If you regularly lose windows behind other windows, Mission Control is for you. It shows everything that’s open in one view, and it lets you spread your work over several separate desktops.
How to open Mission Control
Use whichever of these suits you:
- Press Control + Up Arrow
- Press the Mission Control key (F3, the one with three rectangles) on the top row of the keyboard
- Swipe up with three or four fingers on the trackpad
- Double-tap with two fingers on a Magic Mouse
All your open windows shrink and spread out so you can see every one. Click a window to bring it to the front. Press Escape to go back without choosing.
See all the windows of one app
Press Control + Down Arrow, or swipe down with three or four fingers. This shows every window belonging to the app you’re using. Apple calls this App Exposé. It’s handy when you have several documents or browser windows open.
What are multiple desktops?
Your Mac can have several desktops, which Apple calls Spaces. Each one holds its own set of windows. For example:
- Desktop 1: email and calendar
- Desktop 2: the document you’re working on
- Desktop 3: music and messages
Each desktop stays uncluttered, and you flick between them in a second.
How to add a desktop
- Open Mission Control.
- Move your pointer to the top of the screen. A bar appears showing your desktops.
- Click the + button at the right-hand end.
How to switch between desktops
- Press Control + Left Arrow or Control + Right Arrow
- Swipe left or right with three or four fingers on the trackpad
- Or open Mission Control and click a desktop in the bar at the top
How to move a window to another desktop
- Open Mission Control and drag the window up onto the desktop you want in the top bar.
- Or drag the window to the far left or right edge of the screen and hold it there for a moment. The next desktop slides in.
Always open an app on the same desktop
- Go to the desktop where you want the app to live.
- Right-click the app’s icon in the Dock.
- Choose Options, then under Assign To pick This Desktop.
Choose All Desktops for apps you want to follow you everywhere, such as Music or Notes.
How to remove a desktop
Open Mission Control, hover over the desktop in the top bar, and click the ✕ that appears. Any windows on it move to another desktop, so nothing is lost.
Useful settings
Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and scroll down to Mission Control:
- Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use. Turn this off if you want your desktops to stay in a fixed order.
- When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application. Leave this on so clicking an app in the Dock takes you to its desktop.
- Group windows by application. Turn this on to stack each app’s windows together in Mission Control.
Wrapping up
Start with Control + Up Arrow to find lost windows. When you’re comfortable with that, add a second desktop and switch with Control + Left/Right Arrow.
