Stage Manager and Current Window

With Stage Manager active how can I double-click on an app in the dock without having stage manager minimize the currently open window and moving it to the left of the screen? For example, I might have a Safari window open and I double-click on calculator in the dock. I would like the calculator to open its window next to Safari's window. Instead the Safari window is minimized to the left side of the screen. I now have to click on and drag the Safari back to the center of the screen so I can see both Safari and calculator together.

iMac 27″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Sep 2, 2023 08:23 AM

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Posted on Sep 3, 2023 09:36 AM

I don't think you understood my question. I think I know how stage manager works. I just wanted to know if there was a way to open a 2nd app (ie clicking on app icon in the dock) and add it to the windows currently in the center of the desktop. Normally when you double-click on the app in the dock, the current window is moved to the left of the screen and the app from the dock displays in the center of the desktop. Then in order to see both apps at the same time I have to drag the window back from the left side of the screen to the center of the desktop. I was looking for some keyboard sequence to tell stage manager to "add" the app from the dock to whatever was already in the center of the desktop. Whew!


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 3, 2023 09:36 AM in response to Miche11e_P

I don't think you understood my question. I think I know how stage manager works. I just wanted to know if there was a way to open a 2nd app (ie clicking on app icon in the dock) and add it to the windows currently in the center of the desktop. Normally when you double-click on the app in the dock, the current window is moved to the left of the screen and the app from the dock displays in the center of the desktop. Then in order to see both apps at the same time I have to drag the window back from the left side of the screen to the center of the desktop. I was looking for some keyboard sequence to tell stage manager to "add" the app from the dock to whatever was already in the center of the desktop. Whew!


Sep 3, 2023 09:19 AM in response to erickdobrasil

Hi erickdobrasil,


Thanks for contacting Apple Support Communities!


We understand that you'd like to have more than one window open while using Stage Manger on your Mac.


Stage Manager is designed to show the current active app in the center while any apps running in the background appear on the side of the screen. You can learn more about the functionality of Stage Manger here: Use Stage Manager to organize apps and windows on Mac - Apple Support

"Organize apps and windows in Stage Manager

Stage Manager shows the app you're currently using in the center of the screen. Other apps you're using appear as thumbnails on the side. 

  • To switch between windows, click a thumbnail. 
  • To access files and folders on your desktop, click the desktop.

Thumbnails are arranged automatically based on recent use, with up to six thumbnails shown, depending on the size of your desktop. Each thumbnail shows a live view of its window, so you can see updates like incoming messages without switching to that window. 

Example of Stage Manager view

  • To create a group of windows in the center, drag a thumbnail to the center window, or press the Shift key while clicking the thumbnail. The image above shows two groups: Keynote and Finder windows are grouped in the center, and News and Music windows are grouped in the bottom thumbnail.
  • To remove a window from a group you created, drag it back to the thumbnail area. 
  • To move or resize the center window, drag its title bar, or drag an edge of the window to expand that side of the window. If a window covers the thumbnails, the thumbnails hide until you uncover them or move the pointer to the left edge of the screen. If you make a window enter full screen, it moves to its own space outside of Stage Manager. 
  • To drag items to another window, hold the dragged item over a thumbnail until its window moves to the center, then drop the item into the window. If multiple windows are in the center, you can hold the item over a rear window until it moves to the front, then drop the item.
  • To send a window to the side as a thumbnail without switching windows, click the minimize button  in the corner of the window. Or press Command-M.
  • To hide an app's thumbnail and windows, press Command-H. When an app isn't visible because it's hidden or hasn't been used recently, you can switch to that app in other ways, such as from the Dock or by pressing Command-Tab."


We hope this helps you.


Cheers!


Sep 3, 2023 10:53 AM in response to erickdobrasil

Hi there erickdobrasil,


Thank you for clarifying. It sounds like you want to add multiple app windows to the center when using Stage Manager.


* To create a group of windows in the center, drag a thumbnail to the center window, or press the Shift key while clicking the thumbnail. The image above shows two groups: Keynote and Finder windows are grouped in the center, and News and Music windows are grouped in the bottom thumbnail.
* To remove a window from a group you created, drag it back to the thumbnail area. 

The steps above should allow you to group windows/apps in the center. That information is from the same article previously shared: Use Stage Manager to organize apps and windows on Mac


If the information above doesn't achieve exactly what you are looking for, then you may consider leaving feedback with the following link: Feedback - iMac - Apple


Take care.

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Stage Manager and Current Window

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