How do I make an app default to open on my second display?

Question

Level 1

36 points

How do I make an app default to open on my second display?

I have two monitors on my desk, set up for the side-by-side alignment in the Displays options. I want to be able to set an option somehow for particular applications so that they default to opening on one display or another. Some of the older posts I've seen for earlier versions of MacOS mention an option coming up under an app's right-click menu in the Dock that can set this up, but that doesn't seem to be present in Catalina.

Can anyone tell me if this is possible?

Thanks for your help!

Jeremy

iMac 27", macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 15, 2020 4:15 PM

Answer 1

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,900 points

Apr 16, 2020 7:58 AM in response to wrip

Open System Preferences> Mission Control and make sure Displays have separate Spaces is selected.

Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

125,838 points

Apr 15, 2020 6:39 PM in response to wrip

You must have "Displays have separate spaces" selected in the Mission Control System Preferences.

Then, you can assign an app to a particular display on that Desktop.

I don't know what you mean by "side-by-side" alignment. If you mean that act as one continuous display instead of two separate, then the two together are one Desktop.

Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

125,838 points

Apr 16, 2020 7:54 AM in response to wrip

How many Desktops do you have?

I think you need more than one, even if you just want to choose a display.

Enter Mission Control and click on the + in the Desktop Thumbnail bar to add one.

Answer 4

wrip Author

Level 1

36 points

Apr 16, 2020 7:59 AM in response to Barney-15E

That did the trick. I had one running for each Display, but once I added a second one to the main Display (iMac) that submenu appeared!

Thanks both of you for your help!

Jeremy

Answer 5

wrip Author

Level 1

36 points

Apr 16, 2020 6:53 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney, thanks for the reply.

I do have the option checked for "Displays have separate spaces" in the MC System Preferences, and when I hit the MC button, each screen is defined as a separate "Desktop" (1 for the main iMac display and 2 for the second monitor, which is to the left). However, when I right-click the icon for an open app in my Dock, I still don't get any options for keeping it in one Desktop/Space or another.

Any further guidance?

Thanks!

Jeremy

Answer 6

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,900 points

Apr 16, 2020 7:04 AM in response to wrip

With the app open control-click on the apps icon in the Dock, select Options and you should see a second sub menu where you can assign which Display to use for that app.