HT204100: Use Mission Control on your Mac

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skinnysig
Level 1 (6 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Did Apple remove the ability to swipe between Spaces in MacOS Sierra?

I just updated to MacOS Sierra.  Before in El Capitan I used to keep multiple spaces open in Mission Control, even if some of them were not in use with Apps.  To easily switch between the spaces I swiped with 4 fingers on my MacBook touchpad.  In Sierra that ability seems to have gone away even though there is an option for "full screen apps".

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 2:40 PM

by AtomicChowder,Apple recommended
AtomicChowder AtomicChowder
Level 1 (11 points)
A:

Seems to be a minor bug -  you just need to reset the setting.  Do the following -

 

  1. go to "System Preferences" --> "Trackpad" --> "More Gestures"
  2. uncheck the option "Swipe between full-screen apps"
  3. Exit the preference panel (click the red X in the top left corner)
  4. go back into "System Preferences" --> "Trackpad" --> "More Gestures"
  5. recheck the option "Swipe between full-screen apps"
  6. Exit the preference panel

 

You should now be able to swipe between apps and "spaces" or desktops with 4 fingers (or 3 depending on your setting).   Seems to only be a problem if you had this setting on before you migrated.   My wife's machine didn't have this problem when I turned it on for the first time on her MacBook.

Posted on Sep 26, 2016 5:14 AM

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skinnysig

Q: Did Apple remove the ability to swipe between Spaces in MacOS Sierra?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 21, 2016 3:04 PM in response to skinnysig
    Level 9 (55,804 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 3:04 PM in response to skinnysig

    No. Have you checked the settings for the trackpad in System Preferences?

  • by skinnysig,

    skinnysig skinnysig Sep 21, 2016 3:13 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 3:13 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Yes, I checked the settings.  The option is to Swipe between full-screen apps.  A) this doesn't appear to work on my Mac with Sierra and B) before I swear it worked Swiping with 4 fingers between Spaces regardless of the number of apps/full-screen or not/or zero open apps

    Screen Shot 2016-09-21 at 5.10.10 PM.png

     

    am I still missing something?

     

    by-the-way, I'm on a Late 2015 MacBook Pro retina display

  • by Tarak_,

    Tarak_ Tarak_ Sep 24, 2016 10:14 AM in response to skinnysig
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 24, 2016 10:14 AM in response to skinnysig

    I do have the same problem. I can't swipe between spaces using 4 fingers since I upgraded to Sierra, although this apple page claims the feature wasn't removed : macOS Sierra: Work in multiple spaces
    While waiting for an answer, I keep pressing ctrl+right or ctrl+left to move between spaces.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 24, 2016 4:42 PM in response to skinnysig
    Level 9 (55,804 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2016 4:42 PM in response to skinnysig

    You did notice that it says "three" fingers, right... You can change it to 4 if you want.

  • by bnee76,

    bnee76 bnee76 Sep 25, 2016 9:14 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 9:14 AM in response to KiltedTim

    In Sierra the gesture is for swiping between full screen apps....the question is in regards to swiping between Desktop Spaces.  This gesture seems to have been removed in Sierra.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 25, 2016 10:22 AM in response to bnee76
    Level 9 (55,804 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 10:22 AM in response to bnee76

    It applies to spaces as well as full screen apps, since each virtual desktop is treated like a 'full screen app'. It works just fine on my 2014 MBA.

  • by bnee76,

    bnee76 bnee76 Sep 25, 2016 4:25 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 4:25 PM in response to KiltedTim

    It does not work on my 2011 Macbook Pro for either full screen apps or desktop spaces.

    On a separate note, the notification center gesture is also not working.

  • by skinnysig,

    skinnysig skinnysig Sep 25, 2016 7:53 PM in response to skinnysig
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 7:53 PM in response to skinnysig

    Hey all, after I originally posted this question and sent the one reply, the problem has magically fixed itself.  I don't know how it happened or what may have changed but the swiping is back to normal.  I hope the same occurs for everyone else!

  • by AtomicChowder,Apple recommended

    AtomicChowder AtomicChowder Sep 26, 2016 5:14 AM in response to skinnysig
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 5:14 AM in response to skinnysig

    Seems to be a minor bug -  you just need to reset the setting.  Do the following -

     

    1. go to "System Preferences" --> "Trackpad" --> "More Gestures"
    2. uncheck the option "Swipe between full-screen apps"
    3. Exit the preference panel (click the red X in the top left corner)
    4. go back into "System Preferences" --> "Trackpad" --> "More Gestures"
    5. recheck the option "Swipe between full-screen apps"
    6. Exit the preference panel

     

    You should now be able to swipe between apps and "spaces" or desktops with 4 fingers (or 3 depending on your setting).   Seems to only be a problem if you had this setting on before you migrated.   My wife's machine didn't have this problem when I turned it on for the first time on her MacBook.

  • by Tarak_,

    Tarak_ Tarak_ Sep 26, 2016 5:25 AM in response to AtomicChowder
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 5:25 AM in response to AtomicChowder

    Thank you, it solved it !