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.

macOS Sonoma Finder windows covering foreground windows

Since upgrading to macOS Sonoma, from time to time, Finder windows will cover other applications's windows, even when those applications are brought to the foreground and the Finder goes in the background.


I searched in every settings I could think of, thinking it was some kind of a new feature but didn't find anything to stop this behavior.


Is there a way I can keep the Finder windows in the background when I activate another application?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Feb 2, 2024 9:31 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 1, 2024 3:22 AM

Luis,


if you read the thread on macrumors, that I posted a link to, you'll see that what NemesysSoftware

is describing, is not normal/correct behaviour... it's broken. Seems to be a Spaces/Desktops issue... perhaps something to do with the implementation of StageManager? Either way, it's a bad bug. Not at all what I'm used to seeing from Apple. (Steve? I thought you were supposed to watching over?)


( Just for context... I've been using Macs daily, for work and play, since ~1990. I even used to be a part of AppleSeed, when it was a secret group and we were sent OS updates, by post, on CDs. 🕵️ That was so cool. 😊 )

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 1, 2024 3:22 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis,


if you read the thread on macrumors, that I posted a link to, you'll see that what NemesysSoftware

is describing, is not normal/correct behaviour... it's broken. Seems to be a Spaces/Desktops issue... perhaps something to do with the implementation of StageManager? Either way, it's a bad bug. Not at all what I'm used to seeing from Apple. (Steve? I thought you were supposed to watching over?)


( Just for context... I've been using Macs daily, for work and play, since ~1990. I even used to be a part of AppleSeed, when it was a secret group and we were sent OS updates, by post, on CDs. 🕵️ That was so cool. 😊 )

Feb 2, 2024 9:45 AM in response to NemesysSoftware


Option 1: Adjust Finder Preferences

One avenue to explore is to delve into Finder's preferences. Here's how you can tweak this:


1. Open Finder and click on the "Finder" menu at the top-left corner of the screen.

2. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.

3. In the "General" tab, you can look for an option related to window behavior or focus. Sometimes, Apple adds new settings or modifies existing ones with updates, so it's worth a look!


Option 2: Third-Party Apps

There are also third-party applications that can help manage window behavior more flexibly. Apps like Magnet or BetterSnapTool provide robust window management features and might help override the way macOS Sonoma handles window focus.


Option 3: Terminal Command

If you're comfortable with the Terminal, we can explore some command-line options to tweak the window management behavior directly. This may involve delving into macOS's defaults system or using other command-line utilities to control window focus behavior.


Option 4: Feedback to Apple

Since Sonoma is still relatively new, it might be worth expressing this issue and your desired behavior directly to the folks at Apple. They are often receptive to user feedback and might even have a fix or workaround in the pipeline for a future update.


It's important to note that working with system settings and commands can sometimes have unintended side effects, so it's always good to proceed cautiously or seek expert advice if needed.


As a friendly reminder, keeping your system updated with the latest patches and fixes is a good practice. Sometimes, these types of issues can be ironed out with subsequent software updates.



Feb 2, 2024 9:54 AM in response to 0Wishtobefree0

I mentioned that I already checked all the settings I could think of, and that includes the Finder settings. I've been using a Mac since 1985 so I think I know a bit or two about the system.


Further, there is NO setting in the Finder settings about window behavior or focus.


I'd like to know what kind of defaults could change the Finder behavior, thought. I'm very familiar with the Terminal and the "defaults" command.


Actually, I just did a "defaults read com.apple.finder". A bunch of setting but nothing that relates to windows being always on top.

Feb 2, 2024 10:13 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

In Sonoma 14.3, I can open a new Finder Window, then open several more windowed applications where the last opened is the current application and the Finder Window remains obstructed by all of the other application windows now above it.


If I cllick on the Desktop, there is no change in application window stacking, however, if I click on the Finder icon in the Dock, or the Finder Window itself, then it immediately brings the semi-hidden Finder Window on top of all other application windows. If I click on the Dock icon for any other application whose window is now overlayed by the Finder Window, that application's window now is promoted over the Finder Window again.


The preceding paragraphs represent normal behavior for macOS as clicking on the application's Dock icon transfers keyboard and pointer focus to that existing application's window and makes it front most in the window stack.


There is no configuration setting to override the above normal behavior in how macOS was designed.



Mar 1, 2024 2:40 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

NemesysSoftware wrote:

Here is what happens.

You can clearly see that Mail is the foreground application, yet, one Finder window is covering Mail's main window.


This is the normal behavior if you start with Finder at the front and then click on that Mail window - Mail becomes the frontmost application, but not all Mail windows come to the front.

There are other ways to switch to Mail:

a) Command-Tab - this should bring all Mail windows to the front

b) Click on the particular window in the Dock - this should cause the behavior you experience

c) Click Mail icon in the Dock - this should bring all Mail windows to the front


The behavior that I see on my mac is consistent with the above, as it should be, as has been for years.


If you are command-tabbing or clicking the Mail icon, and getting what you show, then that's incorrect behavior, but I can't reproduce it.

Try restarting in Safe Mode, and testing. Can you reproduce the error in Safe Mode? If not, there is some third party software causing this glitch. Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.


macOS Sonoma Finder windows covering foreground windows

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