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I am constantly running multiple applications on multiple workspaces. I want to remain on the same workspace, and only switch workspaces when I explicitly ask for it (e.g. with a magic mouse gesture).

Currently when I click on the app icon in the dock, osx switches to the next workspace that has a window of the active application.

I know there is an option in System Preferences -> Misson Control, called "When switching to an application, switch to a space with open windows for the application". What it does: When clicking on the icon of an inactive application, don't switch to a workspace that has the application window. But this option does not affect the behaviour of clicking on an active application.

The question: How do I prevent OSX from ever switching to another wokspace when clicking on an app icon in the dock, regardless of whether the app is active of inactive?

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  • 3
    Do you have a fix for MacOS Sierra? This doesn't seem to work anymore...
    – user206976
    Oct 19, 2016 at 22:33

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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For macOS 10.11 El Capitan and earlier only:

Open Terminal.app, then run the following commands.

Change the default workspace preference:

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-auto-swoosh -bool NO

Next, restart the Dock with this command:

killall Dock

References:
How can I disable auto-switching desktops?
Disable Space switching on Command-Tab

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  • It's worth noting that this solution also disables the swtiching from any other dock action, like application exposé view or the right-click full application window list. Nonetheless, I like it much more. Thanks!
    – Ilari Kajaste
    Sep 13, 2013 at 5:53
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    This doesn’t work in MacOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later versions.
    – Michael Schmid
    Nov 5, 2019 at 2:04
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    This does not work on Catalina
    – ToniAz
    Jul 31, 2020 at 14:20
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Unlike the original questioner, I was trying to enable this effect. I wanted to switch between spaces where applications lived on different desktops.

I just took a guess at: 

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-auto-swoosh -bool TRUE

and

killall Dock

The two commands above worked like a charm to restore the effect.

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  • Still not working on MacOS Sierra 10.12 and later versions...
    – GeekInDisguise
    May 8, 2020 at 11:17
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Note that there is a relevant setting in later versions of MacOS when using the app switcher (cmd+tab), but that doesn't work when clicking on the app icon in the Dock (so it doesn't solve the OPs question):

System Preferences > Mission Control > "When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application"

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  • 2
    This does not solve the problem
    – Michael Schmid
    Mar 23, 2021 at 9:44
  • @MichaelSchmid It works for me on Catalina if I use the app switcher (cmd+tab), but you're right that it doesn't work when clicking on the icon in the Dock.
    – Jonathan H
    Mar 25, 2021 at 6:38

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