right third shortcuts.