Free fix

How to save and restore window layouts on Mac

Arrange your windows for coding, writing or a meeting once, then put them all back with one shortcut.

Short answer

macOS 15 Sequoia can tile and center windows, but can’t save an arrangement. MacFixes saves layouts you can bring back with a shortcut, and resizes a window to an exact size.

Free in MacFixes.

What macOS gives you

Since macOS 15 Sequoia, Window → Move & Resize tiles the front window to halves and corners, arranges two or three windows together, and centers a window (Fn-Control-C). Stage Manager groups apps into sets. There’s no way to save where all your windows are and restore it, or to set a window to an exact size.

How MacFixes fixes it

  1. 1
    Turn on the fix
    Open MacFixes Settings → Windows and turn on “Window layouts” (or type its name into Search for a fix).
  2. 2
    Allow Accessibility
    macOS asks for Accessibility permission so MacFixes can move and resize other apps’ windows.
  3. 3
    Save and apply
    Arrange your windows, click Save Current Layout and name it. Give it a shortcut, or apply it from the menu bar panel. It can hide apps that aren’t part of the layout.
DownloadmacOS 14 Sonoma or later · free

Permissions, and turning it off

“Window layouts” needs macOS’s Accessibility permission. macOS asks you, and you allow it once.

  • Accessibility lets an app see and work the windows, menus and buttons of other apps, and click or type for you. You can see it, and take it back, in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

To stop using it, open MacFixes Settings → Windows and use the switch on the “Window layouts” row.

Questions

Can I resize a window to 1920 × 1080?

Yes. Resize the front window to 1280 × 800, 1440 × 900, 1920 × 1080 or a custom size, each with an optional shortcut — handy before a screen recording.

Does it put windows back on other desktops?

No. Windows go back on the current desktop, because macOS doesn’t let apps choose a desktop.

More fixes macOS doesn’t give you

Resize a window to an exact size›Snap windows›Close all apps and restore them later›Switch between windows, not just apps›

One of 47 fixes and 10 apps in MacFixes. Every fix · Every app · Something else your Mac won’t do? Request it.

Save and restore window layouts with MacFixes

MacFixes has 47 fixes for things macOS gets wrong or leaves out. Add only the ones you want. This one is free. macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

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