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Since upgrading to Yosemite I've been having issue with OS X creating additional desktops on my main monitor for no apparent reason. I usually have 3 different desktops setup on my main monitor and just one on my second monitor. By the end of the day, OS X will usually have created 2-3 extra desktops automatically.

I can't find any setting or shortcut that might be causing this to happen. There also doesn't seem to be any reason for it since it can happen as soon as I boot up my computer.

Is there a way to set a maximum number of desktops so I can prevent this from happening?

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    fullscreened apps create their own space [messing up any Space-specific key commands too] but they should vanish if the app is quit or windowed.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 21, 2014 at 21:01
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    @tubedogg, yes extra workspaces just show up by the end of the day. I can close the workspaces, but they will just show up again eventually. Tetsujin, I'm not using any apps in full screen so I wouldn't expect the extra spaces to be created
    – tomoguisuru
    Commented Nov 26, 2014 at 18:02
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    Have you managed to solve this?
    – simonthesorcerer
    Commented Apr 14, 2015 at 18:16
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    It happens to me too; I can reach 26 desktops on the main monitor, if I don't remove them.
    – avpaderno
    Commented May 12, 2015 at 7:17
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    Try disabling "Displays have separate spaces" in System Prefs > Mission Control. It might be related to connecting and reconnecting (or sleeping) the secondary display.
    – Elliott
    Commented Aug 13, 2015 at 21:20

3 Answers 3

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It has to do with the 'separate space' feature for external displays Apple introduced in OS X 10.10 Yosemite: If the setting "Displays have separate Spaces" in System Preferences -> Mission Control is activated (see https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18809?locale=en_US), every time you hook up a display a new space will be created for that display. After you pull the plug, OS X will not delete that created space, hence accumulating lots of spaces over time.

If you don't activate the option, you're external display will behave like before 10.10: only one menu bar on the main screen etc.

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  • Huh. When I plug my external monitor back in, it reuses its old spaces.
    – SilverWolf
    Commented May 15, 2018 at 14:24
  • I guess then it is fixed by now.
    – tnull
    Commented May 16, 2018 at 14:57
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It is not normal behaviour to have multiple (in your case dozens) of extra Spaces being created via Mission Control.

I looked at System Preferences >> Keyboard >> Shortcuts >> Mission Control, but there is no shortcut for creating a new Space. As such, it wouldn't be that you are inadvertently creating Spaces using a shortcut.

Now, when you go full-screen with an application (e.g., Safari), then that window will become its own Space. However, when the window is closed, or restored to its original size, it will return to its original Space.

Considering your situation, I would submit the issue as a bug that Apple needs to address.

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It does very much sound like you've made the application "full screen". These are given their own desktop space. If you're using a trackpad, use three fingers to scroll up or down (I'm not on my MBP right now) and you'll see them all there.

If they're your full screen apps, make them NOT full screen.

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