Questions tagged [desktop]
The visual representation of a computer's contents when no open programs or windows are visisble. Often home to program shortcuts, datafiles, and lists of mounted drives etc.
1
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1answer
21 views
Unique wallpaper for desktop and lock screen
I recently got a macbook pro 2018 and was trying to change the wallpapers. I would like to be able to set a different wallpaper for my desktop and lockscreen. Googling around, I managed to change my ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Change / correct desktop to display mapping
I have a Mac Book laptop with Mojave. I use two desks (in different location) each having two Dell monitors that I connect via display port to the laptop.
It works well, however when I switch ...
3
votes
0answers
29 views
Apple Books app and multiple desktops: How to stop app window to show on all desktops?
I am running macOS Mojave 10.14.4 with Books.app version 1.18.
I use multiple desktops. When I open the Books app on one desktop, and then switch to another desktop, the Books app window shows on ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
No previews for Desktop files on Mojave [duplicate]
Here is what it looks like (two regular png images which previews were working fine before I upgraded to Mojave). Third one is a folder with custom picture and it was like that on High Sierra too. ...
0
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2answers
31 views
How can I stop my mac from switching desktops when I receive a phone call
When my phone rings the phone call shows up on my mac, which is great except that it also switches my display from the full-screen application to the main desktop screen.
Since the FaceTime popup is ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
Why does everything on my Desktop show up on all my desktops?
I have multiple desktops defined, which I use for different projects. How come everything I save to my Desktop when I'm working in, say, Desktop 1 shows up on all my desktops?
Maybe I don't properly ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
icloud documents and desktop is empty on mac os high sierra won’t sync with what is online
I had to install new hard drive could not transfer files from old drive. Started new hard drive as a new Mac. Signed in Enabled iCloud Drive, and checked iCloud Drive desktop and documents option but ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
How do I use terminal to change the desktop wallpaper folder and enable “change picture every minute” plus “random order”
I have wallpaper folders called Day and Night, and I am working on a script that will toggle dark mode and change the wallpaper folder accordingly. However, I can't figure out how to programatically ...
0
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0answers
8 views
Current desktop on secondary monitor is lost after wakes up
I am using a Macbook Pro with a second monitor (connected through VGA via Thunderbolt adapter).
Whenever I wakes up my Mac from sleep mode, the second monitor is showing « Desktop 1 », no matter what ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How to operate an iPad from a Mac or Windows PC?
I have a setup in office where on a desk is a fixed iPad on a stand. On the same desk, I have a Windows PC or iMac.
Customer is looking at iPad. I am the desktop user and I want to control the iPad ...
0
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0answers
12 views
Ghost window appearing on macBook Pro
Anyone know what that little window is? It appears at random times on one of my desktops. It DOES NOT show on the actual screen, just when I preview my desktops.
I am hoping someone saw it or has it.
...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Use iCloud files sync: only sync files on desktop
is there a way to only sync files which are on my desktop?
I don't want to sync my whole ~/Documents/ directory because it's very big.
2
votes
1answer
91 views
How can I manually switch to the next Desktop wallpaper in Mojave?
I have attempted to use this AppleScript to to cause the Desktop wallpaper to change to the next image in the folder of images that has been selected in System Preferences. It does not work for me in ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
How can I Hide Desktop Icons on Mojave?
The following commands used to work to hide the desktop items. In Mojave, it just refreshes the dock and everything remains. Is there another way to do this?
defaults write com.apple.finder ...
2
votes
0answers
85 views
Split screen divider stuck on Desktop, not actually dividing any windows, distracting - how to remove?
How can the split screen divider be removed, please?
When not using a Desktop workspace/area, I can see the vertical divider over the Desktop, but this isn't serving any purpose and is therefore ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Is there a way to apply custom shaders to macOS screen?
I know macOS has a feature to invert the screen using Control+Option+Command+8.
I was wondering if there is any way, like a macOS feature, an application, or even some API to apply other effects to ...
1
vote
0answers
10 views
A vertical line on the right hand side of the window after changing desktops
When I navigate from left desktop window to right desktop window, a vertical line start appearing on the right hand side of the desktop. It only happens when navigating from left to right and if there ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
How to open a folder in Finder by a single mouse click? (using Icon view)
Is there a setting, key combination or similar to open a folder/subfolder in Finder with a single mouse click ? I need a general solution which works on any folder in effort to minimize needless ...
3
votes
2answers
35 views
Drag and Drop email to Desktop
When I drag and drop an email to the Desktop it always moves to the top right (or the first free space near the top right). I want it to stay where I dropped it.
When I drag and drop a file from a ...
0
votes
2answers
132 views
I'd like cmd-tab to always take me to the most recent window of the application. Currently it doesn't. Can this be fixed?
Situation.
This is a Macbook laptop. No external monitors.
I have two "desktops." I have Chrome open in both desktops. And terminal.app open in just Desktop 1.
I'm in Chrome on desktop 1. I cmd-tab ...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Does macOS render desktops other than the current one?
I'm curious if there's a performance/battery effect of using multiple desktops with full screen apps. On Windows (as far as I know) an application that is in true full screen prevents the desktop from ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
How can I go to the previous desktop in Mission Control using a hot key?
Say, I have 10 desktops. I'm on the desktop 2. I switch to the deskotp 7 using the F3 key and touchpad. Is there a standard hot key for switching back to the deskotp 2? And then back to the deskotp 7. ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
How to switch from from the active application on monitor 1 to the active application on monitor 2 via keyboard
TL;DR: I am typing notes into a full-screen notepad on monitor 1. I want to switch to typing into the visible, full-screen application shown on monitor 2 without using the mouse.
(I know I could just ...
0
votes
1answer
604 views
How to name a deskop in mission control?
I have multiple desktops. I want to be able to name them. Is it possible out of the box?
Or at least does MacOS have API for that? I'd create an application.
0
votes
1answer
260 views
Applescript to change desktop background positioning (e.g., Fill to screen
I have the script
tell application "System Events"
tell every desktop
set picture to "/Users/jackson/Pictures/Backgrounds/backpic.jpg"
end tell
end tell
That changes my desktop ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Fullscreen spaces insist on always opening new windows on the desktop furthest away (desktop 1)
I currently have these spaces:
[Desktop 1] [Eight other spaces including three desktops] [Fullscreen browser]
...and started noticing that even when I'm in the Fullscreen Browser space and I open ...
1
vote
1answer
130 views
Apple Internal Hard Drive Error
So long story short, my iMac was working perfectly fine and I just decided to restart it because the fan was loud, it made a weird noise and now it keeps taking me back to either reinstall my macos, ...
2
votes
0answers
121 views
Items saved to Desktop do not show on Desktop
I use Safari and Chrome to download files and set the Desktop as the download folder.
Each time I download something it does not appear on the Desktop. But if I relaunch Finder then it will appear on ...
4
votes
0answers
78 views
Cannot drag entire Desktop to an extended monitor on Mojave
I have several application windows open in one of the desktops on my MackBook Pro (late 2016) running Mojave 10.14, and my work requires me to use extended monitors. Whenever I wanted to move a ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
How can I change the picture used by this AppleScript?
I am using this:
osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to
set desktop picture to POSIX file "/Library/Desktop Pictures/Earth Horizon.jpg"'
to set the desktop on a lab of computers. How can I ...
20
votes
9answers
8k views
Is it a good practice to create a desktop shortcut on mac?
I have been installing some popular software for Mac and observed that installation packages do not create a desktop shortcut as they often do on windows.
What is good practice to follow: Should I ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
How to switch to the latest active desktop, is there a hotkey?
I've a little of a search but haven't found anything.
Is there a way to switch to the latest active desktop? Or should I create a special hotkey for that?
2
votes
4answers
721 views
macOS Mojave stacks not grouping by type
I have updated my MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) with macOS Mojave and everything is woking as per the need.
But I think new feature of macOS Mojave called Stacks is not working properly on my MacBook ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
AppleScript - Get every desktop including hidden Mission Control desktops
I'm trying to write a simple script that will change my desktop background on all of my desktops/workspaces at once. Right now I have this:
tell application "System Events"
tell every desktop
...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Is having too much stuff on the Desktop still a performance killer? [closed]
See for example
This article
Or this one
Or this one
Now, the answer to this question seems to suggest that the problem is icons on the desktop needing to be repeatedly redrawn, but the articles ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Iterm2 Window goes to back when switching desktops
When a non-fullscreen iterm window is opened and the desktop is switched, the iterm window goes to the back, behind any open windows in the screen. Is there a way to keep the iterm window on top when ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
How can I set 'fit to screen' as the default behaviour when changing my desktop background (wallpaper)
Every time I want to set a picture as my desktop background it sets it so big that half of it is gone. I then have to go to the settings and choose desktop then choose a setting.
It is so annoying ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
OS X Yosemite multiple desktops with different files
Is there a way to have a second desktop which you can put individual folders and files on it, so that the first desktop is clear without any files?
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Drop window as maximized to a new desktop instead of fullscreen
The default behavior when you drag a window to a new desktop is to make it fullscreen. Is there any way to have it maximized instead of going full screen.
Referring to the following:
^+Up
Drag a ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
What's this “Finder” icon on my Desktop and how do I get rid of it?
A few days ago, this icon appeared on my desktop. It sticks near the top-right of the screen and it doesn't seem like I can reposition it. Clicking on it has no effect.
In Mission Control, the icon ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
How can I stop documents from popping out of folders littering the desktop?
I have a MacBook Pro, early 2015. I work on a number of projects at a given time. Each desktop folder is labeled by client and I probably have 10 folders with 2-7 subfolders. I save documents to ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
How can I orchestrate app windows into multiple desktops when I turn on my Macbook Pro
Hopefully the title isn't confusing. Here's a detailed explanation. I have a Macbook Pro and I use it in 2 "modes" when working:
Connected to a external monitor
I run 2 desktops (A and B) on the ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
How to view any folder as if it was desktop
There's a folder called "Desktop" in the home directory. By default, when there are no windows on the screen, the contents of "Desktop" are shown over the background. I'm wondering if there's a way to ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
Applications assigned to All Desktops loses focus when moving through desktops
If I assign an application to all desktops like this:
It loses focus after moving to another desktop and moving back.
Step to reproduce:
Assign an app to All Desktops (let's say iTerm).
Switch to ...
3
votes
1answer
5k views
'Always on top' window on macOS High Sierra
I need a way to put any chosen window to be always on top. For example, if I read a book in iBooks or I'm writing code in XCode using Sublime Text. I want a application or way to overcome the issue. I ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
What geographic location is shown in the macOS High Sierra default desktop image?
Looks like Convict Lake, just off US395 in Mono County...but I'm guessing.
Does anyone know where the fall mountain scene with the lake was photographed?
5
votes
1answer
2k views
High Sierra, how to set screensaver as desktop background?
Before I updated my OS I was able to set my current screen saver as my desktop background using this command found in this answer
/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/...
1
vote
2answers
268 views
What is this blue half on my screen?
In the midst of plugging in my monitor and three-finger swiping up to move Chrome to the second desktop I got this.
I couldn't access my top bar (with the time and battery) and if I clicked the side ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
macOS - Prevent same background image from showing on multiple Desktops?
I have set my desktop background image to automatically change every 30 minutes.
Most of the time, I have at least 3 Desktops/Spaces open on my MacBook; so sometimes I see the same image on 2 ...
3
votes
2answers
540 views
Change Icon/Thumbnail for File Type
Have searched for quite a while for the answer to this question but the only solution that has worked has been to change icons on a file to file basis, which is not very efficient...
Currently my Mac ...
