Deskpins For Mac Link [upd] -

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:

2. Afloat (Legacy)

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.

Note: Afloat hasn't been updated in years and works best on older versions of macOS. On newer versions (Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma), it can be buggy.
Link: Afloat (SourceForge)

Native macOS Trick (Limited)

Some apps like Picture-in-Picture for videos (right-click a video twice in Safari) or Float on Top in QuickTime Player work, but not system-wide.

Direct Link for DeskPins (Windows only)

If you still want the original DeskPins for Windows, you can get it here:
🔗 https://deskpins.en.softonic.com
(Note: This will not work on Mac unless you use virtualization or Wine, which is not recommended.)

is a popular utility for pinning windows "always on top," it is strictly a Windows-only application . There is no official macOS version of DeskPins.

However, you can achieve the same "always on top" functionality on a Mac using several alternative tools and built-in features. Top Recommendation: Keeping Windows "Always on Top"

Since DeskPins is unavailable, most Mac users turn to these alternatives to keep specific windows visible regardless of other active apps:

: Often cited as the direct Mac equivalent to DeskPins. It adds an "Always on Top" option to the Window menu of most applications. : A modern tool available on the Mac App Store

that creates a "picture-in-picture" window for any app or website, keeping it floating above your workspace.

: Specifically for video, this tool allows you to use macOS's native Picture-in-Picture mode for almost any web video or window. wonderoftech.com Official macOS "Pinning" Features

If you are looking to "pin" items in other ways, macOS has several built-in functions: Pinning Apps to the Dock deskpins for mac link

: To keep an app shortcut permanently accessible, open the app, right-click its icon in the Dock, and select Options > Keep in Dock Pinning Notes Apple Notes app , select a note and go to File > Pin Note to keep it at the top of your list. Pinning Widgets to Desktop

: Click the date/time in the menu bar to open your widgets, then drag and drop them directly onto your desktop to keep them visible. Creating Desktop Shortcuts

: You can "pin" a website to your desktop by dragging the URL from the Safari address bar directly onto your wallpaper. Comparison: DeskPins (Windows) vs. Mac Alternatives DeskPins (Windows) Mac Alternatives (e.g., Afloat/Fenêtre) Always on Top Yes (Pin icon) Yes (via Window menu or Overlay) Transparency Yes (most Mac tools allow opacity adjustment) Native Support No (3rd party) No (3rd party needed for "always on top") Ease of Use High (one click) Moderate (varies by app) one of these Mac-specific alternatives? How to Add Widgets To The Mac Desktop | Full Guide 3 Dec 2025 —

While DeskPins is a popular free utility for keeping windows "Always on Top," it is exclusively available for Windows. There is no official DeskPins version for macOS.

To get the same "Always on Top" functionality on a Mac, you’ll need to use alternative software designed for the Apple ecosystem. Below is a complete guide to the best alternatives and how to set them up. Top DeskPins Alternatives for Mac

Rectangle Pro: A powerful window manager that includes a specific "Pin to Front" feature. It is highly reliable and updated for the latest macOS versions Rectangle Pro.

Afloat (Legacy): One of the oldest Mac tools for pinning windows. While beloved, it is difficult to install on modern macOS (like Sonoma or Sequoia) because it requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP).

Fenêtre: A lightweight app specifically designed to keep windows (or even just pictures/videos) floating on top while you work. It offers a free version on the Mac App Store.

Heidi: A newer, streamlined alternative that allows you to easily toggle "Always on Top" for any application via a simple menu bar icon or keyboard shortcut. How to Use Pinning on Mac (Fenêtre Example)

Since DeskPins doesn't exist for Mac, here is how you use the most common modern workflow:

Install Fenêtre or Rectangle Pro: Download the app from the official site or Mac App Store.

Grant Permissions: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and ensure the app is toggled "ON" so it can control your windows. Pin the Window:

For Fenêtre: Drag a URL or file into the app, or use the "Capture" tool to select a specific window. However, Mac users have several excellent alternatives that

For Rectangle Pro: Use the shortcut Cmd + Ctrl + P (customizable) to pin the active window to the front.

Unpin: Click the pin icon in the window's corner or repeat the keyboard shortcut to return to normal window behavior. Built-in Mac Alternatives For specific tasks, you might not even need an app:

Picture-in-Picture (Safari/Chrome): Right-click twice on any web video to select "Enter Picture-in-Picture." This keeps the video on top of all other windows automatically.

Sticky Notes: The built-in Stickies app has an option under the Note menu called "Floating" that keeps the note above all other windows. 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. Note: Afloat hasn't been updated in years and

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.

1. AfloatX (For older macOS – Monterey and earlier)

AfloatX is the spiritual successor to the classic SIMBL plugin. It adds a "Pin" menu to every window’s Window menu.

Link: https://github.com/fabianoriccardi/AfloatX
System: macOS 10.12 – 12 (Monterey)
How it works: After installation, go to any window’s Window menu > Always on Top.

Step-by-Step Setup:

Install Wineskin Winery.
Create a new wrapper (Engine: WS11WineCX64Bit).
Install the DeskPins .exe inside the wrapper.
Launch the wrapper. You will see the classic pushpin icon in your Mac menu bar.

Warning: This method runs via XQuartz. It is not energy efficient and may flicker on Retina displays. Only use this if you are nostalgic for the original UI.

The "Hidden" Native Feature: AppleScript (No Link Needed)

Did you know you can pin any window without downloading extra software? macOS has a hidden accessibility feature via AppleScript.

Free, built-in "DeskPins for Mac" code:

Open Script Editor (Applications/Utilities).

Paste this script:

tell application "System Events"
    set frontApp to name of first application process whose frontmost is true
    tell process frontApp
        set frontWindow to front window
        set value of attribute "AXFloating" of frontWindow to true
    end tell
end tell

Save it as an Application.
Drag that app to your Finder toolbar.

Result: Click that icon → the active window floats on top. No internet link required.

3. Better & Modern Alternatives (Paid/Freemium)

Because macOS window management is limited, most modern Mac "power users" use dedicated window management apps that include a "Sticky" or "Always on Top" feature.

Magnet: A popular app on the App Store for window snapping ($7.99). It includes a "Keep on Top" feature for any window.
- Link: Magnet on Mac App Store
BetterTouchTool: A powerful automation app that allows you to set keyboard shortcuts to pin any active window to the top.
- Link: BetterTouchTool
Mission Control Plus: A lightweight utility that adds buttons to Mission Control, allowing you to pin windows easily.
- Link: Mission Control Plus

Alternatives for macOS

Afloat (older; macOS up to ~10.9)
- Description: Historically provided keep-on-top, transparency, and window floater features.
- Status: Unmaintained; incompatible with modern macOS versions without heavy patching.
PinPoint / TopMost or "Keep on Top" utilities (various)
- Description: Small utilities that add an always-on-top toggle for selected apps.
- Availability: Varies; many are paid or distributed via third-party sites.
Rectangle Pro (paid) / Rectangle (free, open-source)
- Description: Window management app; Rectangle Pro offers more features including "float" or "always on top".
- Compatibility: Actively maintained; works on recent macOS versions.
Magnet / BetterSnapTool
- Description: Primarily for window snapping/tiling; no native always-on-top in base apps (some paid versions add more features).
Hammerspoon (scripting)
- Description: Highly configurable automation tool (Lua). You can script window behavior to keep selected windows on top.
- Pros: Powerful, free, works on modern macOS.
- Cons: Requires scripting knowledge.
Helium / HeliumLift (floating browser windows)
- Description: Browser-like floating windows that remain on top—useful for videos or web content.
- Use case: Media or web content rather than arbitrary application windows.
Commercial utilities (e.g., Stay, Aegis, OnTopReplica-like ports)
- Description: Some paid apps claim "always on top" features; check current app descriptions and reviews.