On wake-up windows have moved from extended to primary screen

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Level 1

11 points

On wake-up windows have moved from extended to primary screen

On a Macbook Air M4 and with the lid closed I've connected 2 external screens, a LG 4k (landscape) and 2k AOC (panoramic) via a dock which is connnected to one of the two thunderbolt USB C sockets on the laptop. I've also setup multiple workspaces, each workspace is tied to both screens. Anytime I come back to my computer after it's been asleep the windows on the extended screen have moved to the primary display. It's becoming really tiresome having to reallocate the windows to the screen where I'd used them before.

From doing a brief search about this issue there seems to be a lot of people with this problem and I'm amazed it's not been tackled. Can anyone help?

Auto rearrange Spaces is off

Displays have separate Spaces is off

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 29, 2025 3:43 PM

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Answer 1

May 2, 2025 2:47 AM in response to GusGF

I’ve been having the same issue since the latest Sequoia update and found this fix on another forum. Depending on your OS version it’s either

Preferences > Energy Saver > Check 'Prevent your mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off’

or

System Settings > Energy > Check 'Prevent your mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off'

Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

TheLittles

Level 10

209,863 points

Apr 29, 2025 10:06 PM in response to GusGF

"On wake-up windows have moved from extended to primary screen: On a Macbook Air M4 and with the lid closed I've connected 2 external screens, a LG 4k (landscape) and 2k AOC (panoramic) via a dock which is connnected to one of the two thunderbolt USB C sockets on the laptop.[...]"

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Change a Monitor on Dock to a Primary Display:

Being on a Dock, they's be syncing through it. So, chased these monitors to the default (primary) display. To change your primary display on MacOS, open System Settings and navigate to Displays. Next, click on the Arrangment tab to view your current display orientation. One of these displays will have a thin white menu bar at the top, click and drag this menu bar to the display you wish to make your primary display.

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Answer 3

GusGF Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 30, 2025 8:40 AM in response to TheLittles

TheLittles wrote:

"On wake-up windows have moved from extended to primary screen: On a Macbook Air M4 and with the lid closed I've connected 2 external screens, a LG 4k (landscape) and 2k AOC (panoramic) via a dock which is connnected to one of the two thunderbolt USB C sockets on the laptop.[...]"

-------

Change a Monitor on Dock to a Primary Display:

Being on a Dock, they's be syncing through it. So, chased these monitors to the default (primary) display. To change your primary display on MacOS, open System Settings and navigate to Displays. Next, click on the Arrangment tab to view your current display orientation. One of these displays will have a thin white menu bar at the top, click and drag this menu bar to the display you wish to make your primary display.

I'm not sure what question you are answering as my question was about windows in my workspace congregating on the 4k after wake-up/restart which I already clarified was my primary.

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Answer 4

GusGF Author

Level 1

11 points

May 3, 2025 3:53 PM in response to Necromancer9

Yes I've seen that suggestion on Reddit before but I don't like the idea of keeping my Mac powered on all the time. I'm hoping they will come up with a fix. Maybe for a short time I might adopt what you are suggesting but as a long term fix it's not on. Thanks anyway :)

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