How to Make Windows Photoshop Look Like Mac Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re a Photoshop user on Windows and have always admired the sleek design and intuitive layout of Photoshop on Mac, you’re not alone. Many creatives find the Mac version of Photoshop to be more visually appealing, with its minimalist interface and smoother workflow. Fortunately, you can make Windows Photoshop look like Mac Photoshop with a few easy tweaks and customizations. This guide will walk you through the entire process to give your Windows-based Photoshop the same stylish look and feel as the Mac version.

Why Would You Want to Make Windows Photoshop Look Like Mac Photoshop?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s take a moment to discuss why you’d want to make this change. The Mac version of Photoshop is known for its:

Cleaner UI: Mac Photoshop offers a more refined, streamlined interface that many users prefer.
Improved Performance: Mac users generally experience smoother, faster operations with fewer bugs.
Better Integration: Mac Photoshop works seamlessly with other Apple ecosystem apps.

By making Windows Photoshop look like Mac Photoshop, you can bring some of these benefits to your system, enhancing your user experience.

Step 1: Changing the UI Theme

One of the easiest ways to make Windows Photoshop look like Mac Photoshop is by altering the Photoshop theme. Photoshop for Mac typically uses a darker theme with a more streamlined palette, while Windows defaults to a lighter interface.

Launch Photoshop: Open Photoshop on your Windows PC.
Go to Preferences: From the top menu, click on Edit > Preferences > Interface.
Change UI Brightness: Under the Appearance section, you’ll find an option for UI Brightness. Adjust it to the darker option, which will bring the Photoshop interface closer to what you see on Mac.
Set UI Color: Next, choose the Medium Dark color option for a more minimalist, Mac-like interface.

Step 2: Customize the Toolbar

Mac Photoshop features a more compact and organized toolbar, offering a clean and professional workspace. You can replicate this setup on your Windows machine by customizing your toolbar.

Go to Window > Tools: This will display the toolbar on the left side of your screen.
Customize Toolbar: Right-click on the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar. Here, you can remove unwanted tools and rearrange the icons to create a Mac-like toolbar layout.
Add or Remove Tools: You can drag and drop tools to add or remove them from the toolbar for a simpler layout.

Step 3: Set the Menu Bar to Mac Style

The Mac version of Photoshop uses a unified menu bar at the top of the screen, while Windows has separate menus. To make Windows Photoshop look like Mac Photoshop, we can simulate this unified experience.

Enable Full-Screen Mode: Press F11 to enter full-screen mode, which hides the taskbar and gives you more space, mimicking the Mac experience.
Adjust Window Placement: Move the menu bar to the top of your workspace for a cleaner look. To do this, click Window > Application Frame.

Step 4: Install Mac-Like Fonts and Icons

To make your Photoshop on Windows even more like the Mac version, you can install some Mac-like fonts and icons.

Download Mac-Like Fonts: Search for fonts used in Mac Photoshop, such as Helvetica Neue, and install them on your Windows machine. This will change the text appearance to resemble that of Mac Photoshop.
Install Icons: You can also download Mac-style icons and replace the default icons in your Photoshop interface. Look for icon packs that are compatible with Photoshop’s user interface.

Step 5: Get Mac-Like Mouse Gestures

Mac users benefit from smooth mouse gestures that make navigating Photoshop more intuitive. While these gestures aren’t native to Windows, you can replicate them using third-party software.

Download Gesture Software: Programs like StrokeIt or AutoHotkey allow you to set custom gestures for your mouse, replicating the smooth navigation found on Mac.
Configure Gestures: Set up swipe gestures for tasks like zooming, scrolling, and rotating the canvas, to get a more seamless experience.

Step 6: Install Mac-Like Plugins and Extensions

To fully emulate the Mac Photoshop experience, consider installing some plugins and extensions that offer features exclusive to the Mac version.

Search for Mac-Style Plugins: Some plugins are specifically designed to make Photoshop look and behave more like the Mac version. Popular options include Retina UI and Mac UI Elements.
Install and Configure: Once installed, these plugins will automatically adjust the look and feel of your Photoshop interface.

Step 7: Adjust Performance Settings for Smooth Operation

Photoshop on Mac is known for its smooth performance. To replicate this on Windows, you can adjust your Photoshop settings for optimal performance.

Go to Preferences > Performance: Adjust the Memory Usage slider to allocate more memory to Photoshop.
Optimize Cache Settings: Increase the Cache Levels and History States to improve Photoshop’s responsiveness.
Disable Unnecessary Plugins: Deactivate any unnecessary third-party plugins to speed up the program.

Step 8: Use Mac-Like File Handling

Mac users enjoy intuitive file management, and you can replicate this on Windows by adjusting some file handling settings.

Enable File Auto-Saving: Go to Preferences > File Handling and enable Automatically Save Recovery Information. This mimics the auto-save feature that Mac Photoshop offers.
Organize Files Using Smart Folders: Use the File > Scripts > Export Layers to Files option to organize your files neatly, just like on a Mac.

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Processor:AMD Athlon Silver 7120U | Speed: 2.4GHz (Base) – 3.5GHz (Max) | 2 Cores | 2 Threads
Display: 15.6″ HD (1920X1080) | TN | 220Nits Brightness | Anti Glare
Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon 610M Graphics | Memory: 8GB LPDDR5-5500, 8GB soldered memory, not upgradable | Storage: 512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe
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Warranty: This genuine Lenovo laptop comes with 1 year onsite manufacturer warranty+ 1 Year accidental damage protection

FAQ

Can I make Photoshop on Windows look exactly like on Mac?

While you can replicate many aspects of the Mac version, it’s difficult to perfectly mimic the Mac interface due to differences in the underlying operating systems.

Will changing my Photoshop UI impact its performance?

No, changing the interface settings won’t affect Photoshop’s performance. However, adjusting memory and cache settings can enhance performance.

Can I add Mac-style icons in Photoshop for Windows?

Yes, you can download and install Mac-style icons to make your Windows Photoshop interface look more like the Mac version.

Does using plugins improve the Mac-like experience?

Yes, plugins specifically designed for Mac-like UI can make your Photoshop on Windows feel more intuitive and visually similar to Mac Photoshop.

Will using third-party software for gestures improve my workflow?

Using software for gestures can improve navigation and make Photoshop feel smoother and more like the Mac experience.