Inconsistent behavior of multiple windows switching simultaneously

Is the inconsistent behavior of multiple windows switching simultaneously on both screens a known issue in Mac OS 13.1 or is it normal behavior?


I have a setup with multiple screens and I'm facing an issue where I open two windows of different applications, one per screen, for a total of four windows. For instance, I open a Safari and Excel window on screen 1 and do the same on screen 2. If both screens have the Safari window active and I switch to Excel on screen 1, the Safari window on screen 1 is replaced by the Excel window while screen 2 still displays the Safari window. But, this behavior is not consistent as sometimes switching to Excel on one screen activates both screens to display the Excel window. Is this a known bug in Mac OS 13.1 or expected behavior?

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Jan 30, 2023 11:33 PM

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1 reply

Feb 1, 2023 02:52 PM in response to shaknon

Hi shaknon,


Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities.


We understand that your connected displays are switching windows that are opened intermittently. Do you have the displays set up as extended desktop, for mirroring, or some displays for mirroring and others for an extended desktop? This will affect how your content is shown.


"You can arrange your displays in any configuration to create an extended desktop. For example, you can set your external display side by side with your Mac to create one large continuous desktop.

Note: You must be connected to a display to see these options.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Displays  in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Click the name of your display on the right, click the “Use as” pop-up menu, then choose “Extended display” or Stop Mirroring."



"Set up some displays for mirroring and others for an extended desktop

If more than two displays are connected to your Mac, you can specify that some displays use mirroring (showing the entire desktop) and other displays show the extended desktop (displaying the desktop across two or more displays). For example, if you have three displays, you can have two displays showing the same information and the third display showing the extended desktop.

  1. Set up all the displays as an extended desktop.
  2. Press and hold the Option key and drag one display icon onto another display icon to mirror those two displays."


You can find these steps in Use one or more external displays with your Mac - Apple Support.




Regards.


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Inconsistent behavior of multiple windows switching simultaneously

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