Guides

Practical answers to common problems with Spaces and Mission Control on macOS 14 and later. Each guide starts with what macOS can do on its own, then shows what Spacepal adds.

• How to rename desktops (Spaces) on a Mac: macOS can't do it, but here are the workarounds and how to show real names in the menu bar and Mission Control.
• Switch Spaces instantly without the slide animation: why Reduce motion only gives you a fade, and how to switch with no animation.
• Move a window to another desktop with a shortcut: the built-in drag methods and the title-bar trick, and a one-key shortcut.
• Why Mac windows open on the wrong desktop after a restart (and the fix): what macOS restores, what it forgets, and how to put every window back.
• Windows pile onto the laptop when you unplug a monitor: what happens on unplug and replug, and how to get a clean round trip.
• Stop your Mac jumping to another desktop when you click an app: the setting behind it, the cases it misses, and Space Lock.
• The Mission Control settings power users change: rearranging, switching to an app's Space, separate Spaces per display, with Terminal equivalents.
• Every Spaces keyboard shortcut on macOS, and how to add more: the built-in shortcuts and gestures, enabling Switch to Desktop N, and extra shortcuts.

For setup, the full shortcut list and automation, see the docs. Spacepal is a one-time purchase with a 14-day trial (pricing).

Written by Dan Bayer, developer of Spacepal. Last updated 2026-10-27.