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Problem Description
I’ve been dealing with an annoying issue on my Mac for a few weeks now, and I can’t seem to find a solution. Whenever I switch from one app to another using the dock, all my open windows disappear except for the app I clicked on. It’s driving me crazy! What I actually want is for the app I click on to come to the forefront like it does when I switch apps using CMD+TAB. Is there some hidden setting or terminal command that can help me get this behavior back?
Many Mac users have encountered the frustrating issue of accidentally hiding all their open apps when they click on their desktop. Initially, they hoped this was just a bug that would be fixed in a future update. However, to their disappointment, the issue persisted, and questions arose about why Apple, the tech giant headquartered in Cupertino, wasn’t addressing this concern.
If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of clicking outside of an open app window on your Mac, only to have all your app windows suddenly vanish, leaving your desktop items and widgets in full view, you’re not alone. This behavior can be bothersome for many users. However, the good news is that you can change this behavior on your Mac if you’re running macOS Sonoma or macOS Ventura.
If you’re one of those users wondering why this problem hasn’t been resolved and seeking a solution, you’re in the right place. This guide is here to assist you in addressing and fixing this issue. We’ll guide you through the steps to stop this from happening and regain control over your open app windows.
On macOS Ventura and later versions, there’s a behavior where clicking outside an app window, even with Stage Manager turned off, causes all open app windows to disappear and reveals desktop items and widgets. This feature was introduced with the addition of desktop widgets in macOS Sonoma. If you find this behavior bothersome, you’re not alone—I share your sentiment. That’s why I’m providing a solution here on how to prevent desktop items and widgets from appearing when you click on your Mac’s wallpaper.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve the issue where a single click on the desktop hides all open apps on your Mac. While the fourteenth iteration of the macOS has introduced many exciting features, it’s important to note that, at the time of writing, it’s still in the testing phase. As a result, encountering a few bugs and issues is to be expected.
How to Stop Opened Mac App Windows from Hiding When You Click on Desktop or Dock in macOS Sonoma
Let’s address the recent change in behavior on Mac systems, particularly in the latest Sonoma release. This is not a bug but rather a new feature introduced by Apple. It’s called “Click wallpaper to show desktop items,” and it comes with two options: “Always” and “Only in Stage Manager.” If you prefer the previous behavior where clicking the wallpaper didn’t hide your open app windows, here’s how to adjust this setting:
Step 1: Start by opening “System Settings” on your Mac running macOS Sonoma.
Step 2: In the System Settings menu, select “Desktop & Dock” from the options on the left.
Step 3: Scroll down until you see the “Desktop” section.
Step 4: Locate the “Click wallpaper to show desktop items” setting. Click the drop-down menu next to it, and you’ll have the choice between “Always” and “Only in Stage Manager.” Choose “Only in Stage Manager” to limit this behavior to when Stage Manager is active.
Step 5: Now, toggle off “Stage Manager” to prevent it from minimizing your open app windows.
With these settings adjusted, your Mac won’t hide all open app windows to show desktop items when you click on the wallpaper. You can test this by clicking outside the System Settings window, and you’ll notice that your apps won’t hide or minimize into the Stage Manager sidebar.
How to Stop Opened Mac App Windows from Hiding When You Click on Desktop or Dock in macOS Ventura
Wondering how to prevent your Mac’s open app windows from disappearing when you click on the desktop or Dock in macOS Ventura? It’s a common question, and the solution is straightforward.
If you’re using macOS Ventura, all you need to do is disable Stage Manager. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open System Settings or the Control Center on your Mac.
Step 2: Look for Stage Manager in the settings.
Step 3: Simply turn it off.
By doing this, you’ll stop the transformation of your large open app windows into small minimized tiles on the left side of the screen (or the right side if your Dock is positioned on the left). Your apps will remain open and visible, just as you want them to be.