Top DM2 Alternatives for Enhanced Windows Management
DM2 has long been a favorite for Windows users seeking to optimize their desktop experience. Its unique ability to minimize windows to floating icons, freeing up precious taskbar and tray space, alongside features like always-on-top, transparency, and robust plugin support, made it a powerful window manager. However, for various reasons—be it looking for updated interfaces, more specific functionalities, or different licensing models—many users are now seeking a reliable DM2 alternative. This article explores some of the best replacements that offer similar and often enhanced window management capabilities.
Best DM2 Alternatives
If you're looking to replicate or even improve upon DM2's excellent window management, you're in luck. There are numerous applications that offer similar features, from window snapping and minimization to on-top functionality and multi-monitor support. Here are some of the top contenders:
AquaSnap
AquaSnap is an excellent DM2 alternative for users who need advanced window snapping and organization. It's a Freemium application available for Windows and PortableApps.com. Key features include highly customizable window snapping, robust support for multiple monitors, portability, and dedicated shortcut keys, making window management intuitive and efficient.
RBTray
RBTray offers a simple yet effective DM2 alternative, focusing on minimizing applications to the system tray. This free and open-source tool is available for Windows and PortableApps.com. Its primary feature is allowing almost any program to be minimized to the system tray by simply right-clicking its minimize button, helping to declutter your taskbar.
Actual Window Manager
Actual Window Manager is a comprehensive commercial DM2 alternative for Windows, offering 13 tools in one package. It significantly improves Windows folder navigation and provides extensive features like multi-monitor support, advanced window docking, and smart window snapping, making it a powerful suite for desktop organization.
4t Tray Minimizer
4t Tray Minimizer is a lightweight yet powerful Freemium window manager for Windows, serving as a great DM2 alternative for those prioritizing taskbar and desktop space. It allows users to minimize windows to the system tray and supports 'always on top' functionality, offering quick actions to keep your workspace tidy.
eXtra Buttons
eXtra Buttons is a free DM2 alternative for Windows that extends window control by adding up to 10 additional buttons to the title bar. Users can minimize windows to the tray, keep them on-top, or send them to other screens, enhancing window manipulation similar to DM2's capabilities, and it integrates as a Windows Explorer extension.
MenuTools
MenuTools is a simple, free, and open-source DM2 alternative for Windows. It adds practical options to open dialog windows, including task priority, window transparency, and an 'Always On Top' feature, similar to DM2's transparency and on-top functionalities, and also functions as a Windows Explorer extension.
DeskPins
DeskPins is a free and open-source DM2 alternative for Windows and Windows Explorer that excels at keeping any application topmost. Its lightweight design and support for hotkeys make it easy to grab a 'pin' from the system notification area and apply it to any window, ensuring it stays above all others.
RBTray Fork
RBTray Fork is a free and open-source DM2 alternative for Windows, representing a minor fork of the original RBTray. Like its predecessor, it allows almost any window to be minimized to the system tray by right-clicking, focusing on basic but effective window minimization to free up taskbar space.
KDE Mover-Sizer
KDE Mover-Sizer is a lightweight, free, and open-source DM2 alternative for Windows XP, 7, 2000, 2003, and Vista, designed to enable KDE-style alt-click moving and resizing. It offers snap window functionality and supports multiple monitors, providing a unique and efficient way to manage window positions and sizes.
MoveInactiveWin
MoveInactiveWin is a free DM2 alternative for Windows that addresses desktop clutter by allowing users to move a window without activating it. By holding Alt+LClick, users can reposition windows like open files, programs, or dialogs, which is particularly useful when dealing with a cluttered desktop where windows might hide others.
Choosing the best DM2 alternative depends on your specific needs, whether it's advanced window snapping, simple minimization to tray, or always-on-top functionality. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your Windows workflow and enhance your productivity.