I’ve always been a little bemused by operating system fanboys (because there is such a thing) making a fuss about a feature from one system being copied by another. Every time Android or iOS implements a feature the other did first, fans on either side are indignant.
That makes no sense to me, because a good feature is a good feature, and everyone should have it. The only thing that would annoy me is why it took so long. So it is for the new Grab and Move feature on Windows, which is a favorite of power users of Linux.
Windows is finally getting a Linux-style window manager trick
There’s no going back
While most people think of the Linux terminal, when you bring up Linux, like most modern computer users, you’ll spend almost all your time interacting with graphical windows when using this open-source OS. Each of the major operating systems use a window-centric desktop paradigm, and they all have slightly different ways of making it easier to manage them.
On Linux, using popular desktop environments like KDE or GNOME, you can move a window by clicking anywhere within that window. All you have to do is hold down a modifier key on your keyboard. Usually this is either the Alt key or the “Super” key, which is, of course, the WIndows key, but they can’t call it that.
It might not sound like much, but not having to aim for the title bar specifically saves a lot of time and tedium. Likewise, you can also use a modifier key to resize a window by clicking anywhere inside it. No infuriating micro-movements to grab the razor-thin edges we get in modern operating systems.
Now, I must note that, technically, Windows does not have this feature built-in. To access it, you need to install Microsoft PowerToys. This is an official Microsoft feature, just not part of the main Windows update path or feature set. I’ve said it before, but it still blows my mind that all the good features are in PowerToys, when they should just come with Windows by default. Even if they aren’t enabled by default.
PowerToys comes with many amazing tweaks besides the one we’re discussing here, so it’s absolutely worth installing regardless of your window management preferences. I’ve already replaced several third-party apps with PowerToys, and some utilities like the File Locksmith are literally crucial to have, in my opinion.
- Brand
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Apple
- Operating System
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macOS
The MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro chip is Apple’s most affordable laptop yet, with all-day battery life and buttery-smooth performance in a thin and light profile.
How to enable grab and move in PowerToys
One toggle that will change your (Windows) life
If Grab and Move sounds like something you need in your life, here’s how to get it working, assuming that you’ve already downloaded and installed PowerToys.
Open PowerToys, and then search for “Grab and Move” in the app, opening it when you see it. Switch the feature toggle to “On” and it will immediately start working. There are some other settings you can play with if you like.
I suggest changing the modifier key from Alt to the Windows keys. There are quite a lot of programs that use Alt in keyboard shortcuts, while Windows key shortcuts are native to Windows. So you’re less likely to run into conflicts.
- Weight
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4.97oz
- Color Options
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Graphite, Pale Grey
The Logitech MX Master 3S takes a great mouse and makes it even better. Keeping the comfortable form factor that will fit the needs of every user, as long as they’re not left-handed.
The little usability improvements that make a huge difference
This feature is a little like disabling pointless animations on Windows. It might only save you a few fractions of a second here and there, but it all adds up. Most importantly, it improves the experience of Windows immensely. It prevents your flow from being broken and, in my experience, makes you more productive.
Eventually, holding that key with your thumb becomes second nature, and you don’t even notice it. If I have any complaints, it would be that I’d like more options for the modifier. My MX Master 3S mouse has a bunch of buttons I could use for that purpose. I can still just do it using the Logitech software for my mouse, but a native solution would be nice so that it could work with any mouse.
The old way to grab a window feels outdated now
In some ways, Windows is a victim of its own success. Although Microsoft has promised to make some radical changes, there haven’t been a lot of impetuses to change things that work OK, but not great. The old way of moving windows around made a lot of sense in the early days when a computer could barely run two or three programs at the same time, but that’s long in the past. My laptop has 24 CPU cores for crying out loud! I have multiple desktops and dozens of windows open at any given moment, and I suspect you do too.
Maybe it’s because Linux users faced this situation much earlier than the average Windows user, and so they had to work out a solution. Luckily for the folks at Redmond, this is another thing they could simply copy and paste from the Pengion Faction. So what should they copy next?