1

When I use a monitor with my Mac, it's to watch videos and multitask. I'd have a Chrome window open on my main screen in a virtual desktop and another Chrome window open on the monitor. When I switch to another virtual desktop on my main screen, then open a web link, OSX always opens it in the monitor instead of the other virtual desktop. I interacted with the virtual desktop Chrome window last. How can I choose to open links in the virtual desktop?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

This isn't decided by the last interaction, it's decided by window enumeration.

By default, an external link will open in the first window opened in a browser. [Last would be more helpful, but that's not how it works.]
The only way to really persuade this to behave is to close all your windows, open one, then move it to the other screen. Then open a second on your main screen.

This behaviour may change after a reboot, when the windows open again. If you find a pattern to this, then it's just easiest to not fight it & move the windows to where you want them visually rather than by the contents of each.

Improve this answer
7
  • Well, that's stupid, as it defeats the meaning and intended use of a virtual desktop. I want the browser links to open in the current window I'm currently in.
    – Mauro Lacy
    Sep 11 at 7:10
  • It's because the "intended use" of virtual desktops never included using any app on more than one desktop simultaneously.
    – Tetsujin
    Sep 11 at 7:13
  • How come? Are they "partially virtual" then? It's because Apple, who really should know better at UI design, is doing a poor service to their users. That's why.
    – Mauro Lacy
    Sep 11 at 7:20
  • Who knows why they made any given decision? Spaces hasn't been changed since the introduction of fullscreen. Then they played with split screen. Now they've moved on to Stage Manager. All designed for laptops with a single screen, really.
    – Tetsujin
    Sep 11 at 7:24
  • They haven't made any decision IMO. They simply didn't do the proper QA assurance / testing to virtual desktops; along with to other silly UI "decisions", by the way.
    – Mauro Lacy
    Sep 11 at 7:32

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .