Moving external monitor Space to built-in display after disconnecting

I have a 2022 13" M2 MacBook Air and connect it to an external monitor. I currently have Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use disabled and Displays have separate Spaces enabled. (I have tried all the various combinations of these settings) When closing the laptop and putting to sleep or putting it to sleep via hot corner, everything reappears in the correct display/space once the laptop returns from sleep mode. This is what I want.


What I am looking for, is for this to essentially work the same way when I disconnect the external monitor and use just as a laptop. Rather than all open windows on the external display moving to the open Space on the built-in display, is there any way for the Spaces from the external monitor to migrate to the built-in display as new Spaces? Thanks!

MacBook Air (M2, 2023)

Posted on Dec 14, 2023 9:33 AM

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Posted on Dec 14, 2023 9:40 AM

figured out the workaround right after posting but figured in case anyone was searching.


With Displays have separate Spaces enabled, create an empty first Space in the external monitor. On disconnect everything from the first Space of the external monitor (in this case nothing) will get moved down to the built-in display while the rest of external display Spaces will move down as separate spaces on the built-in display.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 14, 2023 9:40 AM in response to rjmcde12

figured out the workaround right after posting but figured in case anyone was searching.


With Displays have separate Spaces enabled, create an empty first Space in the external monitor. On disconnect everything from the first Space of the external monitor (in this case nothing) will get moved down to the built-in display while the rest of external display Spaces will move down as separate spaces on the built-in display.

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Moving external monitor Space to built-in display after disconnecting

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