Persistent bug where I can't switch between desktops

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Level 1

11 points

Persistent bug where I can't switch between desktops

One of my favourite features in macOS is the multiple desktop support. It's so incredibly powerful I feel perfectly productive with a single display and four desktops running various apps.

So when my Mac Studio running Monterey 12.6 began exhibiting a new bug preventing me from switching desktops, it was extremely frustrating. When this issue occurs, I can’t three-finger swipe left/right on my trackpad, or up, to move between desktops. It's not just a trackpad issue as pressing F3 on my keyboard won't trigger the desktop switching UI either.

A Finder restart didn’t help (it was a guess that Finder was related to the desktop switching).

Quite often it will just fix itself, though today overnight it didn't and I'll have to reboot the machine to get it working again (and it was just rebooted two days earlier).

Anyone seen this issue and know how to fix it without a reboot? I haven't been able to find anything when searching for solutions.

(And just before I posted this, it started working again after 12+ hours of it being broken. I did nothing, changed nothing. 🥹)

Mac Studio, macOS 12.6

Posted on Oct 12, 2022 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

JovonaP.

Community Specialist

Oct 13, 2022 11:35 AM in response to jasondunn

Hello jasondunn,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. In some cases apps, logins, and other content on a specific user account can cause unexpected behaviors. We recommend testing the issue while in another user to help determine if the issue is user specific or system wide. Take a look at the steps here: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support

Let us know the results. Be sure to include any other steps that you have tried.

Have a nice day!

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Answer 2

Oct 13, 2022 12:29 PM in response to jasondunn

Hey jasondunn,

Testing in a new user can isolate the issue but if the issue occurs randomly, try in safe mode. This can resolve issues and let you know if the issue is occurring because of a startup item. Click on the following article to learn how to boot into safe mode. The steps can vary depending on if you have Apple silicon or an Intel processor:

How to use safe mode on your Mac

Take care.

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Answer 3

jasondunn Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 13, 2022 12:16 PM in response to JovonaP.

Hello Jovona, thanks for the response. Unfortunately it's not very practical to tell me to log into a new user profile with no other apps loading and ask me to test for an intermittent issue because without those apps my Mac isn't as useful to me. 🙃 The issue comes and goes, often days will go by without it happening, so it's really hard to test variables against. Is there any other way I can determine what's going on? What macOS process, specifically, drives the desktop switching function?

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Answer 4

jasondunn Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 15, 2022 11:22 AM in response to barberlives123

I'm looking for a real solution here, so unfortunately none of this is truly getting at the root issue of what I'm asking. Is there no one that can answer the technical aspect of my question regarding the process name that controls the virtual desktop function? Perhaps I need to open a ticket with Apple's technical support team?

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Answer 5

Neil22R

Community Specialist

Oct 15, 2022 12:22 PM in response to jasondunn

Hi jasondunn,

We definitely understand the need to get this resolved as quickly as possible. Next, let's contact support directly here: Contact Apple for support and service

Cheers.

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Persistent bug where I can't switch between desktops

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