If you’re the kind of Mac user who works with multiple displays or frequently switches between setups, you may have experienced the frustration of constantly rearranging your windows every time you reconnect a monitor or restart your system. The Stay Mac app by Cordless Dog is a powerful utility built specifically to handle these annoyances. It remembers and restores window positions with astonishing accuracy, ensuring your desktop remains just the way you like it.
Table of Contents
TL;DR — Summary
Stay is an essential app for Mac users who work with multiple monitors or frequently move between different display configurations. It saves your window positions and recalls them instantly, letting you focus on work instead of resizing and rearranging windows. Though it’s a simple tool at first glance, it offers advanced features like per-app rules and AppleScript support.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything from installation to pro tips to make the most out of Stay.
What is Stay?
Stay is a lightweight macOS utility designed to maintain your ideal window arrangement. It captures window positions and sizes across app windows, so you can restore them at any time—even after disconnecting external displays or rebooting your system. For users with multiple monitors, this is a lifesaver.
Stay is a must-have if you:
- Use external monitors (especially with a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air).
- Switch between workstations (e.g., office, home, and mobile setups).
- Rely on a specific arrangement of windows for productivity.
Installing Stay
Installing Stay is straightforward:
- Visit the official website: cordlessdog.com/stay
- Download the app.
- Drag it into your Applications folder.
- Launch it and grant necessary permissions (like accessibility or screen recording, if prompted).
Once Stay is running, it will appear in your menu bar.
Capturing Your Window Layout
The core feature of Stay is saving your current window layout, and restoring it whenever you need it. Here’s how to do it:
- Arrange your windows exactly how you want them.
- Click the Stay icon in the menu bar.
- Select Store Windows for All Applications or choose a specific app from the list.
You can now remove or reconnect monitors, reboot, or open new applications—Stay will restore your saved layout with a single click.
Restoring Layouts
To restore your saved layouts, simply return to the menu bar Stay icon and choose Restore Windows. You can also restore windows for specific apps individually. It’s instantaneous and works like magic—even if an app was closed, Stay can reopen it (depending on your system and app permissions).
Using Layout Profiles
If you use multiple setups (for example, one display at home and two at the office), Stay allows you to create profiles for each:
- Go to Preferences from the menu bar.
- Create new layouts based on your current display configurations.
- Stay will auto-detect your display setup and apply the correct window layout.
This feature alone can save hours of productivity over time, making transitions seamless between different work environments.
Per-Application Window Rules
If you prefer more granular control, Stay allows you to create individual window rules for specific apps. Right-click on an app in Stay’s window and set:
- Exact window size and position
- Which display to place the window on
- Whether the window should be automatically restored when the app is opened
This is particularly useful for users who want, for example, their email client to always appear in the bottom-left corner of their second screen, while Slack stays top-right on the main display.
Automating with AppleScript
For those with a programming background or who enjoy automation, Stay offers AppleScript support. This means you can:
- Automatically apply layouts on login
- Switch configurations based on time of day
- Integrate window restoration with other automation tools like Keyboard Maestro or Alfred
Example AppleScript:
tell application "Stay"
store all windows
end tell
This simple line tells Stay to store the current layout—automate this as part of your login or workspace setup flow.
Tips to Maximize Stay’s Effectiveness
- Use keyboard shortcuts: Set custom key combos to call up different layouts quickly.
- Keep layouts updated: If you rearrange your workspace, remember to resave the new layout so it doesn’t revert next time you restore.
- Combine with Spaces: While Spaces (macOS virtual desktops) don’t directly integrate with Stay, strategic use can further optimize multitasking—just restore windows then assign them to particular Spaces manually.
Limitations
While Stay is extremely powerful, it does have a few quirks:
- Some apps may resist window control due to system restrictions or sandboxing (e.g., system preferences, some games).
- macOS System Integrity Protection (SIP) may block certain features unless appropriate permissions are granted.
- Window restoration may be slightly offset due to differences in display resolutions and scaling.
Is Stay Worth It?
Absolutely, if window arrangement is a part of your daily routine. For developers, designers, traders, writers, or anyone who juggles multiple apps and windows, the time savings is measurable. The app respects your workspace and keeps your productivity flow intact.
Alternatives to Stay
If for some reason Stay doesn’t meet your needs, here are some alternatives worth exploring:
- Moom — Excellent for on-the-fly window sizing and snapping but lacks persistent layout saving.
- Magnet — Focused on tiling and splitting windows rather than layout memory.
- Display Maid — Similar to Stay, with layout-saving features but less scripting flexibility.
Still, for layout preservation across changing setups, Stay remains the top-tier solution.
Final Thoughts
Window clutter can drain focus and sap productivity. Stay acts like a digital assistant for your workspace, ensuring that no matter how often you plug in, unplug, switch desks, or reboot, your windows return right where you left them—ready for action. With powerful features like display-based configuration, per-app rules, and automation via AppleScript, Stay isn’t just a convenience—it’s a productivity upgrade.
Give it a try. Set up your ideal workspace once—and never worry about it again.
