#HOW TO MAC WINDOWS LOOK LIKE MAC OS WINDOWS#

It is a great blend of the Microsoft and Apple worlds. It changes cutting and opening files to Windows’ style, and adds a ton of other helpful Finder tweaks, from an unlimited clipboard and custom labeling to a dual-panel view and extra menu commands.

#HOW TO MAC WINDOWS LOOK LIKE MAC OS WINDOWS#

To get things like that back to the Windows way of working, use XtraFinder. Pressing Return in Windows opens a selected file in MacOS, it lets you rename the file. For instance, there’s no Cut option when you right-click a file in Finder - if you want to move a file, you have to copy it, then press Command+Option+V instead of the normal Command+V. Windows 10’s File Explorer and MacOS’ Finder are fairly similar, but there are some small differences that can really trip you up. You can use custom shortcuts to switch between apps, windows, and tabs, change the layout of the app switcher on your screen, switch apps using a Spotlight-style search or menu bar button, and much more. This app does not just bring back the Windows method of app switching, but gives you a ton of extra options, down to the finest detail. On MacOS, the similarly placed Command+Tab cycles between open apps if you want to switch between your open windows, you need to use Command+`, which messes with your muscle memory. On Windows, Alt+Tab cycles between the open windows of your apps. When I first switched from Windows to MacOS, the thing that took me the longest to get used to was app switching. All that for a mere $3 makes it a great bargain. You can assign keyboard shortcuts, change how windows resize, and even alter what each window’s traffic light buttons do when you right-click or middle-click on them. What makes it stand apart, though, is the wealth of customization options it offers. Like the Windows snapping feature, BetterSnapTool is incredibly simple to use. MacOS does not really have an equivalent - Split View gets halfway there, but is not nearly as good as what Windows has.

Just drag a window to any edge of the screen and it will automatically snap to that side and fill the space accordingly. One of my favorite Windows features is its in-built window snapping. These add some of Windows’ most useful functionality, while retaining the classic Mac visual style, making ActiveDock a good compromise between the two systems. If you miss Windows 10’s look, two of the ActiveDock’s most useful features lets you add a Start menu to the Dock, as well as previews of open apps. This ranges from visual tweaks to wide-ranging overhauls of how the Dock works, so it should come in handy no matter what you have in mind. This keeps the Dock but adds a ton of customization, so you can style it up in a way that suits you. If uBar is not quite your style, ActiveDock is a good alternative. It even adds window previews when you hover over open apps, just like in Windows. You can keep things simple and add functionality to Apple’s default Dock, or replace it entirely with a Windows-style taskbar, complete with bars showing your currently open windows. It brings a new level of customization to the Dock. If you feel the same way, give uBar a go. While MacOS merges your app icons and open windows into a single Dock button, Windows differentiates them, making app management a little bit easier. In the clash between the Mac dock and Windows 10’s taskbar, I’ve always preferred the latter.

If you miss the Windows Start menu, this is the app for you. They are all categorized by type, and you can add tags and colors to help sort your items.

It can list your installed apps just like the Windows equivalent, as well as files, folders, and even URLs. This Mac app adds a drop-down list to the Mac’s menu bar. If you are using MacOS but prefer the Windows Start menu, try the aptly named Start on your Mac. Apple’s operating system uses a variety of methods to launch apps, from Launchpad’s grid of app icons to Spotlight search.

The Start menu is one of the best-loved and most distinctive features of Windows, so it would be natural to miss its presence if you have just switched to Mac. Either way, they all help make your Mac look and feel more like Windows. Some of the solutions we have rounded up in this article mimic Windows 10’s behavior closely, while others add Windows functionality while retaining the Mac’s Apple flavor.

Bonus tip: Sort folders on top in Finder.

How to mac windows look like mac os