You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: atrac
atrac Author
User level: Level 1
15 points

Dual monitors, app placement during full screen mode

Hi,


I have an imac with a second monitor. Often I work with a full screen app on the main monitor, and have the second one for other apps, like safari or music, off to the side. (Let's say I might be deep in writing a paper in Pages, but still want to be able to switch music.)


One behaviour I don't like is that when I open a new app, it often opens up on the main screen on a different 'desktop' pulling me out of the app I'm working on. There's already a spare screen to the side - I want other apps to go there if there's a full screen app open on the main one.


I know you can assign certain apps to always open on a particular monitor, but this isn't quite what I want. What I want is for the Mac to have this rule set:

1) normally, open on the main screen

2) if there's a full screen app already on the main screen, open on the second monitor rather than switching desktops on the main monitor.


Is this possible?

iMac 27″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Oct 17, 2021 12:07 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
67,474 points

Posted on Oct 17, 2021 3:06 AM

I don't know of a way to set it exactly as you describe, but I can offer a way to get your applications to open where you want.


For example, say you want to start the Music app in the second screen.


1) Click on an empty area of the menu bar on the second screen. You should see that the highlighting changes, showing that this is the "active" screen.


2) Press command-space to open Spotlight (the Spotlight window will open on the second screen - that is a good sign!).

Start typing "Music" (as you can see in the attached screenshot, it may take only two letters, or more, depending on the name of the application).

Press enter.




3) There is no step 3...

View in context

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
67,474 points

Oct 17, 2021 3:06 AM in response to atrac

I don't know of a way to set it exactly as you describe, but I can offer a way to get your applications to open where you want.


For example, say you want to start the Music app in the second screen.


1) Click on an empty area of the menu bar on the second screen. You should see that the highlighting changes, showing that this is the "active" screen.


2) Press command-space to open Spotlight (the Spotlight window will open on the second screen - that is a good sign!).

Start typing "Music" (as you can see in the attached screenshot, it may take only two letters, or more, depending on the name of the application).

Press enter.




3) There is no step 3...

Reply

Dual monitors, app placement during full screen mode

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