How can we help?
Comprehensive documentation for window automation, Accessibility setup, multi-monitor topology, licensing, and troubleshooting common macOS questions.
Accessibility & Window Control
macOS requires user permission before an application can inspect or resize windows belonging to other programs.
How do I grant or verify Accessibility permission?
- Open Layr → Settings and click Ask macOS for permission.
- macOS will automatically launch
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. - Find Layr in the list and toggle the switch to the ON position.
- If Layr still indicates that permissions are missing, quit and reopen Layr to reload its Cocoa Accessibility token.
Windows don’t move after a macOS or Layr update
macOS binds Accessibility permissions to an application's cryptographic Developer ID signature. If you previously ran an unnotarized test build or updated between major versions, macOS can occasionally retain a stale permission entry.
Resolution: In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, select Layr, click the minus (–) button at the bottom to remove it completely, then click plus (+) to re-add Layr from your Applications folder. Quit and restart Layr.
Is automatic window placement paused?
Check the Auto toggle in Layr's menu-bar panel or Layr Island. If Automatic placement is turned off, Layr will monitor app launches quietly without moving windows until you click a layout or re-enable the switch.
Displays & Monitor Reconnects
Layr identifies physical displays using persistent hardware UUIDs rather than transient screen indices.
What happens when an external display is disconnected?
When a display referenced by your active layout is not currently attached, Layr provides a configurable fallback in Settings:
- Send to Main Display: Orphaned windows collapse to your primary MacBook display inside safe desktop margins.
- Skip Windows: Leaves those windows at their existing coordinates until the external display is re-attached.
When you re-dock your MacBook and the monitor reconnects, click Fix Workspace to re-align windows to their designated hardware positions.
How does Layr avoid the Dock and Menu Bar?
Layr queries NSScreen.visibleFrame on each arrange command. It positions windows strictly below the system menu bar and clear of the Dock, dynamically adjusting if your Dock is set to auto-hide or anchored to the left or right side of your screen.
Does Layr follow macOS Spaces?
No. The public macOS Accessibility API reports that the active Space changed, but Apple does not provide a public API to query Space numbers or move windows between Spaces. Layr strictly uses public APIs and avoids private framework hacks to ensure stability.
Window Rules & App Limits
Understanding how Layr targets windows, handles title matching, and reports application constraints.
Why does Layr report “Size limited” on an app?
Certain applications enforce hardcoded minimum dimensions (for example, Spotify, Slack, or Xcode inspector panels). Layr positions the window as close as the application permits and honestly notes the constraint in its activity log.
How can I assign two windows of the same app?
Layr allows multiple tiles to target the same application. When an app has multiple windows open:
- Tiles with Exact or Contains title matching claim matching windows first.
- Generic tiles (matching “Any window”) take remaining unassigned windows.
- Two tiles for the same application will never overlap or fight for the same window.
Why wasn’t a newly opened window arranged automatically?
While Layr listens for macOS application launch notifications, some applications do not broadcast window-creation events to Cocoa Accessibility when opening secondary tabs or detached panels.
Simply click your active preset in the menu bar or press your shortcut to snap all open windows into place.
Does Layr move full-screen or minimized windows?
No. Full-screen and minimized windows are managed exclusively by macOS WindowServer spaces and cannot be moved via standard window geometry APIs.
Licensing & Machine Transfer
Simple one-time licensing with fair, offline-friendly activation rules.
How many Macs does a single license cover?
Each license covers 1 Mac for lifetime use, including all version 1.x updates. There are no recurring monthly subscriptions.
How do I move my license to a new Mac?
- In Layr on your current Mac, go to Settings → License.
- Click Deactivate this Mac. The activation is released instantly.
- Download Layr on your new Mac and paste your license key to activate.
If your old Mac is damaged, lost, or inaccessible, contact support to release the activation remotely.
Does Layr work offline?
Yes. Layr only verifies your license key during initial activation and approximately once daily when an internet connection is available. If you are traveling or offline, Layr continues working seamlessly for a 14-day grace period without any disruption.
File Storage & Backups
Layr stores all configurations locally on your machine in standard JSON.
Workspace Configurations
Saved layouts, window positions and app rules are stored locally on your Mac, never in the cloud.
If this file is ever corrupted or damaged, Layr automatically creates an emergency timestamped backup copy next to it before initializing default presets.
License Key Storage
Your license key is never stored in plaintext JSON. It is encrypted directly into your native macOS Keychain.
Contact & Refund Rights
We stand behind Layr with transparent licensing and full compliance with consumer rights.
Email Support
For technical support, license resets, or purchasing questions, reach out directly:
[email protected]Helpful diagnostic details to include:
• Your macOS version (Apple menu → About This Mac)
• Your Layr version (Layr menu bar icon → About Layr)
• Description of the expected vs. observed window behavior
Consumer Law & Refund Policy
We offer a full 24-hour evaluation trial with zero restrictions so you can test Layr thoroughly on your multi-monitor hardware before purchasing.
Ready to download Layr?
Direct universal binary download with Apple notarization and full 24-hour trial.