Application windows don't always remember which display to open on

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255 points

Application windows don't always remember which display to open on

I have a mid-2011 27" iMac running OS X 10.9 connected to two external monitors. Previously, under 10.8 and earlier, applications would remember which display they were open on last. For example, Outlook would open on the iMac display, Chrome would open on the middle monitor, and iTunes would open on the left monitor.

Under OS X 10.9 though, most of the applications open on the monitor with the dock (which in my case happens to be the center monitor). Weirdly, it isn't consistent. For example, Firefox and Aperture always remember to open on the right monitor. But Outlook will not remember to open on the right monitor. Safari can't remember to open on the left monitor, but iTunes does remember. So it doesn't seem to be an issue of third-party applications or Apple applications, since some third-party applications remember, some don't, and some Apple ones do, and some Apple ones don't.

It seems odd that with OS X 10.9's touted improved multi-display support, that even some of Apple's own applications (Aperture, iTunes, and Safari were updated today) can't remember which display to open on.

Is anyone else experiencing something similar and/or does anyone have a solution?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 1:35 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 23, 2013 4:42 AM in response to mrbofus

I'm having the exact same problem. Another bug I've noticed, mostly with Apple Mail, is that when you close the window (not quit), and open it again, it will shift positions down the screen repeatedly until it hits the bottom right of the screen. Almost like when you open a lot of documents in an app and they stagger.

The only semi-workaround I've found is to create a new space on the screen, and force the app to open on said space.

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Answer 2

mrbofus Author

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255 points

Oct 23, 2013 4:57 AM in response to mrbofus

Oh, and I should have also mentioned, I don't use Spaces.

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Answer 3

mrbofus Author

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255 points

Oct 23, 2013 4:58 AM in response to Steve Weintraub

Steve Weintraub wrote:

I'm having the exact same problem. Another bug I've noticed, mostly with Apple Mail, is that when you close the window (not quit), and open it again, it will shift positions down the screen repeatedly until it hits the bottom right of the screen. Almost like when you open a lot of documents in an app and they stagger.

Hmmm; that's interesting...I haven't noticed that on my system, but I'll keep an eye out for that as well.

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Answer 4

danielck

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2013 5:38 AM in response to mrbofus

I'm seeing the same issue as the OP, but in addition some apps seem to lose their windows completely. I have a 2012 15" MBP with Retina Display, which I plug into an external 24" display. Leaving for a meeting, I disconnected the display, but upon reconnecting to the external display some open applications had "lost" their windows. The apps didn't seem to have crashed, but I couldn't bring any of the windows forward. Weirdly enough the windows were visible in Exposé. It's as if the windows were off-screen somewhere.

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Answer 5

Oct 24, 2013 2:07 PM in response to mrbofus

Same here, e.g. Safari always resets the window position wen re-opened.

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Answer 6

Oct 24, 2013 3:09 PM in response to mrbofus

I posted about this in another thread. With mine, Safari always opens on the primary display (the one with discs and servers if you have your desktop 'arranged')

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Answer 7

baerb8

Level 1

14 points

Oct 24, 2013 3:15 PM in response to mrbofus

Same exact issue here; with all apps. Always open on main display regardless how often I drag to secondary and quit app on that secondary display

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Answer 8

mrbofus Author

Level 2

255 points

Oct 24, 2013 3:18 PM in response to mrbofus

I could maybe give Apple a little more rope if they hadn't touted improved multiple display support as a main feature of Mavericks. Given that higher billing, one would think they would have tested it a bit more rigorously. Or at least made sure it wasn't worse than what came before...

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Answer 9

Oct 24, 2013 3:19 PM in response to mrbofus

Question to all: do you have diferent size screens, or the same? A friend of mine who has two identical displays isn't having this bug. Me, I have a Fusion 27" iMac with an older 24" Apple LCD.

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Answer 10

mrbofus Author

Level 2

255 points

Oct 24, 2013 3:23 PM in response to Steve Weintraub

Steve Weintraub wrote:

Question to all: do you have diferent size screens, or the same? A friend of mine who has two identical displays isn't having this bug. Me, I have a Fusion 27" iMac with an older 24" Apple LCD.

I have a 27" iMac with two external monitors connected to it; a 22" Dell UltraSharp (U2211H) in portrait orientation and a 24" Dell UltraSharp (2405FPW) in landscape orientation.

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Answer 11

Oct 24, 2013 3:25 PM in response to mrbofus

Identical Samsung 1440 x 900. But some apps open on secondary e.g. iBooks always opens on secondary. Mad!

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Answer 12

jjangell

Level 1

4 points

Oct 25, 2013 10:21 AM in response to mrbofus

Same issue here. Macbook air wiht a Dell 24 inch external monitor.

MADDENING!!!

Especially outlook where I have the app running on the laptop and new windows are supposed to open on the external

Its tough gettin gold but the laptop is just a little too small for email now.

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Answer 13

Oct 25, 2013 1:00 PM in response to mrbofus

Same issue here.

I found a workaround that's working for me : under System Preferences > General, uncheck "Close windows when quitting an application".

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Answer 14

Oct 25, 2013 1:04 PM in response to micheloupatrick

Interesting, but unfortunately I already have that unchecked, no difference for me.

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Answer 15

Oct 29, 2013 1:50 PM in response to mrbofus

For anyone still reading—you can restore the pre-Mavericks behavior of multiple displays by unchecking "Displays have separate spaces" under Mission Control settings. I've done this, and I'm happy again. Yes, stinks to lose the newer features, but until Apple sorts it out with an update, it's just too flaky.

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