Ask Different is a question and answer site for power users of Apple hardware and software. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
In Mac OS X El Capitan, is there a shortcut to move full screen apps between monitors?
My current method is first bringing the app out of full screen mode, then drag it to the second monitor and then maximize it again.
I wish there was a shortcut to just move it from monitor 1 to monitor 2.
edit: I'm not talking about moving between workspaces on a single monitor... I am talking about 2 monitors.
You can use Mission Control (formerly known as Exposé) to move full screen apps across monitors. Mission Control initially shows lists of workspaces across the top of all monitors, and when you move the mouse cursor up into that area they change into thumbnails. If you drag one of the thumbnails from one monitor to another, the workspace corresponding to that thumbnail moves to that monitor. A thumbnail for a primary desktop can be rearranged within its own monitor, but it can't be dragged to another monitor.
To clarify what I mean by primary desktop, each monitor initially has a workspace without full screen applications, and additional workspaces for full screen applications (which, in El Capitan, can contain one or two applications apiece). What I'm calling a primary desktop is that initial workspace. The + in the upper right corner of each monitor while Mission Control is active can create a new desktop, and a desktop created that way can be moved across monitors, but the desktop which was not created that way remains on its own monitor.
Keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures are available for Mission Control.
In case you wanted to do so with your keyboard only, expanding @Fralec's answer:
I use Spectacle (as of 2021, no longer being maintained) as well, and the following sequence does the job:
Cmd+Alt+F - Exit from full screen on current monitor
Shift+Cmd+Alt+→/← - Move to next screen
Cmd+Alt+F - Enter full screen on the next monitor
Hope that does the trick for you :)
You can use BetterTouchTool to configure a keyboard command triggering a two-step action, which first moves your application to the next monitor, and then makes it fullscreen.
To switch the fullscreen app back to the first screen, just press the keyboard command twice and it will move over.
Many Tricks Moom seems to have this functionality also. I just found out about that $10 app today (I've been using the mentioned Spectacle for the task, however, Moom also has a feature to re-arrange windows to chosen locations, etc.)
I use a free app called Spectacle to manage my windows.
If you hold Shift+Alt+⌘+→ or ←, you can easily move your window from one monitor to another.
Its simple 3 steps:
Let's get the title first
Open the Finder, select Window then the complete title Move to UE......
Now Create a Shortcut in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts
Add a shortcut as I have added in the image for All Applications and the shortcut keys you prefer.
