Level 1

28 points

Mission Control on MacOS27

I updated to macOS 27 this morning, and I regretted it almost instantly after seeing how bad Mission Control is. Seriously, Apple how do you mess up something this fundamental?

Before MacOS27 my workflow:

Full-screen app → swipe up into Mission Control → click the Desktop space → expect macOS to switch to Desktop

After MacOS27 update:

Full-screen app → swipe up into Mission Control → click the Desktop space does nothing. Also, if you’re in Mission Control and click on another app that’s already open, it glitches out really badly.

I also found other people experiencing the same issue.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 27.0

Posted on Sep 15, 2026 4:10 AM

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

65,689 points

Posted on Sep 15, 2026 4:40 AM

On macOS 27 Golden Gate, I find that Mission Control and Spaces behave mostly as it did on prior versions of macOS, and as expected based on Apple's information:

View open windows and spaces in Mission Control on Mac – Apple Support

Work in multiple spaces on Mac – Apple Support

There is one difference I see between my two Macs with one on Golden Gate and the other on Tahoe with a window made full screen then a three-finder swipe. On Golden Gate, the Space that is selected is the 'last' one before the full screen window, and that's also the one that's shown occupying most of the screen (top panel, which is a 5K;2K display). On Tahoe, the full screen window is the one that is selected, and the 'first' Space is the one that is shown (bottom panel).

However, clicking on another Space goes to that Space, and there is no 'glitching' when switching Spaces or selecting other apps/windown in Mission Control that I see on Golden Gate.

Have you rebooted your Mac? If not, that's the first step. If that does not help, then see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

Those steps will help to isolate the problem.

If the problem you are seeing remains, then bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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41 replies

MackS

Level 1

10 points

Sep 19, 2026 3:50 PM in response to MackS

Just like other users, I did all suggested 'fixes' (no fixes) with no good results. All worked as long as Mac didn't go to sleep, once she woke up, it was all over to square 1. Only 1 desktop was assigned and live, others were gone. Keyboard has all desktops 1 - 7 active/enabled, after reboot worked. Once she went to sleep all was gone. I went and messed around with com.apple.dock.plist. Recreated new one from the boot up. Looked good till mac was put to sleep. Once it woke up all was gone. So I reverted to the .plist I preserved during my troubleshooting to get my dock back. Perhaps it was pointless, but I tried - the old tricks I learned when I started fixing macs in 1984.

But in last 20 years I had no issue like this to cope with. My upgrades were so good, I had no problems. I spent enough time on this issue by now. I'll do the test on my 2021-iMac and 2023-MacBookAir see what is brewing there. But today is not that day.

Sep 20, 2026 4:37 AM in response to Cartechie

Cartechie wrote:

It's quite appalling that everyone seems to be bringing down the experience of the poster. I have the exact same issue they are having as does friends of mine after upgrading to Mac OS 27.

Tahoe: Open at least 4 full screen app tabs (same app or different doesn't matter) > Use three fingers to swipe away so mission control is in top view with all open full app tabs showing and the desktop tab as well > tap on desktop screen showing under mission control (not the desktop tab within mission control) > desktop fully opens with mission control closed

Golden Gate: Open at least 4 full screen app tabs (same app or different doesn't matter) > Use three fingers to swipe away so mission control is in top view with all open full app tabs showing and the desktop tab as well > tap on desktop screen under mission control (not the desktop tab within mission control) > FULL SCREEN GOES BACK TO THE APP YOU JUST SWIPED AWAY FROM INSTEAD OF FULLY OPENING THE DESKTOP SCREEN. To go back to full desktop, while mission control is open with all the tabs in view you have the click 'the desktop tab within mission control'.

This is just an undesirable and backwards workflow and it does actually happen. As the original poster said. I don't understand why an issue as simple and basic as this was not caught. It's okay, we all make mistakes as well as Apple. We would really appreciate a fix, please and thanks if anyone has come to it.

Like you, I always keep all of my windows in full-screen mode. Not being able to just hit the Mission Control key and click anywhere on the desktop to jump straight to the, you know... desktop! is just... stupid! It completely ruins a workflow that used to be so smooth. 😞

If anyone has figured out a fix or a good workaround for this, please share it! 🙏

If I can't find a fix in a couple days I'm going back to Tahoe... 🤷‍♂️

Barney-15E

Level 10

125,362 points

Sep 15, 2026 4:13 AM in response to beansinbelly

Does control plus arrow left right or control plus number switch desktops?

I haven’t noticed any differences in mission control, but I don’t use full screen.

beansinbelly Author

Level 1

28 points

Sep 15, 2026 4:24 AM in response to Barney-15E

I’m aware of the control + arrow shortcut, but I usually navigate between full-screen apps and desktops using the trackpad or mouse.

Sep 15, 2026 6:58 AM in response to beansinbelly

Like others, I see no remarkable difference in the way Mission Control works - fullscreen apps or not.

Sep 15, 2026 5:24 PM in response to beansinbelly

Yeah, spaces/Mission Control are buggy and not working correctly no matter what the others are saying (Apple Bots)

Barney-15E

Level 10

125,362 points

Sep 15, 2026 5:26 PM in response to edgarfleming

edgarfleming wrote:

Yeah, spaces/Mission Control are buggy and not working correctly no matter what the others are saying (Apple Bots)

No problems for me. How are you making it buggy?

0xSONNY

Level 1

12 points

Sep 17, 2026 7:30 AM in response to Barney-15E

I think you don't know how Mission Control was working before Golden Gate MacOS :))

Sep 17, 2026 9:06 AM in response to 0xSONNY

0xSONNY wrote:

I think you don't know how Mission Control was working before Golden Gate MacOS :))

I think you are very mistaken.

beansinbelly Author

Level 1

28 points

Sep 17, 2026 12:14 PM in response to beansinbelly

I don't know how y'all at level 10 with 100K+ points and not know how Mission Control used to work. Shame.

Sep 18, 2026 7:10 AM in response to dyrckfromchristchurch

Currently, I have deleted all of my desktops and recreated them and all is well ( for the last ten minutes).

Update: My keyboard shortcuts continued to work for about 30 minutes, now gone again. Sigh

Mission Control on MacOS27