While DeskPins is a popular utility for Windows that allows users to "pin" any window on top of others, it is not natively available for macOS. However, Mac users have several ways to achieve similar productivity shortcuts or "pin" specific content to their workspace. The DeskPins Alternative: The "Floating" Workflow
On a Mac, if you want the functionality of a window always staying on top (the core feature of DeskPins), you can use built-in features or third-party tools:
Picture-in-Picture (PiP): For video, you can right-click twice on most web videos (like YouTube) and select "Enter Picture-in-Picture" to keep the video pinned on top while you work.
Sticky Notes: The Stickies app allows you to create notes and select Window > Float on Top to keep important information pinned over every other open window.
Afloat or Fenêtre: These are third-party apps often cited by the Mac community to replicate the exact "stay on top" functionality found in DeskPins. Creating Desktop "Link" Pins
If your goal is to "pin" a website shortcut directly to your desktop for instant access, follow these steps:
Browser Drag-and-Drop: Open Safari or Chrome, highlight the URL in the address bar, and drag it directly to your desktop. This creates a .webloc file that acts as a permanent pin to that site.
Add to Dock: In Safari, you can go to File > Add to Dock. This creates a standalone "app" icon for the website in your Dock, making it look and behave like a native application.
Desktop Widgets: For a more visual "pin," you can right-click your desktop and select Edit Widgets. You can drag interactive widgets (like Notes, Reminders, or third-party app links) directly onto your wallpaper. Pinning Content Within Apps
Notes: If you have a specific link or thought you need to keep handy, you can Pin Notes by selecting the note and choosing File > Pin Note.
Finder: You can drag frequently used folders or files to the Favorites sidebar in Finder or into the Dock for a permanent shortcut pin. How to create a shortcut on the desktop - IT Help Desk
DeskPins is designed specifically for Windows and does not have an official Mac version. However, there are several modern and reliable alternatives for macOS that provide identical "Always on Top" functionality. Best Modern Alternatives for Mac
Because DeskPins is unavailable, most Mac users now use these dedicated utilities:
Floaty: A lightweight, dedicated app built specifically for pinning windows on top.
How to use: Install from the Mac App Store, right-click any window's title bar, and select "Float This Window".
WindowPin: A simple utility that lets you pin any window to the top of your screen via a menu bar icon. Link: Available on the Mac App Store.
BetterTouchTool: A powerful productivity tool that includes a "Set Window Level" action to force windows into a "Floating" state. Link: Download from the official folivora.ai site.
AlwaysOnTop (Open Source): A free, community-driven project that uses a simple shortcut (Ctrl+Z) to pin/unpin any app window. Link: You can find the codebase and instructions on GitHub. Built-in macOS Features (No Install Needed) For specific tasks, you may not need a third-party app:
Apple Notes & Stickies: Both apps have a built-in "Float on Top" option. For Notes, double-click a note to open it in a new window, then go to Window > Keep on Top.
Video Picture-in-Picture: Right-click twice on a web video (like YouTube) and select Enter Picture in Picture to keep it floating above all other windows.
QuickTime Player: Go to View > Float on Top while playing a video. A Note on "Afloat"
You may see older guides recommending Afloat. While it was the standard for years, it is now deprecated. It requires disabling system security settings (SIP) and does not reliably support modern macOS versions or Apple Silicon chips.
While DeskPins is a popular free utility for keeping windows "Always on Top," it is exclusively available for Windows. There is no official DeskPins version for macOS.
To get the same "Always on Top" functionality on a Mac, you’ll need to use alternative software designed for the Apple ecosystem. Below is a complete guide to the best alternatives and how to set them up. Top DeskPins Alternatives for Mac
Rectangle Pro: A powerful window manager that includes a specific "Pin to Front" feature. It is highly reliable and updated for the latest macOS versions Rectangle Pro.
Afloat (Legacy): One of the oldest Mac tools for pinning windows. While beloved, it is difficult to install on modern macOS (like Sonoma or Sequoia) because it requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP).
Fenêtre: A lightweight app specifically designed to keep windows (or even just pictures/videos) floating on top while you work. It offers a free version on the Mac App Store.
Heidi: A newer, streamlined alternative that allows you to easily toggle "Always on Top" for any application via a simple menu bar icon or keyboard shortcut. How to Use Pinning on Mac (Fenêtre Example)
Since DeskPins doesn't exist for Mac, here is how you use the most common modern workflow:
Install Fenêtre or Rectangle Pro: Download the app from the official site or Mac App Store.
Grant Permissions: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and ensure the app is toggled "ON" so it can control your windows. Pin the Window:
For Fenêtre: Drag a URL or file into the app, or use the "Capture" tool to select a specific window.
For Rectangle Pro: Use the shortcut Cmd + Ctrl + P (customizable) to pin the active window to the front.
Unpin: Click the pin icon in the window's corner or repeat the keyboard shortcut to return to normal window behavior. Built-in Mac Alternatives For specific tasks, you might not even need an app:
Picture-in-Picture (Safari/Chrome): Right-click twice on any web video to select "Enter Picture-in-Picture." This keeps the video on top of all other windows automatically.
Sticky Notes: The built-in Stickies app has an option under the Note menu called "Floating" that keeps the note above all other windows. useful software: DeskPins. pin any programs to be on top
DeskPins (the classic Windows utility that lets you pin any window to stay on top) does not have an official native version for macOS.
But don't worry — here’s helpful content and alternatives for Mac users seeking the same functionality.
If you're switching from Windows to Mac and miss DeskPins, you're not alone. DeskPins made it easy to click a pin icon and keep any window floating above others. macOS doesn't have this built-in, but here are the best workarounds.
If you are looking for the DeskPins experience on Mac, you cannot download DeskPins directly. Instead, I recommend downloading Helium if you want to float videos/web pages, or Magnet if you want full window control including pinning other apps.
AfloatX is the spiritual successor to the classic SIMBL plugin. It adds a "Pin" menu to every window’s Window menu.
When searching Google or Reddit for "deskpins for mac link", you will encounter dangerous websites. Here is how to spot them:
| Fake Signal | Real Signal |
| :--- | :--- |
| URL like deskpins-mac.download or .net | GitHub, Folivora, or Efdesign domain |
| File size: < 1MB (usually a downloader malware) | File size: 3-50MB for native apps |
| Requires "disable Gatekeeper" without explanation | Explains how to right-click > Open |
| Pop-up ads for VPNs | Clean, documented source code |
Do not download any file named DeskPins.dmg that is not hosted on the official Efdesign or a verified GitHub release. Many of these are bundled with the Shlayer trojan.
hs.hotkey.bind("cmd","alt", "T", function()
local w = hs.window.frontmostWindow()
if w then
local lvl = w:level()
if lvl == hs.window.level.floating then
w:setLevel(hs.window.level.normal)
else
w:setLevel(hs.window.level.floating)
end
end
end)
(Requires Hammerspoon installed and Accessibility permissions granted.)
Some apps like Picture-in-Picture for videos (right-click a video twice in Safari) or Float on Top in QuickTime Player work, but not system-wide.