Always on Top Mac: How to Pin Any Window
“Always on top� on a Mac means forcing a specific window to stay visible above all other windows, even when you click on another app. This guide explains the built-in and third-party ways to pin windows, how to use them, and how to fix common issues.
What “Always on Top� Means on macOS
Unlike Windows, macOS does not have a native per-window “always on top� toggle in the standard window controls. However, macOS offers a few built-in features that achieve a similar result, and several free and paid utilities add a dedicated pin button. The most common built-in method is to use the Hide Others command (Cmd+Option+H), which hides all other apps’ windows, making the current app’s window stay visible. This is not true “always on top� because clicking another app will bring its window forward, but it is useful for temporary focus.
Another built-in option is Mission Control’s “Spaces� feature, where you can assign an app to appear in every Space (System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > “Displays have separate Spaces� and then right-click an app’s Dock icon > Options > Assign To > All Desktops). This keeps the window visible when switching between full-screen apps, but not when you click on a different app’s window in the same Space.
For true “always on top� behavior, you need a third-party utility. The most popular free option is Rectangle (open-source) or BetterTouchTool (paid). These add a keyboard shortcut or a menu bar icon to pin any window.
How to Pin a Window Using Rectangle
Rectangle is a free, open-source window manager that adds a “Float� feature. Here’s how to use it:
- Download and install Rectangle from the official website (rectangleapp.com) or via Homebrew (
brew install --cask rectangle). - Open Rectangle from the Applications folder. It appears in the menu bar as a small rectangle icon.
- Click the icon, then select Float from the dropdown menu. This toggles the frontmost window to always stay on top.
- To unpin, click the icon again and select Float again, or press the default shortcut Cmd+Option+Space (you can change this in Rectangle’s preferences).
When a window is floated, it will stay above all other windows, even when you click on other apps. You can move and resize it normally. Note that Rectangle’s Float feature works per-window, not per-app.
How to Pin a Window Using BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool (BTT) is a paid utility (about $10) that offers extensive window management, including a “Pin Window� action. To set it up:
- Install BetterTouchTool from the official website (folivora.ai).
- Open BTT and go to the Window Management section.
- Click the “+� to add a new shortcut. Choose a keyboard shortcut, for example Cmd+Shift+P.
- In the action dropdown, select Pin Window.
- Now, with any window focused, press the shortcut to pin or unpin it.
BTT also allows you to create a “pin� button in the title bar of every window, if you prefer a mouse-based toggle.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Users often report that the pinned window disappears after a restart or after using full-screen mode. Here are typical issues and solutions:
- Window unpins after restart: Both Rectangle and BTT do not remember pinned windows by default. You need to re-pin after each login. Some utilities like Magnet (paid) also lack persistence. If you need persistence, consider a dedicated app like HazeOver (which dims background windows but does not pin) or Amethyst (open-source, but more complex).
- Pinned window goes behind full-screen apps: If you enter a full-screen app (green button), the pinned window will be hidden. To keep it visible, use the “All Desktops� assignment (as described above) and avoid full-screen mode.
- Pinned window does not stay above system dialogs: No third-party utility can force a window above macOS system alerts (like the Force Quit dialog) or the menu bar. This is a system limitation.
- Shortcut conflicts: If your pin shortcut does nothing, check that it is not already used by another app. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts to see common conflicts.
Alternatives to Third-Party Apps
If you prefer not to install anything, you have limited but free options:
- Cmd+Option+H – Hides all other apps, leaving only the current app’s windows visible. Clicking another app brings it back.
- Cmd+Option+M – Minimizes the current window, not helpful.
- Split View – Hold the green button to enter Split View, where two apps stay side by side. This is not “always on top� but keeps both visible.
- Picture-in-Picture – For videos, Safari and Chrome support PiP, which floats a video above other windows. This is built-in and works for any video with a PiP button.
How to Choose the Right Tool
Consider your needs:
- Free and simple: Rectangle is the best choice. It is open-source, lightweight, and does one thing well.
- Advanced customization: BetterTouchTool offers triggers, gestures, and per-app rules. Worth the price if you want deep control.
- No installation: Use Hide Others or Split View for basic needs.
- Persistent pins: If you need windows to stay pinned after reboot, you may need a script or a utility like Stay (paid) that restores window positions, but it does not pin. As of now, no mainstream free tool offers persistent pinning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does macOS have a built-in always-on-top feature?
No, macOS does not have a native per-window “always on top� toggle. The closest built-in options are Hide Others (Cmd+Option+H) and assigning an app to All Desktops, but neither works when you click on another app’s window.
Is Rectangle safe to use?
Yes, Rectangle is open-source and widely used. It does not require accessibility permissions for basic window management, but you may need to grant it Accessibility access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility to use the Float feature. This is normal and safe.
Can I pin a window on top of full-screen apps?
No, full-screen apps take over the entire screen and hide all other windows. Even with a pin utility, the pinned window will not appear over a full-screen app. Use Split View or a separate Space instead.
Why does my pinned window not stay on top after I click a different app?
This can happen if the utility is not running or the window lost its “float� status. Check that the utility is running (menu bar icon) and re-apply the Float command. Also, some apps like Photoshop have their own window layering that overrides system settings.
Is there a way to pin a window from the terminal?
Yes, you can use a command-line tool like yabai (open-source) to manage windows. For example, yabai -m window --toggle float will float the focused window. However, yabai requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) for full functionality, which is not recommended for most users.
Does always-on-top work with multiple monitors?
Yes, third-party utilities like Rectangle and BetterTouchTool work across multiple displays. The pinned window will stay on top regardless of which display you are using. You can also pin a window to a specific display using the utility’s settings.
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