I wish there was a way to use a mouse click to switch spaces

Note: this is about using a 2014 Mac Mini running Mojave through an RDP (Screenshare) session on a 2018 Mac Mini running Catalina. The issue is the same in both -- it's the undocumented nature of how Apple manages Spaces, so nobody can write apps that do anything other than Apple without using undocumented API calls. Spaces exist, but there are no documented API calls to work with them. So I'm asking about something that technically may be just a mirage...


I've been using a 2014 Mac Mini with 10 Spaces. Love how they work! I got a new 2018 Mac Mini and cloned the old one, so it's set up the same.


To avoid needing duplicate peripherals, I set up Space #10 in the new one where I open an RDP window (Screenshare) to the older machine. Works like a charm! I just hit <ctrl>-0 to access the other machine and viola! It's there!


Except ... none of the alt-keys get sent to the RDP window! So I can't use <ctrl>-3 to switch to Space #3 inside of the RDP window. It goes to Space #3 on my main machine. I can't use mouse gestures either, or the hot-corners. So switching spaces in the older machine in the RDP window is problematic, to say the least.


Curiously, I use VirtualBox a lot, and when it's running, it DOES capture ALL of the alt-key combos. So to switch to Space #3 on my host machine, I need to move the mouse outside of the VM window and then click <ctrl>-3.


I don't know why Apple's RDP/Screenshare app won't accept alt-key combinations, but until it does, I need some means of switching Spaces using a mouse-click.


I found a small app in the App Store named Virtual Desktops, but it's read-only. It would be perfect if I could click on one of the icons to switch a desktop when it's set to display one for each desktop.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Jul 25, 2020 12:55 AM

Reply

Similar questions

3 replies

Jul 25, 2020 2:43 AM in response to TheToolWiz

I have two displays set up with different Desktops/ Spaces, 1-5 on main display and 6-8 on second display

System Preferences> Mission Control> Displays have different spaces is checked.

And I can switch between them all using the Command and number for the Space and app

I want to focus on.


On my mouse here I have set up the secondary mouse button to be the App Switcher, when I click

on that you will see in the middle of the screen the apps you have open, select the app you want to

use and the mac will switch to that app and the space it has been assigned to.

Jul 25, 2020 3:30 AM in response to Eau Rouge

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. This happens ONLY INSIDE of an RDP / Screenshare window. Not on the host machine -- on the remote machine, because it is not receiving the ALT keystrokes as they are being mapped to the local machine before they are sent to the remote desktop. You don't mention that you're running an RDP / Screenshare window so I don't believe you are seeing the problem I'm reporting. I have no issues otherwise.


Everything you say sounds perfectly normal. Try it inside of an RDP / Screenshare window to see what I'm talking about. it won't work with the remote desktop the way you're describing it. Instead, it will work on your host machine as you describe it.


Inside of a VirtualBox window, the keystrokes are being grabbed by VirtualBox, and I have to move the mouse outside of that window to make the host machine respond.


This is possibly a bug in the RDP / Screenshare app, but it could also be "as designed". Regardless, it's annoying.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

I wish there was a way to use a mouse click to switch spaces

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.