AfloatX is the spiritual successor to the classic SIMBL plugin. It adds a "Pin" menu to every window’s Window menu.
Afloat is a longstanding free utility that adds a "Keep Floating" option to the menu bar of many application windows. It allows you to pin any window to the top, make it transparent, and more.
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.)
You're looking for a way to access DeskPins on a Mac, I assume. DeskPins is a popular tool for pinning important windows on top of others on Windows. While there's no official DeskPins app for Mac, I've got some alternatives and workarounds for you:
If you're specifically looking for a DeskPins-like experience on Mac, I'd recommend exploring DisplayFusion or BetterSnapTool.
Do you have any specific requirements or preferences for a DeskPins-like tool on Mac? I'd be happy to help you find the best solution!
While DeskPins is a popular utility for keeping windows "always on top," it is exclusively designed for Windows. There is no official DeskPins for Mac link.
To get the same "Always on Top" functionality on a Mac, you can use these native features or third-party alternatives: 1. Built-in "Always on Top" Features
Some macOS apps have this feature built-in. Check the app's Window menu for an "Always on Top" or "Float on Top" option. QuickTime Player: Select View > Float on Top.
Calculators & Notes: Often have a "Keep on Top" option in their settings.
Video Apps: Many support Picture-in-Picture (PiP). Right-click a playing video twice (in browsers like Safari or Chrome) and select Enter Picture-in-Picture. 2. Best Mac Alternatives to DeskPins
If you need this for any application, these third-party tools are the closest Mac equivalents:
Rectangle Pro: This is a powerful window manager. While the free version Rectangle is great for snapping windows, the Rectangle Pro version includes a specific "Pin to Front" feature.
Fenêtre: A lightweight tool specifically designed to keep any window or website on top of your others. It is available on the Mac App Store.
Afloat (Legacy): Frequently recommended as a direct DeskPins alternative for Mac, but it is not recommended for modern macOS versions (Ventura, Sonoma, etc.) as it requires disabling System Integrity Protection, which can compromise your security. 3. How to "Pin" Shortcuts to your Desktop deskpins for mac link
If your goal was simply to create a desktop shortcut (often called "pinning" in Windows), follow these steps: Open Finder and locate the app or file. Right-click the item and select Make Alias. Drag that alias onto your desktop. useful software: DeskPins. pin any programs to be on top
The clock was ticking toward midnight, and Leo’s MacBook screen was a chaotic mosaic of open windows. He was deep into a final edit for a documentary, but his workflow was a mess. Every time he clicked his editing software, his research notes vanished behind it. Every time he checked a timestamp in his browser, his script disappeared.
"There has to be a way to just… pin this," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
He remembered his old Windows workstation. Back then, he used a tiny, legendary utility called DeskPins. It was simple: you clicked a red pin, clicked a window, and it stayed on top of everything else forever. It was the digital equivalent of a thumbtack.
But now he was on macOS, and the "Red Pin" was nowhere to be found.
He spent twenty minutes scouring the web, searching for a "DeskPins for Mac link." He quickly realized that the original software didn't exist for Apple’s ecosystem. However, he stumbled upon a forum thread where a user had asked the exact same thing.
The community hadn't left him hanging. They pointed him toward modern alternatives that captured that same "pinning" magic:
Afloat: The old-school favorite, though a bit finicky with newer macOS versions.
Fenêtre: A sleek tool that let him create a "picture-in-picture" window for almost anything.
Stay: For keeping his windows exactly where he left them across different monitors.
Leo eventually settled on a lightweight app called Pennywise. He downloaded it, opened his research document, and toggled the "Always on Top" shortcut. A small icon appeared—not quite the red pin he remembered, but it worked perfectly.
With his notes finally anchored over his editing timeline, the friction vanished. The documentary was finished by 2:00 AM. As he closed his laptop, Leo realized that while the specific "DeskPins" link was a ghost of his PC past, the spirit of the pin lived on in his new Mac setup.
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: AfloatX is the spiritual successor to the classic
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
While DeskPins is a popular utility for Windows, it is not available for macOS. However, several macOS alternatives provide the same "always-on-top" functionality for window management. Recommended Mac Alternatives
Afloat: This is the most direct equivalent to DeskPins for Mac. It adds an "Always on Top" option to the "Window" menu of most applications.
PiPifier: If your primary goal is to pin video windows (like YouTube or Netflix) while you work, this Safari extension allows you to use macOS's native Picture-in-Picture mode for nearly any web video.
Fenêtre: A paid but highly polished option that creates a floating window for websites, images, or videos that stays on top of all other active windows.
Stickies (Native App): For quick notes, the built-in Stickies app allows you to select Window > Float on Top to keep a note visible at all times. Native "Always on Top" Features " he muttered
Some macOS applications have this feature built-in without needing third-party software: QuickTime Player: Select View > Float on Top.
Notes: Double-click a note to open it in a separate window, then select Window > Keep on Top. Calculator: Select Window > Stay on Top. How DeskPins Works (Windows Only)
For users on Windows, DeskPins works by adding a pin icon to the system tray.
Activation: Click the tray icon to change your cursor into a pin.
Pinning: Click any window to lock it to the forefront of your screen.
Removal: Click the pin icon on the window's title bar to disable the feature. useful software: DeskPins. pin any programs to be on top
However, Mac users have several excellent alternatives that achieve the same result: keeping a window always on top of all other windows.
Here are the best alternatives and links:
TL;DR: DeskPins is a legendary Windows utility that lets you "pin" any window to stay on top of others. There is no official native DeskPins for Mac. However, this article provides verified download links for workarounds, open-source alternatives, and native macOS apps that achieve the same "Always on Top" functionality.
If you searched for "deskpins for mac link" , you are likely a former Windows user frustrated that macOS lacks a native "Pin Window" button. You want a safe, clean link to a tool that just works. Let’s dive in.
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.
If you absolutely want the original DeskPins interface, you can bottle it using Wineskin (free).
For 99% of users, a native macOS app is superior. Here are the top 3 tools that provide a safe, downloadable link for always-on-top windows on Mac.