What is the purpose of having Multiple Desktop in MacOS?

[marcusalwayswins]

Hi Guys,

I’m still getting used to macOS, so I’m coming across some things and questions that I can’t seem to find answers to. For example, this thing about having Multiple Desktops, you can always add another desktop by going into Mission Control and clicking on the + sign. But I’m still trying to understand the purpose of having a different desktop? if it’s only to have each desktop with its own respective apps that you want to use for that situation, so it doesn’t get cluttered. Then my question is, even if you have multiple applications open in the same desktop, you can always switch between them using Mission Control. So why do you need a different desktop?

Can you guys, can someone please give me an example on how to use multiple desktop and how can it be useful?

 

[russell_314]

Hi Guys,

I’m still getting used to macOS, so I’m coming across some things and questions that I can’t seem to find answers to. For example, this thing about having Multiple Desktops, you can always add another desktop by going into Mission Control and clicking on the + sign. But I’m still trying to understand the purpose of having a different desktop? if it’s only to have each desktop with its own respective apps that you want to use for that situation, so it doesn’t get cluttered. Then my question is, even if you have multiple applications open in the same desktop, you can always switch between them using Mission Control. So why do you need a different desktop?

Can you guys, can someone please give me an example on how to use multiple desktop and how can it be useful?

It’s just something to help with workflow. Most people won’t use it. You can have one for work then the other for personal stuff. You could have two work projects separated.

 

[chabig]

It's just another tool for window management, alongside Mission Control, Exposé, Stage Manager, the Dock, LaunchPad, and Command-tab, and Command-tilde. I use most of them, depending on the situation. But it's really case of user preference.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I have one for personal stuff, one for work stuff, and one for stocks stuff, and occasionally one for some other specific task. It's nice to be working with something, and then immediately switch everything to your preferred setup for whatever task you will be working on now.

I wish it would save the states between restarts though, and find it strange that Apple hasn't implemented it yet..

 

[chabig]

I wish it would save the states between restarts though, and find it strange that Apple hasn't implemented it yet..

I just did a simple test, with two desktops and a few windows open. I logged out, and when I logged back in the windows and desktops were preserved (latest Sequoia). Do you have the setting checked to reopen windows when logging out?

 

[colodane]

I've been a heavy user of the multiple desktops since I got my first Mac many years ago. I'm also a TrackPad fan and use the "four finger swipe" to move between multiple desktops each focused on the task I am currently working on. I find the non-cluttered appearance of this approach very satisfying.

As you are finding out, Apple provides for other methods to achieve the same thing. Find the one you like the most and go with it.

I currently have two Macs, one still on Mojave and one on Sequoia. Both of them flawlessly restore all the desktop configurations to their last-used status when doing a power cycle.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I just did a simple test, with two desktops and a few windows open. I logged out, and when I logged back in the windows and desktops were preserved (latest Sequoia). Do you have the setting checked to reopen windows when logging out?

Yes. After a restart, all my previously open windows are open again, but they all are aggregated in Space 1, so I have to move them manually to the other spaces again.

 

[haralds]

I am a heavy user of multiple desktops such as:

1. Standard mail, Messages, browsing etc.
2. Music and apps
3. Development (Xcode, terminal)
4. Open
5. Virtual Machines