Mac customization: the best of Windows and Mac

Windows or Mac? Pick the one you prefer, feature by feature.

Each row is a real setting of WinPlug, set the way it comes. Pick a side to see what changes. You can change your mind at any time.

Taskbar
Windows · defaultFull widthMacFloating, like the Dock
A taskbar along the bottom of the screen, every window one click away, like Windows.The same taskbar floats above the bottom edge, like the Dock. With Mac glass, it is the Dock’s own Liquid Glass on macOS Tahoe.
Green button
Windows · default6 window layoutsMacThe Mac’s menu
Rest the pointer on a window’s green button: 6 layouts to snap it, like the maximize button of Windows 11.The green button shows the Mac’s own menu, exactly as before.
Mouse wheel
Windows · defaultClassicMacNatural
Roll the wheel down and the page goes down, like on Windows. The trackpad keeps the Mac’s natural scrolling.The mouse wheel scrolls the Mac’s natural way, like the trackpad.
Copy and paste
Windows · defaultCtrl + C tooMac⌘C only
Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V and the other Ctrl shortcuts work like on Windows, and ⌘C, ⌘V keep working.Turn the Ctrl shortcuts off, all at once or one by one: your keyboard works like a Mac’s.
Win + ← →
Windows · defaultSnap the windowMacSwitch desktops
Win + ← or → snaps the window to half the screen, like Windows 11.Win + ← or → switches desktops and Win + ↑ opens Mission Control, as on a Mac.
Cmd + Tab
Windows · defaultEvery windowMacThe Mac’s switcher
Cmd + Tab shows every window with a thumbnail, like Alt + Tab on Windows.Cmd + Tab stays the Mac’s app switcher, and Alt + Tab shows every window.
Notifications
Windows · defaultA list by appMacStacked cards
Click the clock: your notifications in a list, grouped by app, like Windows.Cards stacked by conversation, like the Mac’s. Click a stack to open it.
Win + E
WindowsWinPlug ExplorerMac · defaultThe Finder
Win + E opens WinPlug Explorer: an address bar, cut and paste, and 2 panes, like Windows.Win + E opens the Finder, and WinPlug gives it Windows keys: Ctrl + X, F2, Enter and Backspace.

Turn on only the modules you want

Each module has its own switch at the top of its settings. Switch one off and it steps aside: your Mac does that part its own way again.

WinPlug TaskbarA real taskbar: every window one click away, previews on hover, a Start menu.
WinPlug SnapWin + Shift + S to snip, an editor with arrows, blur and text, pinned captures.
WinPlug KeyboardCtrl + C, Ctrl + V, Alt + F4, Home and End, on any keyboard.
WinPlug SwitchAlt-Tab window by window, with live thumbnails, search and Peek.
WinPlug ExplorerA file explorer that cuts and pastes, with an address bar and dual pane.
WinPlug CaptureRecord the screen, a window or an area, then cut, style and export it in an editor.
WinPlug ClipboardEverything you copy, kept in a history you can paste from.
WinPlug LayoutWindows snapped to halves, quarters and thirds, with Win + arrows.
WinPlug MouseThe wheel scrolls like Windows, the trackpad stays natural, Ctrl + wheel zooms.

Every feature, every detail

Here is what you can set, screen by screen, in WinPlug’s real Settings.

WinPlug Settings, Taskbar: style full width or floating, hide the Mac Dock, auto-hide, centered icons, previews on hover — Full width or floating, icons centered or not
Keep or hide the Dock, auto-hide the taskbar, one bar per display
Previews on hover, badges, names of open apps
Icon size and taskbar height

WinPlug Settings, Taskbar appearance: 5 themes, background Glass, Mac glass, Color or Gradient, and the system tray — 5 themes: Night, Ocean, Purple, Sunset and Forest
Glass, Mac glass, a color or a gradient
Clock, seconds, battery, keyboard language
Notifications above the calendar

WinPlug Settings, Windows & Alt-Tab: snapping, the green button Windows or Mac, and Alt-Tab — Snap by dragging to an edge or a corner
Green button: 6 layouts or the Mac’s menu
Alt + Tab and Cmd + Tab, minimized and hidden windows
Live thumbnails, this desktop or all of them

WinPlug Settings, Mouse & Scroll Wheel: wheel direction classic, scrolling notch by notch, speed and pointer acceleration — Wheel direction: classic or natural
Notch by notch, smooth, fluid or long glide
Pointer acceleration: macOS, Windows or none
Keys + wheel: zoom, scroll sideways, faster or slower

WinPlug Settings, Clipboard: open history with Ctrl+Alt+V, keep 100 items, keep images, ignore passwords — Ctrl + Alt + V opens your history
Keep 10 to 500 items, images too
Passwords from password managers left out
Encrypted on your Mac, sent nowhere

WinPlug Settings, Finder: Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V moves files, Delete moves to the Trash, F2 renames, Enter opens — Ctrl + X then Ctrl + V moves files
Delete moves to the Trash, Backspace goes back
F2 renames, Enter opens
Show hidden files and file extensions

Back to a regular Mac in one click

WinPlug on / off, at the top of Settings, turns every module off at once: your Mac works exactly as before, ⌘ shortcuts and all. Ctrl + Alt + Win + W does the same from the keyboard. Press it again and everything comes back, set the way you left it.

Mac customization: your questions

Can I customize my Mac to work like Windows?

Yes. WinPlug brings back the taskbar, Alt-Tab, window snapping, the snipping tool, Ctrl shortcuts and the Windows mouse wheel. In its Settings, you keep each one, or leave it to the Mac.

Can I keep the Dock?

Yes. Turn off “Hide the Mac Dock” in Settings › Taskbar and you have both. Or pick the floating taskbar, which sits above the bottom edge like the Dock.

Do the Mac’s ⌘ shortcuts still work?

Yes. ⌘C, ⌘V and the other Mac shortcuts keep working next to Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. You can turn the Ctrl shortcuts off, all at once or one by one.

Can I turn off Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V or Alt + Tab?

Yes. Each of the 25 Ctrl shortcuts has its own switch in Settings › Keyboard, and Alt + Tab has its own in Settings › Windows & Alt-Tab. Switched off, the keys do what they did before.

Can I turn off just one feature?

Yes. Each module has its own switch, and most features have their own setting too: the green button, the wheel direction, each Ctrl shortcut and each Win shortcut.

How do I get a regular Mac back?

Press Ctrl + Alt + Win + W, or turn off WinPlug on / off at the top of Settings: every module steps aside at once. Press it again and everything comes back.

Where are WinPlug’s Settings?

Right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings…, or click WinPlug’s icon in the menu bar and choose Settings….

Does WinPlug change the look of macOS?

Your wallpaper, icons and folders stay as they are. WinPlug adds its own taskbar in the look you pick, glass, Mac glass, a theme or a color, and hides the Dock unless you keep it.