[Mac]: Keeping Your Application Window ‘Always On Top’

By Damien Oh | July 9, 2008 |

Aloat-logo What seems to be a simple task in Linux turns out to be almost impossible in Mac. One of my favorite feature in Ubuntu is the ability to keep some of my application windows ‘always on top’ so that I can refer to them easily. When I switched to Mac, it turns out that this feature is not available at all. Considering how user-friendly Mac Leopard is, I am quite disappointed that this feature is not available by default. Luckily, Afloat from Infinite Labs manage to the tackle the problem.

Afloat is a donation-ware that allows you to set your application windows ‘always on top’ and keep afloat on top of all others. In addition, there are some sweet surprises, such as making your window transparent or turn the window into a translucent overlay so you can access to several windows in one glance. (It reminds me of the transparent feature in Linux Compiz)

The latest version of Afloat uses PlugSuit as its application manager. It is also compatible with SIMBL, an InputManager for managing application plugins.

Installing Afloat

Download Afloat here.

Double click to open the installer

afloat-installer

Install the app

afloat-installer

Now open your applications (such as Safari, iChat, iWork etc). Go to Window->Keep Afloat. Your current application window will now be always on top of other window.

Keep window afloat

Some screenshots:

Window in translucent mode

Afloat in overlay mode

Damien Oh is the owner and chief editor of Make Tech Easier

http://unico-lab.blogspot.com/ hilbert00

I just would like to say that unfortunately Aflot is not working with all applications, for example, Firefox, Finder, Aquamacs…

http://www.buynowhome.com/ Sara

try fiwi

http://unico-lab.blogspot.com hilbert00

I just would like to say that unfortunately Aflot is not working with all applications, for example, Firefox, Finder, Aquamacs…

http://www.buynowhome.com Sara

try fiwi

http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

@hilbert00: Yes it’s true that it does not work with all applications, but it seeems that this is the only application around that can make an application ‘Always on top’…
http://maketecheasier.com Damien

@hilbert00: Yes it’s true that it does not work with all applications, but it seeems that this is the only application around that can make an application ‘Always on top’…
http://unico-lab.blogspot.com hilbert00

I’m really quite surprised about this. I’m also a former linux user and for me was quite normal to keep my IM window on top of the browser for example.

For the Mac, it looks like everybody is switching from on app to the other continuously or they all have huge display to show all windows at a time.

thanks!
http://unico-lab.blogspot.com/ hilbert00

I’m really quite surprised about this. I’m also a former linux user and for me was quite normal to keep my IM window on top of the browser for example.

For the Mac, it looks like everybody is switching from on app to the other continuously or they all have huge display to show all windows at a time.

thanks!
http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

@hibert00: It seems that none of the Mac users have discovered the beauty of keeping the application “Always on top” yet. Wait till they try out Linux, they will then understand how inefficient it is to switch from one app to another.
http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

@hibert00: It seems that none of the Mac users have discovered the beauty of keeping the application “Always on top” yet. Wait till they try out Linux, they will then understand how inefficient it is to switch from one app to another.
http://maketecheasier.com Damien

@hibert00: It seems that none of the Mac users have discovered the beauty of keeping the application “Always on top” yet. Wait till they try out Linux, they will then understand how inefficient it is to switch from one app to another.
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Christopher M

Very nice, thank you!!
Christopher M

Very nice, thank you!!
Huge

Anyone knows how to get an older version? Like one that would work on Tiger?

Thanks.
Huge

Anyone knows how to get an older version? Like one that would work on Tiger?

Thanks.
http://www.buynowhome.com/ Sara

I found this great app. to keep two applications open at the same time. You can keep iweb, safari,yahoo messenger and finder open. It’s called FIWI just google it. It’s only .99c
http://www.buynowhome.com Sara

I found this great app. to keep two applications open at the same time. You can keep iweb, safari,yahoo messenger and finder open. It’s called FIWI just google it. It’s only .99c
cody

Unfortunately Afloat does not work with Snow Leopard (yet?), hopefully that will be fixed soon. I don’t understand Apple not realizing the importance of the “always on top” feature, especially when one window (like a video tutorial) absolutely needs to be on top of all the others in a work situation. This is a feature I use a lot in linux, it’s difficult to adjust in OS-X by not having it.

http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

I totally agree with you. Not only Mac OSX, even Windows does not has any native “keep on top” function.
Joss

You can use window shade instead I am using it on Snow Leopard so far no problems.

http://unsanity.com/haxies/wsx

It works off customisable keyboard shortcuts, which for me is more convenient, and it does the same things as afloat as far as I can see

http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

That seems like an useful app. I will check it out.

cody

Unfortunately Afloat does not work with Snow Leopard (yet?), hopefully that will be fixed soon. I don’t understand Apple not realizing the importance of the “always on top” feature, especially when one window (like a video tutorial) absolutely needs to be on top of all the others in a work situation. This is a feature I use a lot in linux, it’s difficult to adjust in OS-X by not having it.

http://maketecheasier.com Damien

I totally agree with you. Not only Mac OSX, even Windows does not has any native “keep on top” function.
Joss

You can use window shade instead I am using it on Snow Leopard so far no problems.

http://unsanity.com/haxies/wsx

It works off customisable keyboard shortcuts, which for me is more convenient, and it does the same things as afloat as far as I can see

http://maketecheasier.com Damien

That seems like an useful app. I will check it out.

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Afloat.on.Snow.Leopard

you can get Afloat to work in Snow Leopard.
you have to do a little manual installation.

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=105167

install SIMBL
then manually copy Afloat.bundle to
~user/Library/Application Support/SIMBL/Plugins
restart your mac

Go see this URL for more detail:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=105167
Afloat.on.Snow.Leopard

you can get Afloat to work in Snow Leopard.
you have to do a little manual installation.

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=105167

install SIMBL
then manually copy Afloat.bundle to
~user/Library/Application Support/SIMBL/Plugins
restart your mac

Go see this URL for more detail:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=105167
clare

With Afloat, can you also “keep window to background” like in Linux??

Pleeeease please Apple release these functions in your next update!! :)

http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

@clare: Yes, but it only works for applications that use the cocoa framework.

clare

With Afloat, can you also “keep window to background” like in Linux??

Pleeeease please Apple release these functions in your next update!! :)

http://maketecheasier.com Damien

@clare: Yes, but it only works for applications that use the cocoa framework.

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[Mac]: Keeping Your Application Window ‘Always On Top’

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