How to Keep Sticky Notes Always on Top Over Full-Screen Apps on Mac

One of the most frustrating limitations in macOS is how the operating system handles Full-Screen Apps and Spaces.

You open Apple's built-in Stickies app, check Window > Float on Top, and think you're set. But the moment you click the green maximize button on Google Chrome, Xcode, or Figma, your sticky note disappears.

Why does this happen, and how can you keep a floating note pinned over full-screen apps on Mac? Let's dive in.

Why Apple's "Float on Top" Fails in Full Screen

In macOS, when you turn an application full-screen, the OS does not simply resize the window. Instead, macOS creates a dedicated virtual Space (a separate desktop display space in Mission Control).

Apple's native Stickies window resides only on the primary desktop space (NSNormalWindowLevel). Even when set to "Float on Top", the window manager locks Stickies to Desktop 1. When you swipe over to a full-screen app, Stickies stays behind on the old desktop.

The Solution: True Cocoa Window Levels & Multi-Space Ubiquity

To keep a window floating above full-screen apps in modern macOS (Sonoma, Sequoia, and beyond), an app must do two specific things in Cocoa / AppKit:

1. 1.
   Set Window Collection Behavior to Can Join All Spaces:

   // Rust / Tauri v2 Window Configuration
   window.set_visible_on_all_workspaces(true)?;

1. 2.
   Elevate Window Level above Normal Applications:

The window level must be set to NSStatusWindowLevel or NSFloatingWindowLevel:

   window.set_always_on_top(true)?;

When both flags are active, the floating window ignores virtual desktop boundaries and hovers seamlessly across every monitor and full-screen space.

Step-by-Step: Keeping Notes Always on Top with Float

Float implements these native macOS window controls out of the box:

1. 1.
   Summon Float Anywhere: Press ⌥ + Space (Option + Space) on any screen.
2. 2.
   Toggle Desktop Pin: Click the PIN button in the top right header, or press ⌥P.
3. 3.
   Switch to Full Screen: Maximize Xcode, VS Code, or start a Zoom screen share.
4. 4.
   Notice the Difference: Float remains crisply floating above your editor, letting you reference meeting action items, copy terminal snippets, and check to-dos without ever leaving your IDE.

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts in Float

Conclusion

You don't have to tolerate notes hiding behind fullscreen editors. By using an app engineered with native Cocoa multi-workspace support, your notes stay right where your eyes need them.