Alt+click-drag window resizing on a Mac? (Similar to X-Windows)

Is there a way I can get this behavior on Mac OS?

1. alt + right-click-drag will resize the window, relative to where you've clicked within the window and the window's center

2. alt + left-click-drag will move the window, regardless of where you've clicked within the window.

There's a Windows port of this behavior as well:

4

8 Answers

Easy Move+Resize is a free and open source tool that does exactly that. I tested it first on El Capitan (update from 2022: it still works on Monterey).

Cmd + Ctrl + Left Mouse - anywhere inside a window, then drag to move

Cmd + Ctrl + Right Mouse - anywhere inside a window, then drag to resize

10

BetterTouchTool lets you do this. It's quite handy!

In BTT's prefs, click on the Settings button, the three dots at the top right.

Then select the "Window Snapping and Moving" item in the sidebar.

Tick the tickboxes for the keys you want to hold down for Moving and Resizing.

I selected all three: move, resize, and FN.

When I hold Function+Control the focused window will move when I slide around on the trackpad.

When I hold Function+Option the focused window will resize when I slide around on the trackpad.

I tested this on my macbook pro, OS X 10.6.5.

Note that you may get this message first time you try to actually move or resize a window:

Click "Launch it for me!", then check the box for "Enable access for assistive devices" - you're in business.

3

I found this the other day, might be useful:

Although not Alt + left-click-drag but this would give you Ctrl + Cmd + Click natively (High Sierra or later), no 3rd party app required:

Run this command in terminal to enable Ctrl + Cmd + Click in any window to move. Restart after.

# to add
defaults write -g NSWindowShouldDragOnGesture -bool true 

Run this command in terminal to remove this functionality. Restart after.

# to remove
defaults delete -g NSWindowShouldDragOnGesture

sourced from

4

Tried them all and they are not as good as Flexiglass.

• Afloat doesn't work with all applications (Firefox is one of them)
• Zooom doesn't allow you to use the right click button

is open source software with paid version for support.

Installing instructions:

brew tap finestructure/Hummingbird
brew install --cask Hummingbird

4

Try holding fn + option and then move your mouse (10.6.4 2010 MBP)

My old mac used to do it using just option key along (10.6.2 MBA)

Oh and try the window snapping function on BetterTouchTool. If you've not used that app, its the greatest thing to happen to Apple Trackpads (and Magic Mouse) > lets you configure over 40+ different gestures to lots of different commands!

And its free too

There is also Maxsnap (10 USD), which I found to be smoother in movement than BTT.

With the Afloat utility installed, holding control+Command moves a window.

6

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password Submit

Post as a guest

Post Your Answer Discard

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy