Windows on three monitors are all over the place when waking from sleep sometimes

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Level 1

19 points

Windows on three monitors are all over the place when waking from sleep sometimes

Sometimes, when waking from sleep, windows are not on the same desktop or monitor that they were in before. I keep specific apps on specific desktops on each monitor.

I have 3 desktops per monitor and 3 monitors. One of the monitors is vertical, which is to the left of the two horizontal monitors placed one above the other. The vertical and top horizontal monitors are LG 27UN850-W, which are 27" 4K 60Hz. The bottom horizontal monitor is an LG 27GN950-B, which is 27" 4K 144Hz. However, windows are only displaced between the vertical and top horizontal monitors. They stay on the same desktop, but change monitors.

For example, Reminders are on desktop 1 of the left vertical monitor, Notes on desktop 2 of the left vertical monitor, folders on desktop 1 of the top horizontal monitor, and Safari on desktop 1 of the bottom horizontal monitor. Randomly, when waking from sleep, Reminders are on desktop 1 of the top horizontal monitor, Notes on desktop 2 of the top horizontal monitor, folders on desktop 1 of the left vertical monitor, and Safari is still on desktop 1 of the bottom horizontal monitor, where it should be.

This issue has persisted from Ventura to Sonoma. I've changed cables from HDMI to HDMI, USB-C to HDMI, USB-C to DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-C. I do use the Rectangle App to easily move and organize windows, but the issue still persists when it is uninstalled.

Does anyone else have this issue? Has anyone found a fix? I'm not sure if it's a hardware or software issue.

MacOS Sonoma 14.2 (23C64)

M2 Ultra

Mac Studio, macOS 14.2

Posted on Dec 16, 2023 5:51 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

245,495 points

Dec 18, 2023 9:32 AM in response to Yungyyyy

Specify sleep and wake settings for a Mac desktop computer

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Energy Saver in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
Do any of the following:

- Stop automatic sleeping when the display is off: Turn on “Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off.”
- Put hard disks to sleep: Turn on “Put hard disks to sleep when possible” on the right.
Update your system while it’s asleep: Turn on Enable Power Nap on the right.
- See What is Power Nap?
- Allow your Mac to wake briefly so users can access shared services (if applicable): Turn on “Wake for network access” on the right.

Try testing the bolded one above, or just put the display to sleep.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

82,594 points

Dec 18, 2023 10:26 AM in response to Yungyyyy

In addition to BDAqua's excellent advise to "Prevent automatic computer sleep"

Try turning off "Displays have separate Spaces" and see if that also helps the windows stay put.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

245,495 points

Dec 18, 2023 5:12 AM in response to Yungyyyy

In Mission Control, what are the settings?

We need to see what all is running, a report from this will not display any personal info...

Using EtreCheck - Apple Community

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Thanks for Old Toad’s etrecheck instructions…

Slow iMac 2017 - Apple Community

Use the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...

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Answer 4

Yungyyyy Author

Level 1

19 points

Dec 22, 2023 7:20 AM in response to BDAqua

I followed all of your steps, and so far, it's actually worked! I didn't want to jinx it, but I haven't had the issue since. I'll reply if anything changes. Thanks!

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Answer 5

Yungyyyy Author

Level 1

19 points

Dec 18, 2023 9:17 AM in response to BDAqua

I'm not using HDMI at this point. I am using one USB-C to DisplayPort for the 144Hz monitor and two USB-C to USB-C cables for the two 60Hz monitors that keep switching windows when waking from sleep. I forgot to mention the vertical monitor continuously wakes up from sleep randomly when the Mac is asleep. I'm not sure if it's the monitor that's the issue because I've tried HDMI, DisplayPort, and now USB-C cables with it.

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