Sonoma: Remove black border when clicking on the desktop (but leaving the feature on)

You cannot remove the black border around the screen when you are using "main screen", but you could enable stage manager and make the "stage manager screen" as same as "main screen", which could "remove" the black border as well.

To achieve this feature:

1. Open System Settings
2. Click on the Desktop & Dock menu
3. Look for the option "Desk & Stage Manager"
4. Where it shows "Show Items", choose both "On Desktop" and "In Stage Manager"
5. Below "Show Items" is "Click wallpaper to reveal desktop", change it to "Always"
6. Below "Show Items", enable "Stage Manager",
7. Below "Stage manager", disable "Show recent apps in Stage Manager"
8. Under "Widgets" block, find "Show Widgets", choose both "On Desktop" and "In Stage Manager"

After you done all of these, you should see same screen both on "Stage Manager" and "Home Screen". They are not the same one, but they look like the same. Plus, you won't see the black border after click the wallpaper.

Hope this answer helps you. Have a good day!

gunhackx wrote:

Hello, I recently downloaded the new MacOS Sonoma and I noticed the new feature that allows you to move all windows out of the way to access desktop items and widgets. I must admit, I love this new feature, but I'm

not a fan of the black border it creates around the screen.

I'm wondering if there's a way to remove this border while keeping the feature active. If it's not currently possible, I would like to suggest adding it as a customizable option in future updates.

Thank you!

Are you asking about this border...(?)

I see no way to change that.

It affects the old way as well "Spread thumb & 3 fingers"

not just the new feature.

To be pro-active you can submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

Lagrik wrote:

Also trying to find a way to remove this when clicking on the desktop. Very annoying.

To disable this feature :

1. Open System Settings.
2. Click on the Desktop & Dock menu.
3. Look for the option “Click wallpaper to reveal desktop”.
4. Where it shows “Always” click and choose “Only in Stage Manager”.

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/26/disable-click-wallpaper-reveal-desktop-macos-sonoma/.

OxygenO2 wrote:

I'm on the exact same boat, love the feature, but the black border should have an option to be hidden. I hope this demand reaches out to Apple HQ.

It won't reach them by posting it here. Apple doesn't read in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can however, let them know your demand here:

Product Feedback - Apple

As added info, this was supported in Ventura as well in two methods.

1 - System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners button (lower right corner), Then choose Desktop for one of the corners.

2 - System Settings | Desktop & Dock | Shortcuts Button (at the bottom)

Show Desktop = Right Control (or whatever other button you choose)

I agree that the new feature is nice, but for some of us that prefer not to use it, there should be a way to turn it off completely or uninstall the feature all together.

I'm not into this feature as it also affects the mouse pointer when shutting down the computer. The pointer disappears, then you have to click on the screen to show the pointer again to finish shutting down the computer; unless you let it time out.

what is this border supposed to mean?

If you watch the animation, it is indicating that there are windows (apps) open which have been moved out of the way. Seemed obvious to me.

Same thing happens when you "Show Desktop" in Mission Control. Clicking on the Desktop activates "Show Desktop" unless you change those settings. The borders allow you to click on them to restore the windows that were moved to show the desktop.

Also trying to find a way to remove this when clicking on the desktop. Very annoying.

From what @Lagrik wrote, I understood they wanted to get rid of the feature altogether.

This being said, I think the border is a reminder from Apple to notify you that you are in "widget viewing mode". For instance, if the screen had no windows open, you could not tell the difference between "normal mode" and"widget viewing mode". That's just a thought.

I thought that the black border meant that my Mac was being hacked. What a poor design decision, what is this border supposed to mean? It’s so confusing and disturbing that I turned lockdown mode on, which damaged my disk and VPN configuration, now have to repair. What a poor design decision, please Apple remove this black border!

Tried this, it didn't work for me.

This works :) Thank you.

Randall_2023 wrote:

As added info, this was supported in Ventura as well in two methods.

Also in Monterey, "Show Desktop" also has keyboard shortcuts, cmd+F3 or fn+F11.

Correct, but not everyone wants Stage Manager enabled.