Rectangle – Window Management for macOS

Master Window Management on Mac with Rectangle

Rectangle has become the essential window management utility for macOS users who need more control over application positioning than Apple’s built-in tools provide. This free, open-source application brings the keyboard-driven window snapping and tiling functionality familiar from Windows and Linux desktop environments to the Mac, addressing a long-standing gap in macOS usability that Apple has been slow to fill completely.

The application succeeds through focused execution of a single purpose: making window arrangement fast and effortless. Rather than attempting to be a comprehensive desktop customization tool, Rectangle excels at window management through thoughtful keyboard shortcuts, sensible defaults, and just enough customization to accommodate different preferences without overwhelming users with options.

Core Window Management

Keyboard Shortcuts

Rectangle’s primary interface consists of keyboard shortcuts that instantly position windows in common arrangements. Half-screen positioning places windows on the left or right half of the display, enabling side-by-side work with two applications. Quarter-screen positioning fills corners for four-application arrangements. Full-screen maximization fills the display without entering macOS full-screen mode.

The default shortcuts use consistent patterns that become intuitive quickly. Control-Option-Arrow keys handle directional movements, while additional modifiers access alternative sizes. The logical shortcut structure reduces memorization burden compared to arbitrary key combinations.

Window Snapping

Drag-to-snap functionality positions windows by dragging them to screen edges or corners. Dragging to the left edge triggers left-half positioning, while corners trigger quarter-screen placement. This mouse-driven approach complements keyboard shortcuts for users who prefer direct manipulation.

Snap zones display during dragging to indicate where release will position the window. The visual feedback prevents uncertainty about resulting positions. Zone sensitivity adjusts to balance ease of triggering against accidental activation.

Size Cycling

Repeated shortcut presses cycle through alternative sizes for the same position. Pressing the left-half shortcut cycles between half, two-thirds, and one-third widths. This cycling enables accessing multiple sizes through single shortcuts rather than requiring dedicated keys for each variation.

The cycling behavior adapts to workflow patterns. Users who consistently prefer two-thirds widths will find that size becoming the default after the initial cycle. This learning reduces keystrokes for common arrangements.

Multi-Monitor Support

Cross-Display Movement

Rectangle handles multiple displays through shortcuts that move windows between screens. Windows maintain their proportional size and position when crossing displays, adapting to different resolutions appropriately. This behavior enables consistent workflows across varied monitor configurations.

Display movement shortcuts integrate with positioning shortcuts, enabling combined operations. Moving to the next display’s left half combines two actions into single shortcut sequences. This efficiency accumulates into significant time savings for multi-monitor users.

Display-Specific Positioning

Window positions interpret relative to the current display rather than the overall desktop space. Left-half means left half of whichever display contains the window. This display-relative approach matches user intent better than absolute positioning across multiple monitors.

Customization Options

Shortcut Configuration

Every Rectangle action can have its keyboard shortcut customized or disabled. Users with conflicting shortcuts from other applications can reassign without losing functionality. The shortcut configuration interface shows current bindings and handles conflict detection.

Import and export of shortcut configurations enables sharing setups between machines or users. Teams can standardize on common bindings for consistency. The configuration file uses human-readable format for manual editing when desired.

Behavior Settings

Settings control Rectangle’s behavior beyond basic positioning. Gap spacing adds margins between windows and screen edges, accommodating aesthetic preferences or reducing accidental overlapping edges. Almost-maximize leaves small margins rather than filling displays entirely.

Application-specific settings exclude certain apps from Rectangle control or apply special handling. Some applications manage their own windows in ways that conflict with external positioning. The exclusion capability prevents these conflicts while maintaining functionality elsewhere.

Alternative Layouts

Rectangle Pro, the paid upgrade, adds additional layout options including custom sizes, named layouts, and more sophisticated multi-window arrangements. The free version provides complete basic functionality while the Pro tier addresses advanced requirements.

Technical Implementation

Accessibility Permissions

Rectangle requires macOS accessibility permissions to manipulate windows of other applications. The initial setup prompts for permission grant, after which the application operates without further interaction. The permission request reflects macOS security requirements rather than unusual data access.

Menu Bar Presence

A menu bar icon provides access to actions, preferences, and shortcuts reference. The menu serves users who haven’t memorized all shortcuts or need occasional access to less-common actions. The icon can hide for users who prefer keyboard-only interaction.

Resource Efficiency

Rectangle maintains minimal resource usage through efficient implementation. The application monitors for keyboard shortcuts and window movements without continuous processing. Memory usage remains low, and CPU impact is negligible during normal operation.

Comparison with Alternatives

macOS Built-in Features

macOS Sequoia introduced window tiling similar to Rectangle’s functionality. However, Rectangle provides more positioning options, customizable shortcuts, and cycling through sizes that Apple’s implementation lacks. Users wanting more control than system features provide find Rectangle worthwhile despite native alternatives.

Magnet and Other Paid Apps

Rectangle began as an open-source alternative to the paid application Spectacle, which had been discontinued. Compared to Magnet and similar commercial offerings, Rectangle provides equivalent functionality without cost. The open-source nature enables community contributions and transparency about behavior.

Tiling Window Managers

Full tiling window managers like Amethyst provide more aggressive automatic window arrangement. Rectangle maintains the traditional overlapping window model while adding efficient positioning. Users preferring complete tiling find dedicated managers more suitable, while those wanting enhanced traditional behavior prefer Rectangle’s approach.

Use Cases

Development Workflows

Developers benefit from quick arrangements of editor, terminal, browser, and documentation windows. The ability to instantly configure half-screen or quarter-screen arrangements without precise mouse positioning accelerates context switching. Keyboard-driven operation maintains focus on code rather than window management.

Content Creation

Creative workflows often involve reference material alongside editing applications. Rectangle enables positioning reference images, videos, or documents alongside creative tools. The margin settings help maintain visual separation between working and reference areas.

Multi-Tasking

General productivity benefits from organized window arrangements. Email alongside documents, communication tools alongside work applications, or monitoring dashboards alongside primary work become manageable through quick positioning. The reduced friction of window management compounds into substantial productivity gains.

Installation Methods

Direct Download

The primary installation method downloads the application directly from the official website. The download provides a standard macOS application bundle that drags to the Applications folder. Auto-update capabilities maintain current versions after initial installation.

Homebrew Installation

Homebrew users can install Rectangle through the cask system. The command brew install –cask rectangle handles download and installation through familiar package manager workflows. Updates integrate with normal Homebrew maintenance routines.

Open Source Development

GitHub Repository

Rectangle’s source code resides on GitHub under the MIT license. The open availability enables code review, contributions, and forking for custom modifications. Issues and feature requests process through GitHub’s project management features.

Community Contributions

The project accepts contributions for bug fixes, features, and translations. The development process maintains code quality while welcoming community involvement. Contributors have added localization support, new actions, and platform compatibility improvements.

Transparent Development

Open development provides confidence about application behavior and data handling. Users concerned about security can review the code rather than trusting binary applications from unknown sources. The transparency supports adoption in security-conscious environments.

Rectangle exemplifies focused software that solves a specific problem exceptionally well. For macOS users frustrated by inefficient window arrangement or those transitioning from operating systems with better built-in tiling support, Rectangle provides essential functionality that Apple has yet to match. The combination of capable features, thoughtful defaults, and open-source availability makes it an easy recommendation for anyone seeking better window management on Mac.