Mac OS Catalina: Arrange windows without any app, Catalina can snap windows to your will
Since macOS 10.15 Catalina in the menu bar, under “Window”, there are the following commands, some of them hidden and you have to show them by holding the option key (the green zoom button also shows them in a menu if you point there and hit command; and then also hold option). I have assigned the following shortcuts to them, to make them at hand:
- control option s: Zoom
- control option a: Move Window to Left Side of Screen
- control option d: Move Window to Right Side of Screen
After a window is moved to the right or left the follwoing command becomes available:
- control option z: Revert
If external displays are connected commands to move a window to them appear (I have 2 external monitors):
- shift control 1: Move to EV2736 (monitor names most likely will be different for you)
- shift control 2: Move to EV2750
- shift control 3: Move to Built-in Retina Display
How to install this shortcuts?
Option + decrease keyboard brightness key (F5) directly opens System Preferences » Keyboard, on a MacBook. Under the tab Shortcuts, select App Shortcuts in the sidebar. With the plus button you can add your own shortcuts for menu items for all applications. You have to type the Menu Title exactly and case-sensitive.
Limitations:
- Zoom doesn't maximize browser windows.
- Doesn’t work while in Safari text fields.
- Special characters are inserted if already snapped (in Safari text fields always).
- Some apps, like Apple Music, don’t have these menu items and so don’t work there.