Settings Reference

Start BetterStage automatically when you log in to macOS. Uses the native SMAppService launch-at-login mechanism.

Automatically switch to a stage when one of its windows gains focus. For example, if you click a window that belongs to Stage 2 while Stage 1 is active, BetterStage switches to Stage 2 automatically.

Moving the cursor to the center section of the top edge reveals the stages bar. Useful if you prefer mouse-driven stage switching or drag-and-drop stage assignment.

How long the cursor needs to rest at a screen edge before the hot edge fires (0.0 – 2.0 seconds). Increase if you keep triggering edges by accident while moving windows; drop it to zero for instant activation.

When you send a window to another stage, BetterStage also switches to that stage automatically.

Keeps Cmd+` cycling scoped to windows from the current app that are on the active stage, instead of cycling through every window for that app across all stages.

Choose between multi-square indicators that show all stages as small squares in the menu bar, or classic text that displays the active stage name.

Choose the AI provider and enter the connection details BetterStage should use when analyzing open windows. OpenAI works with the official API and compatible providers such as Groq or OpenRouter.

Adjust how conservative or creative the model should be when it groups your windows. Lower values keep suggestions more stable.

Tell BetterStage how you want windows grouped, such as keeping chat apps on a side monitor or pairing project docs with your editor. These instructions are applied on top of the built-in staging rules.

Pick which mode a newly created stage starts in on each monitor: macOS Native, Bento Box, or Tabbed Layout Mode. Each monitor in each stage can still be changed afterwards from the Snap Wheel or the BetterStage menu bar.

When a new stage is created with Tabbed Layout Mode as its default, this preset is loaded automatically. Manage presets from the layout editor in the same pane — see Layout Presets.

Number of columns and rows in the Bento Box grid. Both must be even numbers between 2 and 16. On vertically rotated monitors, columns and rows are swapped automatically.

Pixel gap between tiled windows in Bento Box and between panes in Tabbed Layout Mode. Set to 0 for edge-to-edge.

Configure one or more triggers to activate the snap wheel. All active triggers work simultaneously. Click Add Trigger to choose from presets or record a custom combo. Each trigger can be set to hold or toggle mode independently.

Default trigger: middle-click anywhere (toggle). Presets include Ctrl+Opt hold, middle-click hold, left-click drag on title bar, Opt+drag near title bar, and 4- or 5-finger trackpad taps and clicks.

Defaults are 8 slots on the inner ring, 8 on the outer ring, and 9 in the More Actions submenu. Each ring or submenu can be resized to between 1 and 12 slots from the layout editor. Choose between Liquid Glass and Classic styles, and tint the inner ring slices and outer disc independently. Pick custom SF Symbol icons for any slot. See Snap Wheel customization.

Enable keyboard and edge-drag snap zones. When active, dragging a window to the edge of a screen or using keyboard shortcuts snaps it to predefined zones (halves, quarters, thirds, etc.).

Exclude from Stages

Apps whose windows are always visible, regardless of which stage is active. Useful for note-taking, chat, or password managers you want everywhere.

Float in Window Modes

Apps that never participate in Bento Box or Tabbed Layout Mode. They float freely above the grid. Good for browser session-restore prompts, color pickers, and small utility windows. Can also be toggled from the Snap Wheel via Exclude App.

Popup Tiling

Apps whose secondary windows shouldn't be auto-tiled even when the monitor is in Bento Box mode — for example, preference panels or sheet-style dialogs.

Reserve space around the edges of each monitor before BetterStage places tiled windows. Useful if you want breathing room around the menu bar, dock, or the outer edges of your layout.

Use Simple for one padding value on all sides, or switch to Custom to set independent top, bottom, left, and right padding.

Set the space between tiled windows. Increase it for more visual separation or drop it to zero for edge-to-edge tiling.