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Is there a way to create separate desktops, each holding files and folders?

My desktop is crowded with files and folders. I could consolidate them into perhaps ten categories.


Is there a way to create separate desktops, each with a different name, each holding the related files and folders? And each holding the layout I closed it with? (I tried consolidating similar files and folders into one folder, but I can't see how to create and hold a layout once I close and save the folder.)


With dedicated separate desktops my main desktop would only have ten categories listed, and I could click on the one I wanted to work on. Then when I opened it, I would find it the way I left it and I would have a lot more real estate to work with. And I could leave it that way when I closed it and return later.


Thanks for your answer!

Duncan

Mac Pro

Posted on Oct 3, 2021 11:05 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 3, 2021 12:24 PM

You can use desktops in Mission Control to maximize your efficiency and control the clutter on your desktop.


These Apple Support documents will get you started:

Work in multiple spaces on Mac - Apple Support

Use Mission Control on your Mac - Apple Support


If you assign an app to a specific space, the app will always open in that space.


First, create a desktop space for the app you want to assign.

• Press F3 to activate Mission Control. Then move the cursor to the plus ( + ) sign at the top-right corner of the screen. Click that to add a new desktop. Then click the newly added desktop thumbnail to select and move into the space.

• Next, assign your app to that desktop space. Click and hold the app’s icon in the Dock until the pop out menu appears. (You may need to first launch the app to see its icon in the Dock.)  From the pop out menu, choose Options > Assign To > This Desktop.

• Now, every time you launch that app, it and its windows will open in that specific desktop.


Other desktop assignment options are:

All Desktops: The app opens in every space.

Desktop on Display [number]The app opens in the current space on a specific display (if more than one display is available).

None: The app opens in whichever space you’re using at the time.


Once you grasp this, and especially when combined with trackpad gestures, spaces and Mission Control become awesome productivity tools.


To delete desktops, activate Mission Control (F3). Then slide the mouse up and hover over the thumbnail of the desktop you wish to delete and click the X when it appears in the corner of that thumbnail.


The key to clarity and the successful use of desktops is the assignment of apps to spaces after creating them.


7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 3, 2021 12:24 PM in response to Duncan Knowles

You can use desktops in Mission Control to maximize your efficiency and control the clutter on your desktop.


These Apple Support documents will get you started:

Work in multiple spaces on Mac - Apple Support

Use Mission Control on your Mac - Apple Support


If you assign an app to a specific space, the app will always open in that space.


First, create a desktop space for the app you want to assign.

• Press F3 to activate Mission Control. Then move the cursor to the plus ( + ) sign at the top-right corner of the screen. Click that to add a new desktop. Then click the newly added desktop thumbnail to select and move into the space.

• Next, assign your app to that desktop space. Click and hold the app’s icon in the Dock until the pop out menu appears. (You may need to first launch the app to see its icon in the Dock.)  From the pop out menu, choose Options > Assign To > This Desktop.

• Now, every time you launch that app, it and its windows will open in that specific desktop.


Other desktop assignment options are:

All Desktops: The app opens in every space.

Desktop on Display [number]The app opens in the current space on a specific display (if more than one display is available).

None: The app opens in whichever space you’re using at the time.


Once you grasp this, and especially when combined with trackpad gestures, spaces and Mission Control become awesome productivity tools.


To delete desktops, activate Mission Control (F3). Then slide the mouse up and hover over the thumbnail of the desktop you wish to delete and click the X when it appears in the corner of that thumbnail.


The key to clarity and the successful use of desktops is the assignment of apps to spaces after creating them.


Oct 4, 2021 8:14 AM in response to Duncan Knowles

I haven't seen any recommendation to use Finder Stacks by right-clicking on the Desktop. This categorizes kinds of objects on one Desktop into single stacks of things (except folders).



and one winds up with (not showing Applications, Documents, Spreadsheets, or Folders):



Clicking on any one of these stacks opens it to reveal the like category documents within it.

Is there a way to create separate desktops, each holding files and folders?

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