How do I delete unused window spaces in Mission Control with Mountain Lion?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do I delete unused window spaces in Mission Control with Mountain Lion?

When I open an application to full-window size (opening a new "space" in mission control), the "space" does not close when I terminate the application. Instead, the space remains blank. There are no options to remove or open an application, and I cannot remove the empty space in mission control. When I re-open the same program, it creates a new space. Now I have 11 spaces and only 4 of them are usable/not blank.

How do I delete the blank ones?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Aug 10, 2012 11:28 AM

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Answer 1

PyroDJ

Level 1

14 points

Sep 15, 2012 10:28 AM in response to JonRowe

JonRow, Look familiar?

And when I did try and swipe through full screen apps I briefly got this. See image below. (note the menu bar icons top right)

Before going to a blank grey screen.

If the problem comes back I will tru the killall dock command.

Cheers

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Answer 2

PyroDJ

Level 1

14 points

Sep 15, 2012 10:15 AM in response to JonRowe

Hi Jon,

I have this same problem I believe it to be a glitch. It only started hapening after upgrading to Mountain Lion.

After looking more carefully I had a second window of safari with a couple of tabs open whilst another safari window was in full screen mode. Closing the 2nd window seemed to remove all the other application duplicates.

Let me know if you've come to any conclussions.

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Answer 3

mr.k99

Level 3

640 points

Sep 15, 2012 10:17 AM in response to JonRowe

You're saying that you can't delete desktops in mission control?. Try holding the option key in mission control. x's should appear over every desktop except Desktop 1. Clicking an x should delete the desktop.

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Answer 4

JonRowe Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 15, 2012 10:22 AM in response to mr.k99

Mr.k99, for me the issue was blank spaces created by closing full-screen apps, not desktops. After I closed the app, a uniform blue screen took it's place.

PyroDJ, I did find the solution! All you need to do is open terminal and enter "Killall dock". Ever since I did that, the blank spaces never came back and I haven't had the problem since.

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Answer 5

mr.k99

Level 3

640 points

Sep 15, 2012 10:23 AM in response to JonRowe

Sorry, I didn't read your original post closely enough. Glad you found a solution.

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