You may remember the Windows 7 marketing campaign where they kept accentuating the snap method of splitting your screen when using two different programs. By dragging a program to the left it would automatically reshape your window to take up the left half of your screen. Then you can do the same thing to another program on the right side. This way you can easily use both programs simultaneously. Writing a paper? Have Safari open on the left side and Microsoft Word on the right.

Microsoft calls this Windows Snapping. You can also drag a window to the top and it will maximize automatically. Now you can bring Windows Snapping to Mac!

By downloading an application called BetterTouchTool you can bring the Windows Snapping features to your Mac. It is such a breeze to use and makes life a lot simpler when you’re trying to get work done. I also love how easy it is to maximize a window by dragging the program up. The best part is that BetterTouchTool is simple to set up and it’s free!

Here is a video of BetterTouchTool in action.



How to Install BetterTouchTool

Download BetterTouchTool from CNet.com. (CNet is a very trustworthy site to download applications from. No annoying pop-ups or spyware.) Here is the download link: BetterTouchTool Once it’s downloaded it drag the icon onto your dock. Now, two-finger click it (or ctrl + click) to open the submenu. Hover over options and make sure the ‘Open at Login’ option has a checkmark next to it. If not check it. Now click on the icon to open it. Click on the ‘Action Settings (Windows Snapping etc.)’ button on the top. Make sure ‘Windows Snapping Enabled’ is checked along with everything under ‘While dragging a window normally.’ On the right side make sure everything under ‘While using predefined actions start/stop moving:’ is also checked. Finally, click the ‘Settings’ button on the top and make sure ‘Launch BetterTouchTool on startup’ is checked.

Now you should be good to go. You now have Windows Snapping on your Mac! Enjoy =)

Post any questions or comments.

–@Darryl_Brian