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.
410
questions
1
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0answers
22 views
Desktop items disappear from screen and finder solely due to second monitor
I have a second monitor. When I connect the monitor to my Mac Pro by HDMI the desktop items automatically disappear. The strange thing is that they don't just disappear from the actual desktop but ...
1
vote
1answer
13 views
How to make macOS cmd+tab switch desktops when app is on a different desktop
Say I have ProgramA running in desktop space 1, and ProgramB running in desktop 2.
If I am currently on space 1, and cmd+tab to select ProgramB, then I still stay on space 1 even though there is no ...
4
votes
4answers
83 views
How to prevent macOS from putting icons on some areas of the desktop?
I have a 49" 5120x1440 ultrawide monitor with some windows always open on the sides and I don't want any kind of item hidden behind them (for example, mounted external drive, downloaded/copied file, ...
-2
votes
0answers
25 views
Separate shortcuts to cycle between maximized apps and Desktops/Spaces
I know I can cycle between maximized apps and Desktops with 3 finger swipe.
Is there a way to have 2 different keyboard shortcuts (or swipes) for these 2 kinds of things so that I can cycle them ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Stop moving desktop with multiple Chrome windows
I recently have really annoying issue with Chrome.
I am using Mac OSX 10.14.5 Mojave with Chrome version 75.0.3770.142
Here is the issue. I have two Chrome windows and I put each window to each ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Is it possible to make an application’s window smaller than intended?
I’ve always had issues with some application windows in macOS where I can’t make them smaller than a certain amount.
Audio Midi Setup is the perfect example of this.
If you look at the image posted, ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
where did this 2nd desktop come from, how to I move an open window back to the original?
I was deep into answering another SE question and without realizing it I sent my browser (chrome) to the corn field a second desktop. I'm trying to read an equation in an SE question and type it into ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Switch to another desktop faster on macos high sierra
On a macbook with macos high sierra, how do I switch between desktops faster by sliding 3 fingers across the touch pad?
Currently it takes ~1 second to switch to another screen. It does not matter if ...
-1
votes
1answer
25 views
Keep focus on multiple desktops
I am a new macbook user. I have switched from windows pc recently. Currently I own a macbook pro 15.4 2018 edition. I am using it along with my 32 inch monitor.
A silly problem i have facing is that ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Desktop Screen saver cannot be changed
When I go into the Settings and have the option to pick a new screensaver, it will not actually save my preference. When I change the screensaver I can see it is changed in the mini-preview, but it ...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
Why did some screen shots randomly appear on my desktop?
I have many screenshots inside of folders on my desktop. Just now when I got onto my MacBook Pro, I found that many of these screenshots were outside of their folders (some were duplicates).
I ran ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Show “Activity Monitor” in every “Desktop”
I find much joy in monitoring my Apple computer's fan roll through monitoring CPU use.
However, I don't know how to make multiple "Activity Monitor" windows, each for one of my "Desktop"s.
I ...
2
votes
2answers
79 views
macOS: Navigating between desktops using keyboard shortcuts
I've just moved to Mac from Linux. There I used to have a fixed number of desktops running full-screen apps. I've managed to configure it on Mac, but yet can not find the way to assign shortcuts to ...
3
votes
0answers
118 views
What could cause iCloud Drive to refuse to sync Desktop & Documents?
After a sort of manual system restore in which I copied my ~/Library/ from my now-dead 2017 MacBook Pro's BackBlaze to a 2019 MacBook Pro, pretty much all my software has nicely restored its settings, ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
How to force preview to open window in current desktop
I am facing a super stupid problem which is completely killing my productivity.
I have my laptop attached to an external monitor. Desktop 1 is on the laptop and desktop 2 is on the external screen.
...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Mirror a specific desktop
I have a MacBook and I’m using the latest High Sierra with 2 displays total, my MacBook and the projector. But I only want one (or specific) desktop(s) to be mirrored to the projector an external ...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
Do you need the username and password to remotely manage all admins via ARD?
Or do you only need the username and password of one admin? I share a computer and we are both admins, but I am worried that the other admin could access my files via Apple Remote Desktop. Is that the ...
1
vote
1answer
196 views
Can the document desktop stacks be split for a specific file extension?
I have documents I would like to have stacked
on my desktop.
Specifically, to group all files with a particular extension all together using Mojave's new Stacks feature.
Is there a way to register ...
1
vote
0answers
17 views
How to mirror files on all desktops when running in extended desktop mode
I want to mirror files/shortcuts on all desktops/screens when running in extended desktop mode. I don't want to manually copy them and I also don't want to mirror my displays.
Is there any way to do ...
1
vote
4answers
77 views
Desktop shows only background image – how to return to default behavior?
I have an iMac running macOS High Sierra. Recently I setup my system so that my Desktop does not show the connected drives and doesn't show anything on my Desktop.
My desktop is completely clean. I ...
1
vote
1answer
324 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
17 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
89 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
41 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
votes
2answers
50 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
22 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
188 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
30 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
votes
0answers
12 views
Active 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
67 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
42 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
187 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
1k 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
244 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
38 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
114 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
36 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
310 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
18 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
27 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
78 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
1k 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
442 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
62 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
140 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
127 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
132 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
77 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 ...
