Amethyst is a free, open-source tiling window manager for macOS. It automatically arranges your open windows into neat, non-overlapping layouts, so you never need to drag or resize them by hand. It is modeled after xmonad, a popular tiling window manager on Linux, and it has been around longer than most other Mac tiling tools.

Key Features

• Automatic Tiling: Amethyst places your windows into layouts for you. When you open, close, or move a window, the layout updates on its own.
• Multiple Layouts: You can cycle through layouts like Tall, Wide, Column, Row, and Binary Space Partitioning, so you can pick the one that fits your workflow.
• Keyboard Driven: Amethyst comes with dozens of keyboard shortcuts to switch layouts, resize panes, move windows, and jump between screens.
• Multi-Monitor Support: You can focus or move windows across several screens using dedicated shortcuts for each display.
• Custom Layouts: Advanced users can build their own layouts with JavaScript.
• Free and Open Source: Amethyst is free forever under the MIT license, with no paid tier or subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Amethyst free?

Yes. Amethyst is completely free, with no paid version or subscription.

Is Amethyst open source?

Yes. Amethyst is open source under the MIT license, and the code is on GitHub.

How do I install Amethyst?

You can install it with Homebrew using the command brew install --cask amethyst, or download it directly from the GitHub releases page.

Does Amethyst need special permissions?

Yes. Amethyst needs Accessibility permission, which you can grant under Privacy and Security in System Settings.

What is the difference between Amethyst and AeroSpace?

Both are free, open-source tiling window managers. AeroSpace uses a plain text config file and its own virtual workspaces, similar to i3. Amethyst uses a simpler setup with layouts you can cycle through from the keyboard, similar to xmonad. Amethyst is easier to get running with no config file needed, while AeroSpace offers more workspace control for advanced setups.

Does Amethyst work with multiple monitors?

Yes. Amethyst supports multiple displays and lets you move or focus windows across screens with keyboard shortcuts.