Spaces always switches to first space when clicking on icon in Dock

I run MacOS Ventura 13.5.2. I use spaces and have quite a lot of applications open in fullscreen mode. So, one application takes up one space. When I now click on the application icon in the dock, MacOS usually switches to the first space where I have some finder windows open, but not the application I clicked on. This is super annoying, and I have had this issue for quite a while.


  • It happens with many different applications. VS Code, Brave, Table Plus, iTerms, etc.
  • I tried turning the setting "When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application" in Desktop & Dock settings on and off. Doesn't do anything.
  • When I click on the application a second time it gets me there.


These are my current settings. Does anyone have an idea how to fix this? I don't want to always zoom out and switching from Space 2 to 8 with CTRL + Arrow is quite annoying.


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Nov 26, 2023 4:54 AM

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5 replies

Nov 26, 2023 5:28 AM in response to ole_berlin

ole_berlin wrote:

But when I click on the app icon in the Dock, it doesn't open a new window of the app.

It should open the window of the app in the first non-full screen space. Are you saying it doesn't?


In any case, that's how macOS has worked for as long as Full Screen was an option.

Feel free to let Apple know you don't like it.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

Nov 26, 2023 5:23 AM in response to dialabrain

But when I click on the app icon in the Dock, it doesn't open a new window of the app. It just switches to space one, which is totally unrelated. Why does this function exist? It does not make any sense, it doesn't create value, and it goes completely contrary to my (the user's) expectations.


And when I am on space one and click on the app icon, spaces actually switches to that space.


That's bad UX.

Spaces always switches to first space when clicking on icon in Dock

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