FAQ

Why can Tangrid not move or manage windows?

The most common reason is missing Accessibility Access. Tangrid depends on it for core Window Manager behavior.

Why are window thumbnails missing?

The most common reason is missing Screen Recording Permission. Both Window Switcher and Dock Preview rely on it for previews.

Why does Tangrid recommend Disable Stage Manager?

Because Disable Stage Manager usually reduces conflicts between macOS window organization and Tangrid’s own window-management behavior, especially across multiple windows, screens, and spaces.

Why does using Option as Drag Modifier Key trigger a warning?

Because macOS may already use Option for built-in tiling behavior, and Tangrid may also want to use it for snapping or tiling/floating interactions.

Why is Exclusion Rules disabled or grayed out?

For Window Manager behavior, Exclusion Rules are editable only when Window Management Mode is set to Auto Flow.

Why do some apps stay floating by default?

Tangrid ships with a default set of Exclusion Rules, so some utility apps and preview-like windows remain floating because that usually leads to a better layout experience.

Why does Window Switcher sometimes not show a window I expect?

Possible reasons include:

• you added a Window Switcher Exclusion Rules entry
• Only show windows on active desktop is enabled
• you are using Switch Active App Windows, which only shows windows for the active app

How should I choose between Horizontal and Vertical (with Search)?

• choose Horizontal if you want to scan thumbnails quickly
• choose Vertical (with Search) if you want to narrow down many windows with text search

What is the point of Auto-move cursor to window center?

It moves the cursor to the center of the selected window after switching. That is useful if you want to click, drag, or interact with the target window immediately.

If I disable Show status bar menu, how do I get back to settings?

The settings UI already hints that you can reopen Tangrid to access settings again. The app also attempts to bring the settings window forward when reopened.

What should I check if Dock Preview does not react?

Check the following:

1. Dock Preview is enabled.
2. The target app actually has windows available.
3. Screen Recording Permission is granted.
4. The current system state is not preventing proper Dock hit detection.

Do Restore Preferences and Reset Shortcuts wipe everything?

Not exactly.

• Restore Preferences currently resets the relevant Window Manager preference set rather than every app preference.
• Reset Shortcuts resets Tangrid-defined shortcuts back to their defaults.

Can I use Tangrid only for switching, without layout management?

Yes. Set Window Management Mode to Disable. You can still keep using Window Switcher, Dock Preview, and other non-layout features.