MacMost - The world's best resource for macOS tips! This is one of my favorites. As a relatively new Mac user, I can feel my Mac headspace increasing every time I listen to one of Gary's videos. 👍🏼
Gary - I've been a Mac user for about 18 months. The more I watch your how-to videos the more I wonder why I stayed with Windows for so long. Thank you.
The more I watch it the less I want to have my Mac honestly, it's too difficult and has too many options. For Windows you just have 1 option and that's about all.
I have only been using a Mac since May. It was my birthday present to myself. I have to say. One of the best features is using multiple desktops. I love it and makes things much easier. What showed in this video is awesome. The level of customization you showed us and what we can modify. That takes it to a whole new level. Thank you and keep the videos coming. This youtube has been such a saver for me.
What I like about macmost is that you don’t just show ways to use a feature but go far beyond, starting with simple to advanced aspects of the feature. This gives us much more than we asked for, a comprehensive coverage of the subject.
Wow! I’ve played with spaces before but the navigation always seemed a bit tricky. But now with your explanation and tips in hand, it’s time to try again. Thanks for another great tutorial Gary!
I learn so much every time I watch one of these. Invaluable resource for mac users. I don't think there's any other channel that does this quite so well.
Thank you- very helpful. Will really enhanced my workflow and ending the confusion about desktop and spaces in mission control. Returning to mac after a number of years and your channel is really helping with the adjustment.
🏆Thank you for this video! The system preferences are a bit different now with the updates. I still learned so much! This is such a neat tool and I love how you explain things! OMGosh! I just assigned my docked app of TH-cam to all windows and now I can keep watching your video and check an email! You are wonderful!
Fabulous. One of your best videos. I used tab groups on Safari and decided to redesign my whole method of working with different environments by going into desktop spaces in a serious way. It's a winner and your tips are very useful. Thanks!
Great video. Here’s the very first thing I always setup on a new Mac. Open the max 16 spaces and then go to keyboard shortcuts and turn on all the shortcuts for the spaces and now you can use like CTRL+7 to get to the 7th desktop. Power!!
I can’t believe in the 10 years I had my previous MacBook it never occurred to me to look at mission control to see what it does. Discovered it by accident on my new MacBook. Omg it’s awesome !
Hi Gary! As a long time Windows user I bought an iMac 6 months ago. Your videos are very helpful for me to better understand Mac OS and find out some tips and tricks to make things easier and a lot more fun to use. I like, that you go straight to the topic, without boring, long introductions.Thank you!
Get BetterTouchTool. When I switched for Win7 to Mac about 15 years ago, it saved my life as I was initially unable to deal with OSX not having the Win7 ability to easily switch windows to the left or right side of the screen with CTRK {on Win key - I can't remember} + arrow keys. BTT allows you to set keyboard shortcuts to do things like this, many, many things. I set function keys to google the highlighted text or look up in dictionary. Set shortcuts for normal and/or magic mice. Modifier keys like shift, opt, cmd etc - any combinations - with different mice keys or magic mouse or trackpad clicks and swipes. Best Mac app ever. Try it. Best of luck. {I typed this and then pressed F14 which I've set to select all then copy. F15 does CMD+Plus 5 times, so my screen zooms from 100% to 240%. You can tell it to do command after command, all with one press of a button. You can make them all app specific or global, can use the iPhone app to control your mac as a remote etc. I couldn't have migrated from Win to OSX without it.}
In M1 MacBook Pro running #MacOS #Ventura, "Mission Control" settings has been move under the link/button "Desktop & Dock" - in there you can toggle on/ off Group Windows By Application. The guy in the vid is using an old version of Mac OS.
@@macmost This is the reason why "update" is there for. I follow you for quite some time, and I have noticed that you don't really do any update of your videos when we move to a new version of macOS. This is creating a problem to some of your followers when watching your tutorials. You can at least amend the tile of this video by stating the exact version of MacOS that you are using.
Another useful way to change between "desktops/apps" is the Command+Tab shortcut. All in all it was a beautiful and comprehensive summary! Thank you, I've learned some neat new tricks.
Hello Gary, Having just recently graduated to Mac from decades on the PC I find your channel a must have to learn anything and practically everything there is to know about Mac OS. I have a simple question that I can't find an answer for. It's about iCloud email... What are the benefits to having an iCloud email? Does it replace my iCloud account name? Or email? Does it work the same as my email account that my ISP email? Thank You.
Well iCloud (or Gmail) is better than ISP email for many reasons. See th-cam.com/video/LXsixHC7KIc/w-d-xo.html . It can be used to replace your iCloud account ID, but doesn't have to.
I thought I was really good at this, working this way for a long time. But somehow I overlooked the "All Desktops" thing. Thanks, it could come in handy…
Gary, excellent as always. I had tried using desktops previously but gave up, primarily because I didn't understand all of the options. You went over them very well and now I'm up and going with them. I use 2 monitors where one is extended and wanted my external monitor to be my primary monitor. I accomplished that in the settings without issue. Then I use the logitech mouse buttons to invoke mission control or access to all apps. As you said, there are tons of ways to do this. It all works great, but from time to time I was stuck with no mission control function and no dock for several minutes and couldn't figure out why. I finally learned that there is a feature to move the dock back and forth between primary and extended screens. You do this by simply going to the other screen without the dock and pushing the mouse pointer below the bottom of the other screen and the dock will shift over to that screen! Ok, that's a cool function, and it does work, but there's a horrible 3 or 4 min lag until it shifts over. During those 3 to 4 minutes you can continue to work on the windows you have open but you've got to wait that 3 or 4 minutes until the dock moves to the other screen before you can access any new windows or shift to any other desktops. I found this huge time delay unacceptable so decided to just leave the dock on my external screen were I use it most of the time. I can always use my mouse buttons to access all of my apps or mission control anyway on either screen. BUT, here's the problem. On the screen without the dock, you have to be VERY careful to never move your mouse to the bottom of that screen because it will invoke an instruction to move the dock to that screen and you are now in jail and have to wait 3 to 4 min. for that move function to complete! And your stuck not being able to open any new programs or windows until it moves. Do you know if this delay is a bug? I'm using MAC OS 13.4. I experimented further and found if I position the dock on the left, it will appear on the left of the primary screen and eliminates the hot spot on the other screen because it was never designed to move from the left or the right to the other screen. This IS workable solution but I just need to get used to using the dock on the left of the screen. Do you know how to keep the dock on the bottom of the screen and prevent it from attempting to move, which takes 3 or 4 min. to do? I'd rather have my dock on the bottom vs. the left side. Thank you!
I've never experience a 3-4 minute delay like that. If you have "Displays Have Separate Spaces" turned on, and "Automatically Hide and Show Dock" on (both in System Settings, Desktop & Dock) it should work as you like.
I just started my journey in Mac. I got my first MacBook last week Tuesday because I thought you know what. Let's try something new. I've always wanted to try the equipment from Apple and MacOS in general. These are some handy tips you're giving! Thanks a lot for them. It's a very very difficult switch I have to say when you're used to the Windows eco system. Just today I got confused with my triple monitor setup where I had a full screen app on the second monitor and wanted to move a window from my right screen to the middle. Couldn't do it. Like the screen wasn't there. This of course has to do that the app itself was in full screen instead of the space being a desktop but it's really confusing if you don't keep that in mind when you come from Windows. It's less confusing when just using my MacBooks screen though. I'm going to keep following your videos and hopefully, hopefully I can finally find peace in the Mac ecosystem. Thanks a lot!
Great stuff as usual! I don't think SPLIT VIEW works anymore (with the latest MacOS Monterey) on my mac. When I try to drag PHOTOS up into one of the other windows that has SAFARI open, I don't get the "plus" indicator which your video shows as a way to launch split view. Just wondering...
Try it with other apps to see. Apps have a minimum window size, so if your screen isn't large enough for an app's window to fit in half the space, you won't be offered the option.
@@macmost Hi again Gary. Following up on this as I have confirmed that you can easily assign specific Spaces and Desktops and Applications to specific external displays. For anyone who this might help, start by going to System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > and turning ON "Displays have separate Spaces". You can now easily drag and drop any Space or Desktop from one external display to the next. You can also assign specific applications to specific external displays (control-click on an application icon in the dock > select Options > select Desktop on Display 2, for instance), and now that application will ALWAYS launch on that specific external display, even after logging out, rebooting, etc. (This was my main goal when asking the original question.) Now that I have two external monitors connected to my M2 MacBook Air and using the Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter, with the M2 MacBook Air running in closed lid mode), I've been playing around with the best way to have macOS set up, which led me to figure this out pretty quickly. Thanks again for your videos, really appreciate them.
That was great. I was wondering if there is a way to save these desktops and recalling them after my mac is turned off and back on. Pls lmk. Thank you,
If you simply don’t close the windows or quit the apps then when you restart the apps will resume and the windows will return. Make sure you haven’t turned those options off in System Settings. Of course it should be a rare case that you have to shut down your Mac at all anyway.
Thanks for the video. Very useful to get the most out of this feature. Clearly this is meant for touchpad/mouse users. Wish they could just do a proper - window manager like - dwm, i3, etc. With a proper keyboard control for moving windows to diff. spaces and switching desktops.
Hi, I usually use the app named Contexts to switch different app between different spaces. It’s very efficient! Because the logic of different spaces for Apple is very strange.it’s often make me struggled.
Depends on your settings. In System Preferences, General turn off "close windows when quitting apps" and when you shut down make sure you choose to have apps relaunch. Also, why are you shutting down? See th-cam.com/video/FsrTpEuXEtc/w-d-xo.html
Gary, I now have a much better understanding of spaces, but one thing I do not understand is when I restart my computer all the desktops are gone. Is there a box to check that opens everything up as it was when closed?
Great video. Is there any way of opening an app and have the workspace include another desktop? For example I have Cubase and would like the mixer window to go to desktop 2 automatically rather than having to drag the window every time. Im sure the same would be nice for video editors etc
If you have it that way and quit the app without closing the windows first, it may just go back to that same arrangement. In System Preferences, General, make sure you have Close Windows When Quitting App turned OFF. Try it and see. Otherwise, is there a reason you have to quit at all? Just keep it open. That's what I do with the apps I use every day.
I've been using spaces but didn't know about the whole split-view feature. I usually just resize windows to be about half screen and move them around that way... This might really change the way I organize my workflow. I do wish you could split a screen vertically as well
Great video, thank you. Do you know if it is possible to mute all the apps from one specific desktop? I'm using one space for my work stuff only and I don't want to hear or see any notifications when I'm not working.
As always, some great new tips right there. Gary, one thing, is there a way to make the app that is maximized to not jump into the last space, but rather preserve it’s current location? This is probably the reason why I do not use apps maximized much (such as mail), since I prefer to always have it at desktop 2 for example (to-do list on desktop one). When I maximize it however - it just jumps at the end of all open spaces which is just not convenient at all.
@@macmost Well, actually there are only 4 options there: 1) Auto arrange spaces (disabled) 2) When switching to an app, switch to a space with open windows for the all (enabled) 3) Group windows by apps (disabled) 4) Displays have separate spaces (enabled) There is however no option to keep the app at the same relative space when maximized, without moving it to the back of all spaces. I see why it could be useful to push the maximized app to the end, but I wish this behavior could be adjusted.
@@Ivan_1986 The "Auto arrange spaces" was the option I meant. But it sounds like you are quitting the app, or at least closing that window, or maybe taking the window out of full screen mode. When you do that, the system doesn't remember where it was in the order you had before. So maybe just leave the window in full screen mode all the time?
@@macmost Yes, I do not use "Auto arrange spaces", since I also prefer to manage them manually, thus I know exactly where things are. At the moment it seems that this "option" I am talking about does not exist though. Thank you for getting back on this, Gary!
That was very useful. thanks. thumbs is up! But one thing I was really hoping to find here but didn't: how can I make folders and files laying on desktop 1 disappear from desktop 2 entirely ?? Possible?
great tips thank´s. What I haven´t found how to do is. IF I have a windo w open, let´s say my DOCUMENTSs and gets lost in other open windows if I click the shortcut in my finder it opens a new DOCUMENTS window. Yes same info but more clutter. Can I make it pop in front and not a new one ?
Use CMD-Tab to cycle through to Finder. (Make this your preferred way of app switching as it's the fastest and easiest) ..Now..if you can see your Documents window, fine; if not, either 1) click on the Windows tab of the (Finder) menu bar and it'll show a dropdown of the open Finder windows and you can click on the Documents window, or 2) use CMD-`/~ to cycle through the Finder open windows. Avoid clutter by hiding apps with CMD-h, or option-CMD-h to mothball all apps except the one in focus. You could also do all this by control-click on the Finder icon in the dock and (in Mojave, anyhow) it'll offer you a choice of Finder open windows. Personally I prefer to avoid clicking. YPMV.
Quick question if you're still monitoring this topic: when you use a shortcut to enter Mission Control, it only shows what I would call a condensed view...that is, just the names (Desktop 1, Desktop 2, etc) of the desktops, more like buttons than icons. You have to actually move the mouse into that top area (which Apple call the Space Bar) to be able to see the full icons of what the desktops look like. Is there a way to have Mission Control show the full icons right away, instead of having to move the mouse up there into the Space Bar area? Many thanks for the video, and your efforts generally to improving our Mac productivity!
@@macmost Thanks for responding, Gary. No, I would just like to have the expanded view of the Space Bar (i.e. the full visual icons) as the default for Mission Control, so there is an instant visual reference to the Desktops without having to move the cursor into the Space Bar area to expand the initial button-like labels. I've googled a bit more on this today. Others have asked a similar question. Apparently there is no MacOS setting or shortcut to do it, so people (including myself now) have used apps like BetterTouchTool to achieve it. Cheers.
@@alisterwebb8955 FWIW, I rarely go to Mission Control when I want to change spaces, only when I want to create and manage them. For switching, I either use the App Switcher and let it take me to the space with that app, or I use Control+Left/Right just to flip through them.
Hi Gary, Thanks for a brilliant video. I've been using spaces for a long time. I try the Control + Click on app in Space to select This Desktop but it works so-so when the app is in fullscreen, and I close the app the Desktop disappears in spaces and if I open the app again it opens up in Desktop 1 by default. I'm wondering if you know any tips for when you restart your computer that your spaces always appear in the setting you prefer them? I'm open to using a 3rd party Spaces controller app for this if you know any. I want to have it like this: 1. Desktop 1 - Default, finders, browsing 2. Craft (writing app) 3. Mimestream (gmail mac os app) 4. ToDoist + Fantastical (Split View) 5. Slack 6. Spotify
If you want the Full Screen apps to stay put, don't quit them. Don't close their windows. And make sure when you restart you don't opt to have them quit.
@@macmost Hi, Thanks for your reply! I find It later. actually, It was my fault to understand, Sorry for that. Loved your tutorial. Take love from Bangladesh!.
Hello , Thank tku for your useful videos . I had a sudden problem and not able to solve it. I usually use different desktops and organize my windows through them .I opened my office imac through Anydesk app on my Mac laptop , and the other day in the office found all windows on Desktop 1 , and not able to move them again to different desktops . Whenever I try it shows a white circle that it's not allowed to drag .any solution please
Great video as usual, but after learning these things I found I had 2 questions. I watched twice, but neither were answered: (1) you show how to make an App appear on all desktops, but how about a folder (like Downloads)? (2) I like having "automatically hide and show the menu bar" set to Never, for the reasons you gave -- except when a video is playing full screen. I can't find any easy way to make a shortcut to override that setting -- I even explored doing it with Keyboard Maestro, but couldn't figure out how to do it.
Not sure what your goal is with 1. Do you just want quick access to files in Downloads? Then put the Downloads folder on the right side of the Dock if it isn't there already. Then you don't even need a window that will get in the way. I can't think of an easy way to have the menu bar disappear when watching a video, but not for some other Full Screen window. Maybe just have it set to disappear when a window is Full Screen, but then for other windows just create a new desktop space and fill the space with that one window.
@@macmost I keep my downloads folder open because I work from it a lot. As a workaround, I figured out that I could duplicate a downloads folder in each desktop. Good idea about the full screen view. Thanks again.
@@macmost I think I found a better way: right-click the Finder icon on the Dock > Options > All Desktops. This seems to make all folders open in whatever space you are in. Before I set this, it would unexpectedly jump to another space where that folder is open.
I learned new stuffs here, than you for that. Yet I have one more information for you. When multiple apps are in full screen, they self organize in the order you use them in sequence, pretty much as it does when you’re cycling through apps with command tab. Same on an iPad, btw. Desktops are very useful on a laptop, a bit less on a big screen.
Great video. There’s one thing that annoys me incredibly. I want to stay in one particular space regardless of which app windows are open in other spaces. If there’s a safari window in one space I’m thrown away to that space if I want to open a Safari window in the current space. Is there a way that allows me to decide when I switch spaces no matter what?
@@broadaccent You can also just click and hold Safari in the Dock, then select New Safari Window. It will create the window in the current Desktop Space.
MacMost - The world's best resource for macOS tips! This is one of my favorites. As a relatively new Mac user, I can feel my Mac headspace increasing every time I listen to one of Gary's videos. 👍🏼
I've used Macs for a long time, but I learn so many new things from every one of your videos! Thanks so much!
Gary - I've been a Mac user for about 18 months. The more I watch your how-to videos the more I wonder why I stayed with Windows for so long. Thank you.
+1
I’ve been asking myself the same question…
And I’m a 30 yr retired corporate Windows trainer!
@@geekmeee never late to learn new tricks, rsss
+1
The more I watch it the less I want to have my Mac honestly, it's too difficult and has too many options. For Windows you just have 1 option and that's about all.
I have only been using a Mac since May. It was my birthday present to myself. I have to say. One of the best features is using multiple desktops. I love it and makes things much easier. What showed in this video is awesome. The level of customization you showed us and what we can modify. That takes it to a whole new level. Thank you and keep the videos coming. This youtube has been such a saver for me.
Great tips Gary! That was the first time I've heard of different desktops on the Mac. Keep rollin'!
What I like about macmost is that you don’t just show ways to use a feature but go far beyond, starting with simple to advanced aspects of the feature. This gives us much more than we asked for, a comprehensive coverage of the subject.
Thanks! That's what I'm going for.
Spaces have been a huge time saver for me. When I'm working I have loads of things open at once, so this has been invaluable.
Point number 21: super useful! I use Spaces regularly and have always struggled with apps opening in different desktops all the time. This solves it!
Wow! I’ve played with spaces before but the navigation always seemed a bit tricky. But now with your explanation and tips in hand, it’s time to try again. Thanks for another great tutorial Gary!
I learn so much every time I watch one of these. Invaluable resource for mac users. I don't think there's any other channel that does this quite so well.
Thank you, Professor, for taking the time to enrich our lives and make us better Mac users.
I've never really bothered with Spaces before but decided to explore a bit more, and I found your video and it's very informative and useful!
Thank you- very helpful. Will really enhanced my workflow and ending the confusion about desktop and spaces in mission control. Returning to mac after a number of years and your channel is really helping with the adjustment.
Thanks for the valuable tips, Gary. I use "spaces" regularly and enjoyed learning more about them.
So very helpful, and I appreciate your delivery style. Thank you, MacMost!!!!
🏆Thank you for this video! The system preferences are a bit different now with the updates. I still learned so much! This is such a neat tool and I love how you explain things! OMGosh! I just assigned my docked app of TH-cam to all windows and now I can keep watching your video and check an email! You are wonderful!
Perfect timing for exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!
Fabulous. One of your best videos. I used tab groups on Safari and decided to redesign my whole method of working with different environments by going into desktop spaces in a serious way. It's a winner and your tips are very useful. Thanks!
Another really good video. Some useful tips I'll be using immediately. Thanks.
Great video. Here’s the very first thing I always setup on a new Mac.
Open the max 16 spaces and then go to keyboard shortcuts and turn on all the shortcuts for the spaces and now you can use like CTRL+7 to get to the 7th desktop. Power!!
Super helpful for my productiveity, thanks again Gary!
Wonderful!👍 I never even tried the “on all desktops” setting 😱
Awesome tutorial! I stayed away from this thing for a long time and after your easy explanation I cannot live w/o it. Cheers man! TY!
Great vid helpfully presented. I learnt a few bits that had been irritating and/or puzzling me and now I know :) Thanks
I've been doing a few things wrong... this makes so much sense!
This was super useful. Thank you.
Tip 7 was a lifesaver! Been killing me. Thanks!
Always helpful. Cheers
Thank you! I always learn something watching your videos.
I can’t believe in the 10 years I had my previous MacBook it never occurred to me to look at mission control to see what it does. Discovered it by accident on my new MacBook. Omg it’s awesome !
i'm a first time mac user. Thank you so much! Your video helped a lot!!!
Best Apple Mac channel on earth! Can’t believe I am just now discovering it. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! 😊
Hi Gary! As a long time Windows user I bought an iMac 6 months ago. Your videos are very helpful for me to better understand Mac OS and find out some tips and tricks to make things easier and a lot more fun to use. I like, that you go straight to the topic, without boring, long introductions.Thank you!
Get BetterTouchTool. When I switched for Win7 to Mac about 15 years ago, it saved my life as I was initially unable to deal with OSX not having the Win7 ability to easily switch windows to the left or right side of the screen with CTRK {on Win key - I can't remember} + arrow keys. BTT allows you to set keyboard shortcuts to do things like this, many, many things. I set function keys to google the highlighted text or look up in dictionary. Set shortcuts for normal and/or magic mice. Modifier keys like shift, opt, cmd etc - any combinations - with different mice keys or magic mouse or trackpad clicks and swipes. Best Mac app ever. Try it. Best of luck. {I typed this and then pressed F14 which I've set to select all then copy. F15 does CMD+Plus 5 times, so my screen zooms from 100% to 240%. You can tell it to do command after command, all with one press of a button. You can make them all app specific or global, can use the iPhone app to control your mac as a remote etc. I couldn't have migrated from Win to OSX without it.}
In M1 MacBook Pro running #MacOS #Ventura, "Mission Control" settings has been move under the link/button "Desktop & Dock" - in there you can toggle on/ off Group Windows By Application. The guy in the vid is using an old version of Mac OS.
This video is from a year ago, so yes, I didn't have the ability to travel to the future so I am using the version of macOS from that time.
@@macmost This is the reason why "update" is there for. I follow you for quite some time, and I have noticed that you don't really do any update of your videos when we move to a new version of macOS. This is creating a problem to some of your followers when watching your tutorials. You can at least amend the tile of this video by stating the exact version of MacOS that you are using.
Whoa. Total freakin' game changer. Thank you so much!!
Thank you, you are an excellent teacher!
Another excellent video. Screens is one of my favorite features. I have 5 set up which auto load at boot up with the apps i want.
Great video on using Spaces, thanks for sharing.
Excellent - as always!
great video. cleared up alot of confusion for me.
Another useful way to change between "desktops/apps" is the Command+Tab shortcut. All in all it was a beautiful and comprehensive summary! Thank you, I've learned some neat new tricks.
Very helpful. Many thanks!
Thank you, new job has me on a mac and this is the information that will help changing my work flow from linux to mac.
this was very useful. thank you!
More handy techniques, well done!
A very informative video tutorial today. A great reference point too. Thanks for showing us how! Thank you, Gary! 👍👏🏻❤️
Whoa! Awesome video! I can’t believe I only just now found your channel
Great. I can say about me I am a power user, but I always learn something new from you. Thanks. Good job.
Thanks bunches...lots to learn here....
That was amazing! Thank you very much, my workstation is 100% cleaner now. SO much better....
very helpful thank you
This video was incredibly useful for me. I wanted to assign different apps different scenarios (learning foreign language, working etc.)
Hello Gary, Having just recently graduated to Mac from decades on the PC I find your channel a must have to learn anything and practically everything there is to know about Mac OS. I have a simple question that I can't find an answer for. It's about iCloud email... What are the benefits to having an iCloud email? Does it replace my iCloud account name? Or email? Does it work the same as my email account that my ISP email? Thank You.
Well iCloud (or Gmail) is better than ISP email for many reasons. See th-cam.com/video/LXsixHC7KIc/w-d-xo.html . It can be used to replace your iCloud account ID, but doesn't have to.
That’s my weekend sorted … playing with all the desktop tips!
Thank you very much for all these good tips !
I thought I was really good at this, working this way for a long time. But somehow I overlooked the "All Desktops" thing. Thanks, it could come in handy…
Gary, excellent as always. I had tried using desktops previously but gave up, primarily because I didn't understand all of the options. You went over them very well and now I'm up and going with them. I use 2 monitors where one is extended and wanted my external monitor to be my primary monitor. I accomplished that in the settings without issue. Then I use the logitech mouse buttons to invoke mission control or access to all apps. As you said, there are tons of ways to do this. It all works great, but from time to time I was stuck with no mission control function and no dock for several minutes and couldn't figure out why.
I finally learned that there is a feature to move the dock back and forth between primary and extended screens. You do this by simply going to the other screen without the dock and pushing the mouse pointer below the bottom of the other screen and the dock will shift over to that screen!
Ok, that's a cool function, and it does work, but there's a horrible 3 or 4 min lag until it shifts over. During those 3 to 4 minutes you can continue to work on the windows you have open but you've got to wait that 3 or 4 minutes until the dock moves to the other screen before you can access any new windows or shift to any other desktops.
I found this huge time delay unacceptable so decided to just leave the dock on my external screen were I use it most of the time. I can always use my mouse buttons to access all of my apps or mission control anyway on either screen. BUT, here's the problem. On the screen without the dock, you have to be VERY careful to never move your mouse to the bottom of that screen because it will invoke an instruction to move the dock to that screen and you are now in jail and have to wait 3 to 4 min. for that move function to complete! And your stuck not being able to open any new programs or windows until it moves.
Do you know if this delay is a bug? I'm using MAC OS 13.4.
I experimented further and found if I position the dock on the left, it will appear on the left of the primary screen and eliminates the hot spot on the other screen because it was never designed to move from the left or the right to the other screen. This IS workable solution but I just need to get used to using the dock on the left of the screen.
Do you know how to keep the dock on the bottom of the screen and prevent it from attempting to move, which takes 3 or 4 min. to do? I'd rather have my dock on the bottom vs. the left side.
Thank you!
I've never experience a 3-4 minute delay like that. If you have "Displays Have Separate Spaces" turned on, and "Automatically Hide and Show Dock" on (both in System Settings, Desktop & Dock) it should work as you like.
Wow. Thanks.
I just started my journey in Mac. I got my first MacBook last week Tuesday because I thought you know what. Let's try something new. I've always wanted to try the equipment from Apple and MacOS in general.
These are some handy tips you're giving! Thanks a lot for them. It's a very very difficult switch I have to say when you're used to the Windows eco system. Just today I got confused with my triple monitor setup where I had a full screen app on the second monitor and wanted to move a window from my right screen to the middle. Couldn't do it. Like the screen wasn't there. This of course has to do that the app itself was in full screen instead of the space being a desktop but it's really confusing if you don't keep that in mind when you come from Windows. It's less confusing when just using my MacBooks screen though. I'm going to keep following your videos and hopefully, hopefully I can finally find peace in the Mac ecosystem. Thanks a lot!
Thank you so very much for inspiring video 🙏🏼
You did show me new tricks. Thanks.
Never took the time to really try them all out, thanks
thanks so much!
Great stuff as usual! I don't think SPLIT VIEW works anymore (with the latest MacOS Monterey) on my mac. When I try to drag PHOTOS up into one of the other windows that has SAFARI open, I don't get the "plus" indicator which your video shows as a way to launch split view. Just wondering...
Try it with other apps to see. Apps have a minimum window size, so if your screen isn't large enough for an app's window to fit in half the space, you won't be offered the option.
3:47 that, was a lifesaver. Thanks so much for this, I really hated to rearrange my files all the time,
this is amazing . you helped me a lot . thanks sir
Thanks for this video. Is there any way to assign a specific space or desktop to a specific external display?
Spaces aren't assigned to displays. It doesn't work that way.
@@macmost Hi again Gary. Following up on this as I have confirmed that you can easily assign specific Spaces and Desktops and Applications to specific external displays. For anyone who this might help, start by going to System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > and turning ON "Displays have separate Spaces". You can now easily drag and drop any Space or Desktop from one external display to the next. You can also assign specific applications to specific external displays (control-click on an application icon in the dock > select Options > select Desktop on Display 2, for instance), and now that application will ALWAYS launch on that specific external display, even after logging out, rebooting, etc. (This was my main goal when asking the original question.) Now that I have two external monitors connected to my M2 MacBook Air and using the Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter, with the M2 MacBook Air running in closed lid mode), I've been playing around with the best way to have macOS set up, which led me to figure this out pretty quickly. Thanks again for your videos, really appreciate them.
Is there a way to save these spaces/desktops configurations?
GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
That was great. I was wondering if there is a way to save these desktops and recalling them after my mac is turned off and back on. Pls lmk. Thank you,
If you simply don’t close the windows or quit the apps then when you restart the apps will resume and the windows will return. Make sure you haven’t turned those options off in System Settings. Of course it should be a rare case that you have to shut down your Mac at all anyway.
Bro I’ve been on OSX for years and now I realize how badly I’ve been using it! Thanks for the great tips.
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the video. Very useful to get the most out of this feature. Clearly this is meant for touchpad/mouse users. Wish they could just do a proper - window manager like - dwm, i3, etc. With a proper keyboard control for moving windows to diff. spaces and switching desktops.
Hi, I usually use the app named Contexts to switch different app between different spaces. It’s very efficient! Because the logic of different spaces for Apple is very strange.it’s often make me struggled.
Totally new to me! Great video!.. Question - what happens when you shut down the computer? Do you have to set this up each day etc?
Depends on your settings. In System Preferences, General turn off "close windows when quitting apps" and when you shut down make sure you choose to have apps relaunch. Also, why are you shutting down? See th-cam.com/video/FsrTpEuXEtc/w-d-xo.html
Gary, I now have a much better understanding of spaces, but one thing I do not understand is when I restart my computer all the desktops are gone. Is there a box to check that opens everything up as it was when closed?
Great video. Is there any way of opening an app and have the workspace include another desktop? For example I have Cubase and would like the mixer window to go to desktop 2 automatically rather than having to drag the window every time. Im sure the same would be nice for video editors etc
If you have it that way and quit the app without closing the windows first, it may just go back to that same arrangement. In System Preferences, General, make sure you have Close Windows When Quitting App turned OFF. Try it and see. Otherwise, is there a reason you have to quit at all? Just keep it open. That's what I do with the apps I use every day.
thanks!
I've been using spaces but didn't know about the whole split-view feature. I usually just resize windows to be about half screen and move them around that way... This might really change the way I organize my workflow. I do wish you could split a screen vertically as well
Great video, thank you. Do you know if it is possible to mute all the apps from one specific desktop? I'm using one space for my work stuff only and I don't want to hear or see any notifications when I'm not working.
You can't specify per Desktop. But you can create a custom Focus mode and specify muting notifications per app.
As always, some great new tips right there.
Gary, one thing, is there a way to make the app that is maximized to not jump into the last space, but rather preserve it’s current location?
This is probably the reason why I do not use apps maximized much (such as mail), since I prefer to always have it at desktop 2 for example (to-do list on desktop one). When I maximize it however - it just jumps at the end of all open spaces which is just not convenient at all.
It is in System Preferences, Mission Control. I think I show this in the video.
@@macmost Well, actually there are only 4 options there:
1) Auto arrange spaces (disabled)
2) When switching to an app, switch to a space with open windows for the all (enabled)
3) Group windows by apps (disabled)
4) Displays have separate spaces (enabled)
There is however no option to keep the app at the same relative space when maximized, without moving it to the back of all spaces.
I see why it could be useful to push the maximized app to the end, but I wish this behavior could be adjusted.
@@Ivan_1986 The "Auto arrange spaces" was the option I meant. But it sounds like you are quitting the app, or at least closing that window, or maybe taking the window out of full screen mode. When you do that, the system doesn't remember where it was in the order you had before. So maybe just leave the window in full screen mode all the time?
@@macmost Yes, I do not use "Auto arrange spaces", since I also prefer to manage them manually, thus I know exactly where things are.
At the moment it seems that this "option" I am talking about does not exist though.
Thank you for getting back on this, Gary!
I like System Preferences/Accessibility/Display/Reduce Motion for a smoooooth fade when I 3-finger swipe beween full-screen apps
That was very useful. thanks. thumbs is up! But one thing I was really hoping to find here but didn't: how can I make folders and files laying on desktop 1 disappear from desktop 2 entirely ?? Possible?
Not possible. There is just one Desktop when it comes to the files and folders in the Desktop folder. Those items are shown on all Desktop spaces.
Great, Gary!
You're awesome!
great tips thank´s. What I haven´t found how to do is.
IF I have a windo w open, let´s say my DOCUMENTSs and gets lost in other open windows if I click the shortcut in my finder it opens a new DOCUMENTS window. Yes same info but more clutter. Can I make it pop in front and not a new one ?
Use CMD-Tab to cycle through to Finder. (Make this your preferred way of app switching as it's the fastest and easiest) ..Now..if you can see your Documents window, fine; if not, either 1) click on the Windows tab of the (Finder) menu bar and it'll show a dropdown of the open Finder windows and you can click on the Documents window, or 2) use CMD-`/~ to cycle through the Finder open windows. Avoid clutter by hiding apps with CMD-h, or option-CMD-h to mothball all apps except the one in focus. You could also do all this by control-click on the Finder icon in the dock and (in Mojave, anyhow) it'll offer you a choice of Finder open windows. Personally I prefer to avoid clicking. YPMV.
Thanks for the great video Garry. Can you change to darkmode on on any other desktop? So when I switch over to desktop 2, it changes to darkmode.
No, it isn't a per-Space setting.
@@macmost Ok, thanks.
this is a must watch for Mac users.
Hidden feature and it gets you when puts apps in other spaces and you don't know how?
Is there a Desktop Management App for Mac to organize icons on the desktop? Something similar to Stardock Fences for Windows?
Not sure what that is, but you can use the Stacks, Sort By and Clean Up By features in the View menu to do a lot.
Quick question if you're still monitoring this topic: when you use a shortcut to enter Mission Control, it only shows what I would call a condensed view...that is, just the names (Desktop 1, Desktop 2, etc) of the desktops, more like buttons than icons. You have to actually move the mouse into that top area (which Apple call the Space Bar) to be able to see the full icons of what the desktops look like. Is there a way to have Mission Control show the full icons right away, instead of having to move the mouse up there into the Space Bar area?
Many thanks for the video, and your efforts generally to improving our Mac productivity!
What's your goal? Are you trying to navigate to another desktop? Maybe use Control+Left/Right instead. Or, the App Switcher.
@@macmost Thanks for responding, Gary. No, I would just like to have the expanded view of the Space Bar (i.e. the full visual icons) as the default for Mission Control, so there is an instant visual reference to the Desktops without having to move the cursor into the Space Bar area to expand the initial button-like labels. I've googled a bit more on this today. Others have asked a similar question. Apparently there is no MacOS setting or shortcut to do it, so people (including myself now) have used apps like BetterTouchTool to achieve it. Cheers.
@@alisterwebb8955 FWIW, I rarely go to Mission Control when I want to change spaces, only when I want to create and manage them. For switching, I either use the App Switcher and let it take me to the space with that app, or I use Control+Left/Right just to flip through them.
@@alisterwebb8955 me too
Hi Gary,
Thanks for a brilliant video. I've been using spaces for a long time. I try the Control + Click on app in Space to select This Desktop but it works so-so when the app is in fullscreen, and I close the app the Desktop disappears in spaces and if I open the app again it opens up in Desktop 1 by default.
I'm wondering if you know any tips for when you restart your computer that your spaces always appear in the setting you prefer them? I'm open to using a 3rd party Spaces controller app for this if you know any.
I want to have it like this:
1. Desktop 1 - Default, finders, browsing
2. Craft (writing app)
3. Mimestream (gmail mac os app)
4. ToDoist + Fantastical (Split View)
5. Slack
6. Spotify
If you want the Full Screen apps to stay put, don't quit them. Don't close their windows. And make sure when you restart you don't opt to have them quit.
Hi, Please mention the key which you used for the shortcut. Thanks
Can you be more specific? Which time in the video, exactly?
@@macmost Hi, Thanks for your reply! I find It later. actually, It was my fault to understand, Sorry for that. Loved your tutorial. Take love from Bangladesh!.
i love the mention of Monterey updates. Not something(s) very obvious to someone like me who cant stand reading a changelog after an OS gets updated.
No matter what I do, I don't see "assign to" options. Is there a setting to turn this feature on? I'm updated to latest version of Monterey.
Just means that you aren't in a situation where that applies. For instance, if you have only one Desktop at the moment.
@@macmost Thanks! I had the same question.
Hello , Thank tku for your useful videos .
I had a sudden problem and not able to solve it. I usually use different desktops and organize my windows through them .I opened my office imac through Anydesk app on my Mac laptop , and the other day in the office found all windows on Desktop 1 , and not able to move them again to different desktops .
Whenever I try it shows a white circle that it's not allowed to drag .any solution please
Maybe try removing that empty space and creating a new one?
Is it possible to save a desktop? So if I have Safari and Mail open in split view save it so opening me thing will give me both in split view again.
Great video as usual, but after learning these things I found I had 2 questions. I watched twice, but neither were answered: (1) you show how to make an App appear on all desktops, but how about a folder (like Downloads)? (2) I like having "automatically hide and show the menu bar" set to Never, for the reasons you gave -- except when a video is playing full screen. I can't find any easy way to make a shortcut to override that setting -- I even explored doing it with Keyboard Maestro, but couldn't figure out how to do it.
Not sure what your goal is with 1. Do you just want quick access to files in Downloads? Then put the Downloads folder on the right side of the Dock if it isn't there already. Then you don't even need a window that will get in the way.
I can't think of an easy way to have the menu bar disappear when watching a video, but not for some other Full Screen window. Maybe just have it set to disappear when a window is Full Screen, but then for other windows just create a new desktop space and fill the space with that one window.
@@macmost I keep my downloads folder open because I work from it a lot. As a workaround, I figured out that I could duplicate a downloads folder in each desktop. Good idea about the full screen view. Thanks again.
@@tonym2540 Do you mean you just open a new Finder window on each Desktop Space, and have that Finder window show the Downloads folder? OK.
@@macmost I think I found a better way: right-click the Finder icon on the Dock > Options > All Desktops. This seems to make all folders open in whatever space you are in. Before I set this, it would unexpectedly jump to another space where that folder is open.
I know that even if I thought I know everything about something in MacOS, you will mention new things I didn't know they exist.
I learned new stuffs here, than you for that. Yet I have one more information for you. When multiple apps are in full screen, they self organize in the order you use them in sequence, pretty much as it does when you’re cycling through apps with command tab. Same on an iPad, btw. Desktops are very useful on a laptop, a bit less on a big screen.
Great video. There’s one thing that annoys me incredibly. I want to stay in one particular space regardless of which app windows are open in other spaces. If there’s a safari window in one space I’m thrown away to that space if I want to open a Safari window in the current space. Is there a way that allows me to decide when I switch spaces no matter what?
I found it! Unchecking the ”When switching…” in Mission control settings solved it.
@@broadaccent You can also just click and hold Safari in the Dock, then select New Safari Window. It will create the window in the current Desktop Space.