> Tiling squeezes windows to fit. Scrolling keeps them full size. Why a scrolling strip is the better way to work on a Mac.

Source: https://www.currentmac.com/blog/tiling-vs-scrolling-window-managers-mac

# Tiling makes windows fit. Scrolling lets them be the size they need.

Why a scrolling strip is the better way to work on a Mac, and what to look for in one.

Published November 9, 2026 · Updated November 9, 2026

A tiling window manager divides your screen. Each new window takes space from the ones already there, until the app has to stack them. A scrolling window manager keeps every window at its size and slides the row instead.

## Why scrolling wins
- **Nothing gets squeezed.** Opening a window never resizes your editor.
- **You keep your place.** The order of your work stays the same as you move through it.
- **It suits laptops.** A small screen shows one or two full windows, with the rest a shortcut away.

## What to look for
- Each app remembers its own width.
- Stacks and tabs for windows that belong together.
- Quitting the app puts every window back.
- Shortcuts you can change.

Current has all four. It also updates your apps, and returns your windows afterwards, so an update never costs you your layout.

See how it compares with , a tiling app, and , a scrolling one.