PDFs are central to the way we study, research, design, and build on macOS. Textbooks, research papers, specifications, documentation, diagrams, and reference manuals all live in PDFs. But the moment you switch to another app, Preview disappears behind your workspace, interrupting focus and breaking your rhythm.
Floaty solves this by turning any PDF into an always-on-top, PiP-style floating window. Instead of switching back and forth, your reference stays visible at all times—exactly where you need it. Here’s why this simple change dramatically improves productivity on macOS.
📄 Stay in Flow While Reading and Working
Most workflows require reading and doing at the same time: - Studying from a textbook while writing notes - Reviewing a spec while coding - Reading a research paper while summarizing - Using design guidelines while working in Figma - Checking a diagram while solving a problem
Without an always-on-top window, the process becomes a constant cycle of read → switch → lose place → switch back → scroll → repeat. A floating PDF eliminates this entirely. The document never moves, and your focus stays uninterrupted.
📝 Better Note-Taking and Research Sessions
Students and researchers benefit immediately from a persistent PDF: - Keep a textbook open beside your notes - Compare two pages without resizing windows - Avoid losing your place mid-sentence - Type summaries without ever hiding the source
Instead of managing windows, you simply read and write.
💻 Faster Development with Documentation on Screen
Developers rely heavily on reference material: - API docs - Language specifications - Technical diagrams - Library guides
With Floaty, these references stay visible while you write code in VS Code or Xcode. There is no split screen or juggling windows. Your documentation behaves like a lightweight overlay that travels with you through your work.
🎨 A More Flexible Workspace for Designers
Designers often need static references: - Typography rules - Spacing guidelines - Color specs - UI patterns - Exported flows
Keeping a PDF floating above Figma or Sketch provides instant access without disrupting the design canvas. Instead of switching contexts, you simply glance at the reference.
📚 The Perfect Reading Companion for Long-Form PDFs
Many PDFs are long and dense: research papers, reports, whitepapers, contracts. Floaty lets you anchor the important section—a chart, figure, or paragraph—and keep it visible while working in another window. This is especially useful when your document is highly technical, multi-page, reference-heavy, or diagram-driven. A floating PDF works like a digital index card: always present, never in the way.
🧩 More Freedom Than Split View or Stage Manager
macOS tools focus on arranging windows, not visibility. Split View locks your screen into a rigid 50⁄50 or 70⁄30 layout. Stage Manager hides inactive windows. Full-screen modes isolate apps completely.
Floaty takes the opposite approach: - No forced layout - No screen constraints - No disappearing windows - No switching cost
Your PDF becomes an independent element you can position anywhere, resize freely, and keep visible without affecting your workspace.
🌟 Unlock Even More with Floaty Pro
For deeper workflows, Floaty Pro adds enhancements built specifically for reference-driven work:
- Transparency: Layer your PDF above your workspace while still seeing what’s beneath it.
- Click-through mode: Keep the PDF visible but interact with the app behind it—perfect for diagrams or formulas.
- Multiple floating windows: Ideal for research, writing, comparing documents, or keeping several references active at once.
These upgrades turn macOS into a true multi-document environment.
🚀 The PDF Experience macOS Should Have Built In
macOS excels at design but falls short in one area: keeping important information visible while you work. Floaty fills that gap elegantly. With an always-on-top PDF, you spend less time managing windows and more time thinking, writing, coding, studying, or designing. It’s a small change that unlocks a noticeably smoother workflow.
⭐ Try Floaty
Floaty Free lets you pin one window—perfect for a single PDF reference. Floaty Pro expands the workflow with transparency, click-through, and multi-window support.