How to use multiple desktops (Spaces) on Mac

macOS Spaces give you separate virtual desktops — one for email, one for code, one for reference reading — so you can context-switch without the chaos of minimizing and juggling windows. Here's how to create them, navigate them quickly, and keep them under control.

Creating a new Space

1. Open Mission Control: swipe up with three fingers on the trackpad, or press ⌃↑ (Control + Up Arrow).
2. In the Spaces strip at the top, click the + button on the right side.
3. A new empty desktop appears. Click it to switch to it.

You can create up to 16 Spaces. To delete one, hover over it in Mission Control and click the × that appears.

Switching between Spaces

Several methods work — use whichever fits your setup:

• Three-finger swipe left or right on the trackpad
• ⌃→ / ⌃← (Control + arrow) to move one Space at a time
• ⌃1, ⌃2, ⌃3… to jump directly to a numbered Space (you may need to enable these in System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control)
• Mission Control → click any Space thumbnail in the strip

Assigning apps to specific Spaces

To keep an app on a fixed Space rather than following you everywhere:

1. Right-click (or Control-click) the app's icon in the Dock.
2. Choose Options → Assign To.
3. Pick This Desktop (current Space), a specific Space, or All Desktops.

All Desktops is useful for apps like music players or note-taking apps you want visible everywhere. A fixed Space assignment is useful for your email client or browser.

Moving windows between Spaces

There are two quick ways:

• Open Mission Control and drag a window from one Space thumbnail to another.
• On the current Space, drag a window to the screen edge — hold it there for a moment and macOS slides you to the adjacent Space, taking the window with you.

Settings that make Spaces more usable

Three System Settings options significantly affect how Spaces feel in practice:

• Turn off auto-rearrange (System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Mission Control → "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use"). This keeps your Spaces in the order you set, instead of reshuffling based on recent use.
• Turn off auto-switch ("When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows"). This stops macOS from jumping to a different Space when you click an app.
• Turn on window grouping ("Group windows by application") so Mission Control shows all windows of each app together rather than scattered randomly.

How many Spaces is the right number?

Most people find 3–5 Spaces hit the sweet spot. More than that and you spend more time navigating than working. A simple layout: Space 1 for communication (email, Slack), Space 2 for your main work, Space 3 for reference material or a browser. Adjust from there based on what you actually do.