For Macs that dock and undock
Plug in. Everything's exactly where you left it.
Every time you connect or disconnect a monitor, macOS scatters your windows. Anchor remembers where everything goes on each setup and puts it all back in about a second.
How it works
Set it up once. Actually, don't set it up at all.
Anchor runs quietly in your menu bar and learns as you work.
It recognizes each desk
Every monitor has a hardware ID. Anchor uses them to tell "office, two monitors" from "home, one monitor" from "laptop only", even after a reboot or if you swap cables.
It learns your layout
Arrange your windows the way you like on each setup. Anchor quietly remembers where every window lives. There's no snapshot to take and nothing to configure.
It puts everything back
The moment you dock or undock, Anchor moves every window back into place, usually before you've reached for the mouse. Then it gets out of your way.
Features
Small app, one job, done well.
A profile for every setup
Home, Office, Laptop only, Coffee shop. Created automatically and named from your monitors. Rename them from the menu bar.
Restore shortcut
Moved things around? Press ⌃⌥⌘R to snap every window back to the saved layout, any time.
Lock a layout
Found the perfect arrangement? Lock it, and Anchor stops learning and always restores exactly that.
Never move list
Keep Zoom, games or anything else out of it, everywhere or just on one setup.
Open missing apps
Optionally, when you sit down at your desk, Anchor opens the apps that belong there and puts them in place.
Won't fight you
Anchor only acts when a display connects or disconnects, or when you ask. Move a window yourself and it stays there.
About the Accessibility permission. macOS only lets an app move other apps' windows through its Accessibility API, so Anchor asks for it, just like Rectangle, Magnet or Moom.
Anchor uses it to read and set window positions, and nothing else. It never sees what's inside your windows, and your layouts never leave your Mac.
Pricing
Pay once. Use it on 3 Macs.
No subscription and no account. Try everything free for 7 days first.
Anchor license
Launch price: left, then .
- All features, on up to 3 Macs
- Free updates for version 1
- Works offline after activation
- 14-day refund, no questions asked
Secure checkout by Polar. Your key appears right after payment and arrives by email.
Free trial
Try it on your own desk
Download Anchor and use every feature for 7 days. No card, no account. If you buy later, just paste your key, and your learned layouts are all still there.
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Apple silicon and Intel
- Signed and notarized by Apple
Get 50% back. Post a short clip of Anchor snapping your windows back. Once it hits 2,000 views, we refund half. How cashback works
FAQ
Questions, answered honestly.
Why does Anchor need Accessibility permission?
macOS only lets an app move another app's windows through the Accessibility API, so every window manager (Rectangle, Magnet, Moom) asks for it. Anchor uses it to read window positions and put them back, nothing else. It doesn't read what's inside your windows, and nothing leaves your Mac.
Why isn't it on the Mac App Store?
App Store apps run in a sandbox that blocks the Accessibility API, so no app that moves other apps' windows can be sold there. Anchor is signed and notarized by Apple, and you download it from this site.
How does Anchor tell my setups apart?
Each monitor reports a vendor, model and serial number. Anchor combines those with the arrangement to recognize "office", "home" or "laptop only", even if you plug the cables into different ports or reboot.
Will it fight me if I move a window?
No. Anchor only moves windows when a display connects or disconnects, or when you press the restore shortcut. Move anything by hand and it stays put, and Anchor learns the new spot.
Does it handle Spaces and full-screen apps?
Version 1 restores position and size on your current Spaces, and leaves full-screen and minimized windows alone. Putting windows back on the right Space is planned for a later update.
Does it work with browsers that have many windows?
Yes, mostly. Anchor matches windows by title and order. Apps with several untitled windows, or titles that change constantly, are matched as well as possible, and anything it isn't sure about is left where it is.
Which Macs and monitors does it support?
macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon or Intel. Monitors connected over USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI or a dock all work, because Anchor uses the same display information macOS shows in System Settings. Try it on your own setup with the free trial.
How does the free trial work?
Download Anchor and use every feature for 7 days. No account or card needed. After the trial, Anchor keeps learning your layouts but stops restoring them until you enter a license key, so nothing is lost when you buy.
How many Macs can I use it on?
Up to 3 Macs per license. You can move a license to another Mac any time from Anchor's Settings.
What if it isn't for me?
Email anchor@qubixcode.com within 14 days of buying and we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.