What Are macOS Window Levels — And Why They Matter for Your Notes

Every window on your Mac — every browser tab, every app, every note — has an invisible number called a window level. macOS uses this number to decide what appears on top when windows overlap. Most apps never give you any say in this number. Your note sits at the same level as Safari and Finder, and that's that.

DeskMemo is different. It gives you direct control over where each note sits in your Mac's window stack. Float a note above every app so it never gets buried. Step it behind all windows so it's there when you clear your screen. Lock it permanently to your wallpaper so it becomes part of your desktop.

This post explains exactly how macOS window levels work — and how DeskMemo's three toolbar controls let you use them.

What Is a macOS Window Level?

A window level is a number macOS assigns to every window on your screen. Think of your display as a physical stack of glass sheets: windows with higher numbers float above windows with lower numbers. When two windows overlap, the one with the higher level always wins and appears on top.

Most of the time, this system is invisible. Every standard app — Safari, Chrome, Mail, Finder — sits at Level 0. They compete for position based on which one you clicked most recently, not any fixed hierarchy. That is why clicking one app brings it forward and pushes others back.

Standard notes apps sit at Level 0. They can't move up, and they can't move down. You get no say in where your note sits in the stack. DeskMemo lets you change that.

DeskMemo's Three Window Level Controls

DeskMemo has three toolbar icons — Float on Top, Move Behind All Windows, and Lock — that move each note to a different window level. Here is what each one does.

Float on Top — Level 3

Float on Top moves the note above every app window on your Mac. Safari, Finder, full-screen video, a Zoom call — the note stays visible on top of all of them. No other standard app can cover it.

The note is still fully interactive while floating. You can click it, edit it, move it, and resize it. It just never gets buried.

Best for: reference notes you need to see while working in another app — a checklist alongside a video call, a code snippet visible while you write, a recipe you're following in another window.

Move Behind All Windows — Level −1

Move Behind All Windows sinks the note one level below every standard app. When you have apps open, the note disappears behind them — hidden from view but not gone. To get it back, use Show Desktop on your Mac (press F11 or do a pinch gesture with your thumb and four fingers on the trackpad). The note appears on your desktop. Click it to bring it forward for editing.

The note stays fully editable and is not locked. The toolbar remains visible. The only thing that changed is its position in the stack.

Best for: notes you want accessible but out of your way — a shopping list you check occasionally, reference cards you pull up between tasks, anything you want within reach without cluttering your screen.

Lock — Level −1 with Click-Through

Lock does two things at once: it sinks the note to Level −1 and makes it fully click-through. Your mouse does not know the note exists. Clicks pass straight through it and land on whatever is behind it — your wallpaper, Finder icons, other apps — as if the note is printed on glass.

The note stays visible on your desktop. It just never interferes with anything you do. The toolbar disappears. The note cannot be moved or edited until you unlock it from the DeskMemo menu bar icon.

Best for: vision boards, pinned photos, goal boards, inspiration images — any note you want permanently visible on your wallpaper without ever accidentally clicking it.

How the Three Modes Compare

Feature	Float on Top	Move Behind	Lock
Window level	Level 3 — above everything	Level −1 — below apps	Level −1 — below apps
Click-through	No	No — clicking brings it forward	Yes — clicks pass through
Editable	Yes	Yes	No
Toolbar visible	Yes	Yes	No — hidden when locked
Best for	Reference while working	Accessible but hidden	Permanent wallpaper pins

Why This Matters for How You Work

Most note apps force you to choose between two bad options: notes buried under everything, or notes floating on top and getting in the way. Neither is right for every situation.

Window level control gives you a third and fourth option. A note can float only when you need it, step behind everything when you don't, or live permanently on your wallpaper without ever interrupting your work.

A few real-world examples of how the levels work together:

• During a meeting: Float a checklist on top of your video call window so your talking points stay visible the whole time.
• Between tasks: Move Behind your reference note so your screen stays clean. Use Show Desktop to pull it forward when you need it.
• Always-on goals: Lock a vision board to your wallpaper. It's there every time you see your desktop — without ever getting in your way.
• Canvas layout preview: Move a Canvas note behind your windows to see how it looks on your desktop before locking it in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a window level on macOS?

A window level is a number macOS assigns to every window on your screen. Windows with higher levels appear above windows with lower levels. Level 0 is the default for all standard apps. Level 3 is above normal apps (the Float level). Level −1 is below normal apps — visible on your desktop when no apps cover it. System alerts and dialogs are above everything, including Float.

How do I keep a note on top of all windows on Mac?

In DeskMemo, click the Float on Top icon in the note's control bar. This moves the note to Level 3 — above every standard app window. Safari, Chrome, Finder, and all other apps will appear below it. The note stays fully interactive while floating.

How do I put a note behind my desktop on Mac?

In DeskMemo, use Move Behind All Windows to step the note to Level −1. It sits below all app windows and becomes visible when you use Show Desktop (F11 or a pinch gesture). Click the note to bring it forward. Use Lock instead if you want it permanently there and click-through.

What does click-through mean for a Mac window?

Click-through means the window is visible on screen but your mouse does not interact with it. Clicks pass straight through the window to whatever is behind it. DeskMemo's Lock mode makes a note fully click-through — you can see it, but you can never accidentally click, move, or edit it.

What is the difference between Move Behind and Lock in DeskMemo?

Both place the note at Level −1 — below all app windows, visible on your desktop. The difference is interaction. Move Behind keeps the note fully editable and clickable (clicking it brings it forward). Lock makes the note click-through — your mouse passes straight through it, the toolbar disappears, and the note cannot be moved or edited until you unlock it from the DeskMemo menu bar icon.