When I started using multiple desktops in 2012, my productivity transformed overnight. Instead of juggling twenty open windows, I could organize related apps into dedicated workspaces. Communication apps in one space, creative tools in another, research in a third. After 15 years of Mac training, I've refined a multiple desktop workflow that I now teach to every client. Let me show you how to harness Mission Control and Spaces to dramatically improve your Mac experience.
Understanding Mission Control and Spaces
Mission Control is macOS's window and space management system. Spaces are virtual desktops that let you organize your work into separate areas. Together, they provide a powerful way to manage window chaos.
Here's the key insight: Spaces aren't about having more screen real estate—they're about context. Each Space becomes a dedicated environment for a specific type of work. When your brain switches from "writing mode" to "communication mode," you switch Spaces, not windows.
Accessing Mission Control
There are several ways to enter Mission Control:
Keyboard Shortcuts
- F3 key: On Macs with function keys, tap F3 (or Fn+F3)
- Control+Up Arrow: My preferred method
- Three-finger swipe up: On a trackpad with three fingers
- Click Mission Control icon: In Dock (if enabled)
Exit Mission Control
- Press Escape
- Click outside the Mission Control view
- Press the keyboard shortcut again
Creating and Managing Spaces
Spaces management happens in Mission Control:
Creating a New Space
- Enter Mission Control
- Move your cursor to the top of the screen where spaces appear
- Click the "+" button that appears
- A new empty desktop space is created
- Click on it to enter the space
Deleting a Space
- Enter Mission Control
- Move cursor to top of screen to see all spaces
- Hover over the space you want to delete
- Click the "X" button that appears
- Note: You cannot delete a space with open windows—move the windows first
Reordering Spaces
In Mission Control, simply drag spaces to reorder them. I recommend putting your most-used space on the left and least-used on the right.
Switching Between Spaces
Moving between spaces can be done several ways:
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Control+Left Arrow: Go to space on the left
- Control+Right Arrow: Go to space on the right
- Control+Number: Jump directly to space number (e.g., Control+3 goes to space 3)
- App Exposé: Hold Control while switching to see app windows across all spaces
Trackpad Gestures
- Three fingers left/right: Swipe between recent spaces
- Four fingers up: Open Mission Control
- Four fingers down: Show all windows in current space
Switching in Mission Control
Simply click any space in Mission Control to jump directly to it.
Configuring Spaces in System Settings
System Settings controls how Spaces behaves:
Desktop & Dock Settings
Open System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Look for these options:
- Workspaces on all displays: Enable to show spaces on all monitors
- When switching to an application: Choose "Moves to Space" or "Opens in Space"
- Automatically rearrange Spaces: Let macOS optimize space order
Trackpad Settings
In System Settings > Trackpad > More Gestures:
- Configure "Swipe between spaces" (three or four fingers)
- Enable "Mission Control" gesture
- Consider "Application Exposé" gesture for quick app window view
My Recommended Spaces Organization
After years of experimentation, here's my optimal Spaces setup:
Space 1: Communication Hub
This space holds all communication apps:
- Messages
- Slack
- Zoom/Teams
- Calendar
Logic: Communication is contextual. When I'm in communication mode, I want all channels visible. When I'm in deep work mode, I don't want to see email notifications.
Space 2: Primary Work
This space holds your main work apps:
- Browser with work tabs
- Your primary work application (Word, Excel, Xcode, etc.)
- Reference documents
Space 3: Creative Tools
If you do creative work:
- Photoshop/Illustrator
- Final Cut Pro/DaVinci
- Audio apps if music production
Space 4: Research & Reference
Secondary browser windows, documentation, reference materials:
- Additional browser windows
- PDF reader
- Evernote/Notes
Space 5+: Specialized
Additional spaces for specific needs:
- Music/podcast production
- Video streaming (separate from work)
- Personal tasks separate from work
Application Windows in Spaces
Understanding how apps behave in Spaces:
Assigning Apps to Specific Spaces
You can make apps "stick" to specific spaces:
- Open the app
- Enter the space where you want the app to live
- The app will now open in this space by default
Auto-Window Behavior
In System Settings > Desktop & Dock > "When switching to an application":
- Automatically move windows: App windows open in current space
- Don't automatically rearrange: App opens where it was last closed
Moving Windows Between Spaces
Move windows between spaces in several ways:
- Drag: In Mission Control, drag window to desired space
- Context menu: Right-click app in Dock > Options > Assign to This Desktop / All Desktops
- Keyboard: Use third-party apps like Rectangle or Magnet for window snapping shortcuts
Display-Specific Spaces
With multiple monitors, Spaces become even more powerful:
Independent Monitor Spaces
Each monitor can show different spaces simultaneously:
- Monitor 1: Space 1 (Communication)
- Monitor 2: Space 3 (Creative work)
- Both spaces visible without switching
Spaces on All Displays
In System Settings, enable "Workspaces on all displays" to have the same space visible across all monitors. Disable it to have independent spaces on each display.
Mission Control Tips and Tricks
Advanced Mission Control features:
App Windows View
Press Control+Down Arrow to see all windows of the current app (App Windows). This is faster than Mission Control when you only need one app's windows.
Drag Windows to New Space
In Mission Control, drag any window to the edge of the screen to create a new space with that window.
Preview Windows
In Mission Control, hover over any window thumbnail to see a larger preview. This helps identify windows when you have many similar ones open.
Stacking
In Mission Control view, windows can stack on top of each other. Click a stack to expand it and see all windows inside.
Window Management Beyond Spaces
Spaces organize windows by context, but you still need to arrange windows within a space:
Window Arrangement Shortcuts
- Option+Click green button: Tile window to left or right half (hold while clicking for options)
- Control+Command+F: Toggle full screen for focused app
- Option+Drag window: Move window while keeping other windows' positions
Third-Party Window Managers
For more control, consider:
- Magnet ($15): Window snapping with keyboard shortcuts
- Rectangle (Free): Open-source alternative to Magnet
- Amethyst ($25): Tiling window manager for power users
- Raycast ($15): Launcher with window management
Common Spaces Issues and Solutions
Troubleshooting tips from my experience:
Spaces Switching Unexpectedly
If spaces switch when you don't want them to:
- Check trackpad sensitivity (System Settings > Trackpad > Swipe)
- Reduce three/four finger swipe sensitivity
- Consider disabling swipe navigation if unintentional
Windows Appearing in Wrong Space
If windows open in unexpected spaces:
- Right-click app in Dock > Options > Set "Assign to" correctly
- Check System Settings > Desktop & Dock setting for app behavior
- Close and reopen the app in desired space
Mission Control Slow or Unresponsive
If Mission Control feels sluggish:
- Close some windows—Mission Control is slower with many windows
- Restart Dock (type in Terminal: killall Dock)
- Check Activity Monitor for high CPU usage from any app
Spaces with Full Screen Apps
Full screen apps create their own dedicated spaces:
Full Screen Behavior
When you click the green button while holding Option:
- The app goes to full screen
- A new Space is created automatically
- This Space is dedicated to that app
Managing Full Screen Spaces
Full screen spaces appear in Mission Control with a slightly different appearance. You can:
- Drag them to reorder with other spaces
- Exit full screen by moving cursor to green button and clicking
- Have multiple full screen apps on different spaces
Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Essential shortcuts for Spaces and Mission Control:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Control + Up Arrow | Open Mission Control |
| Control + Down Arrow | App Windows (current app only) |
| Control + Left/Right Arrow | Switch to adjacent space |
| Control + Number | Jump to space by number |
| F3 (or Fn+F3) | Open Mission Control |
| Option + Green Button | Full screen options |
My Daily Spaces Workflow
Here's how I actually use Spaces:
- 8:00 AM: Arrive at desk, Space 1 (Communication) shows Mail, Messages, Calendar
- 9:00 AM: Switch to Space 2 (Work), open browser and primary work app
- 10:30 AM: Need client research, swipe to Space 4 (Research)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch break, Space 5 (Personal) for non-work browsing
- 1:00 PM: Back to Space 2 for afternoon work
- 4:00 PM: End-of-day communication, switch to Space 1
The key is using spaces to match your mental contexts, not just organizing windows arbitrarily.
Conclusion
Multiple desktops through Mission Control are among macOS's most powerful productivity features. When used thoughtfully, they reduce context switching, keep related apps together, and make complex workflows manageable.
Start small: create just two spaces and assign apps to each. After a week, evaluate whether it helps. Then adjust based on your actual usage patterns. The beauty of Spaces is they're infinitely flexible—configure them to match how you actually work.
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