Getting Started
Get up and running with Float in a few minutes.
Download and install
Download the latest .dmg from GitHub Releases. Open the DMG and drag Float to your Applications folder.
On first launch, macOS may show a security warning because Float is not notarized through the App Store. Run xattr -cr /Applications/Float.app in Terminal once to clear the quarantine flag, then open Float normally.
Launch from the menu bar
Float runs as a menu bar app. After launching, you'll see the Float icon in your menu bar. Click it to open the panel, click away or press Escape to dismiss it.
You can also set a global hotkey in Settings to toggle the panel from anywhere.
Choose your watched folders
By default, Float watches your Desktop and Downloads folders. Open Settings (gear icon) to add or remove watched folders. Toggle Include Subfolders if you want to see files inside nested directories.
Browse and open files
Your recent files appear as a thumbnail grid, sorted by modification date. Click any file to open it in its default app. Press Spacebar to Quick Look a selected file without opening it.
Pin files across folders
Hover over a file and click the pin icon to keep it at the top of your panel permanently. Pinned files stay visible regardless of which folder they're in or how old they are.
Stage files for batch actions
Drag files into the staging bar at the bottom of the panel — or right-click and choose Stage. Once staged, you can drag the entire batch to another app, compress them into a zip, or copy them all at once.
Use the Command Bar
Press Cmd+K to open the Command Bar. Search for files, switch themes, open settings, or trigger any action without leaving the keyboard.
Tips
Right-click for more
Right-click any file for a context menu with Open, Reveal in Finder, Copy Path, Stage, and Move to Trash.
Drag to any app
Drag files directly from Float into any app that accepts file drops — email, Slack, Figma, Finder, anything.
Customize your theme
Float includes 12 themes with automatic dark mode sync. Open Settings or use the Command Bar to switch.
Resize the panel
Drag the bottom-right corner to resize. Float remembers your preferred size across restarts.
Have a question?