First Launch

Setup Assistant

On first launch, FazerWM shows a Setup Assistant. The assistant guides you through the steps. The window manager starts only after these steps.

Step 1: Activation

FazerWM registers your device to start the free Pro trial. This step runs in the background.

Step 2: Configure the Hyper Key

FazerWM shortcuts use a Hyper key. By default, the Hyper key is Right Shift + Right Option. No other app uses this combination, so it does not conflict with other shortcuts. A single physical key cannot make this combination. The assistant remaps Caps Lock through Karabiner-Elements. Karabiner-Elements is a free, open-source tool. Hold Caps Lock to use Hyper. Tap Caps Lock to use the normal Caps Lock function.

The step shows a live checklist. The checklist shows Karabiner installed, Karabiner running, and the Hyper rule configured. The checklist updates as you go. A one-click Add Hyper Key to Karabiner button writes the rule into your config. The assistant warns you if Caps Lock is already mapped to another function. This step is recommended, but it is optional.

Step 3: Configure Desktop & Dock

This step covers two groups of System Settings. Go to Desktop & Dock. Each group has a one-click button in the assistant:

Displays have separate Spaces. FazerWM manages its own workspaces. It does not use macOS Spaces to organize your windows. This macOS setting gives each monitor its own Space. The setting prevents conflicts and gives the cleanest behavior for each display. FazerWM works best with this setting enabled. The setting takes effect only after you log out and log in again. The assistant Enable button turns the setting on if it is off.

Disable macOS window behaviours. The macOS window tiling and the Mission Control drag-to-top gesture conflict with the FazerWM layout. The assistant Disable All button turns off:

• Tile a window when you drag it to the left or right edge
• Fill the screen when you drag a window to the menu bar
• Tile a window when you hold the ⌥ key during a drag
• Open Mission Control when you drag a window to the top of the screen

Step 4: Configure Trackpad Gestures

To use 3-finger and 4-finger swipes, turn off the macOS gestures that conflict. These gestures are Swipe between full-screen apps, Mission Control, and App Exposé. Open System Settings. Go to Trackpad, then More Gestures. The assistant detects the conflicts automatically.

Step 5: Grant Permissions

FazerWM needs two permissions. They are requested in one step, in order:

Device Control and Data Access (called Accessibility on macOS 26 and earlier): needed to manage windows and to capture keyboard events. Without it, FazerWM cannot function. The assistant opens System Settings to this pane. Turn FazerWM on. The assistant detects the grant automatically and continues. The permission itself is the same on every version.

Screen & System Audio Recording: needed to detect window positions and to manage workspaces across displays. FazerWM uses only the screen part of this permission: it observes window content without recording it, and it never captures system audio. This section stays disabled until the first permission is granted: grant Device Control and Data Access first, and the Screen & System Audio Recording section unlocks on its own. When you grant it, macOS presents its own quit-and-reopen dialogue. Accept it, and on the relaunch FazerWM finds both permissions granted and starts without the wizard.

The Finish button checks that both permissions are granted. If one is missing, it tells you which.

After Setup

When the setup is complete, the Setup Assistant closes. The full window manager starts:

• The FazerWM menu bar icon appears
• FazerWM detects the existing windows and tiles them automatically
• The keyboard shortcuts become active (Hyper key)
• FazerWM makes a default workspace named "Workspace 1" on each display

Menu Bar

FazerWM runs from the menu bar. Click the menu bar icon to open these items:

Your First Steps

After the setup, do these actions: