Switching from Windows to Mac can sometimes feel like being a fish out of water. You miss familiar features and functionalities—like app switching and clipboard management—that enhance your productivity. Fortunately, there are third-party applications that help bridge that gap, ensuring your new macOS setup feels just right. Here’s a closer look at some of the best apps designed to bring the much-loved features of Windows 11 to your Mac.
Enter AltTab. This innovative app mimics the Windows alt-tab switcher, but with a twist. It provides a customizable app switcher that can display live previews of open windows, allowing you to choose exactly which one you want to switch to. You can also adjust thumbnail sizes and even drag-and-drop files onto the window previews—a small convenience that can make a significant difference in your workflow.
Maccy fills this void beautifully, giving you quick access to your clipboard history with a simple keyboard shortcut. You can search through copied items, pin frequently used clips, and enjoy the reassurance that all your data stays on-device for privacy.
With iStat Menus, you can monitor everything from CPU and GPU usage to memory and battery performance, right from your menu bar. Although it does offer some extra features like weather updates that you might not need, the comprehensive monitoring of system metrics is invaluable for power users.
This app allows you to control the audio levels for each app individually. Whether you're listening to music while gaming or working, you can tailor the audio output to your liking directly from the menu bar. Plus, it can auto-pause music apps when other sounds are detected, adding an extra layer of convenience.
CrossOver takes full advantage of your Mac's hardware for better performance, but compatibility can be hit or miss, particularly for multiplayer games that come with stringent anti-cheat systems. However, for single-player experiences, it can significantly expand your gaming options.
Source: MakeUseOf I Use These Apps to Get Windows 11 Features on My Mac
1. AltTab: The Enhanced App Switcher
One of the most significant changes from Windows to macOS is how you switch between applications. Whereas Windows gives users a robust Alt + Tab functionality, macOS leaves a lot to be desired with Command + Tab. It merely presents icons, leaving you guessing what each app is doing.Enter AltTab. This innovative app mimics the Windows alt-tab switcher, but with a twist. It provides a customizable app switcher that can display live previews of open windows, allowing you to choose exactly which one you want to switch to. You can also adjust thumbnail sizes and even drag-and-drop files onto the window previews—a small convenience that can make a significant difference in your workflow.
- Download: AltTab (Free)
2. Maccy: Your Clipboard Manager
You might not think of a clipboard manager as essential, but once you get used to the convenience of one, you'd wonder how you ever lived without it. On macOS, there’s no built-in clipboard manager, which can be frustrating, especially if you frequently copy and paste text or files.Maccy fills this void beautifully, giving you quick access to your clipboard history with a simple keyboard shortcut. You can search through copied items, pin frequently used clips, and enjoy the reassurance that all your data stays on-device for privacy.
- Download: Maccy (Free)
3. iStat Menus: Monitoring Your Mac's Performance
If you’re accustomed to Windows Task Manager, you might find macOS’s Activity Monitor to be lacking in functionality. This is where iStat Menus comes to the rescue.With iStat Menus, you can monitor everything from CPU and GPU usage to memory and battery performance, right from your menu bar. Although it does offer some extra features like weather updates that you might not need, the comprehensive monitoring of system metrics is invaluable for power users.
4. Background Music: Individual App Volume Control
Have you ever faced the irritation of not being able to adjust the volume of individual applications on your Mac? While Windows allows for this kind of granularity, macOS doesn’t—unless you use Background Music.This app allows you to control the audio levels for each app individually. Whether you're listening to music while gaming or working, you can tailor the audio output to your liking directly from the menu bar. Plus, it can auto-pause music apps when other sounds are detected, adding an extra layer of convenience.
- Download: Background Music (Free)
5. CrossOver: Playing Windows Games on Your Mac
If gaming is your passion, you might feel the pinch when transitioning to a Mac. While Windows has a more extensive gaming library, CrossOver offers a solid solution for playing Windows games on macOS. This application enables you to install and run Windows games without needing a full-blown virtual machine.CrossOver takes full advantage of your Mac's hardware for better performance, but compatibility can be hit or miss, particularly for multiplayer games that come with stringent anti-cheat systems. However, for single-player experiences, it can significantly expand your gaming options.
- Download: CrossOver ($24, free trial available)
Wrapping Up
Finding the perfect apps to replicate Windows features on a Mac can be a significant boon for productivity and gaming alike. While it can be frustrating to rely on additional software for features that were standard on Windows, these carefully selected applications allow you to tailor your macOS experience to better match what you’ve come to love about Windows 11. Embrace the change, and credit these apps for transforming your Mac into a familiar workflow haven!Source: MakeUseOf I Use These Apps to Get Windows 11 Features on My Mac
