Stage Manager on Mac: How to use and customize it
Getting to grips with Stage Manager on Mac is pretty essential, because managing multiple windows can quickly feel chaotic. The built-in tool from Apple, which first appeared with macOS Ventura, is there to help users organize all open applications and windows automatically, leveling up your workflow. I spent the time figuring out how to set it up and customize it to my needs, so here’s everything I learned.
What is Stage Manager on Mac?
Stage Manager for macOS is all about window management, but don’t confuse it with Mission Control. This feature lets you keep your main app front and center with all your other inactive or recently opened apps to the side as neat little thumbnails.
Fun tip: it’s also now available on some supported iPads.
How to turn on Stage Manager on Mac
1. Via System Settings
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Open up your Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
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Go down to Desktop & Stage Manager section.
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Next to Stage Manager, toggle it on.
2. Via Control Center
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Click on the Control Center icon in your menu bar.
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Press the Stage Manager icon to toggle it on or off.
If you’re into keyboard shortcuts, you could think about making one; here’s how:
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Go to the main Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard.
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Press Keyboard Shortcuts > Mission Control.
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Double-click on Turn Stage Manager on/off and enter the shortcut you want to use.
If Stage Manager on MacBook, isn’t activating, here’s a quick check you can run:
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From the main Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
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Under Mission Control, make sure Displays have separate Spaces is toggled on.
Use Stage Manager like a pro
Switch between apps
Click on any thumbnail on the left sidebar on your screen to bring it to the front. I use this a lot when I'm working in Figma but need to find files in Finder.
Grouping apps together
If you’re busy working in multiple apps for one related task, like doing some research in Safari and Notes. Just drag an app from the sidebar into the center to create a group. When you want to ungroup, just drag the app back from the center to the sidebar.
Resizing and repositioning
Resizing is really easy; you can do that freely in the main workspace, and windows can even overlap. So you can have Mail and Messages open together.
Hidden sidebar
If Show recent apps is turned off, when you move your pointer back into the left edge to reveal thumbnails, it’ll appear again.
Let’s move on to customizations.
How to customize Stage Manager on Mac
Ok, so all the Mac Stage Manager settings are in one place here: System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Desktop & Stage Manager.
From here, you’ve got some options. I’ll just give you a quick overview of what each option means.
Show Desktop Items
This lets you choose if you want desktop icons to be visible, then you can select from Always, Only in Stage Manager, or Never.
Click wallpaper to show Desktop
I use this when I want to be able to quickly access my desktop files without fully leaving my current group.
Show recent apps in Stage Manager
If you select off, then you won’t get the sidebar app thumbnails from recently opened apps.
Show windows from an application
I mostly prefer One at a Time if I’m trying to stay focused, but the All at Once option is good if you use multiple apps in one app.
If you go to your Menu Bar settings in System Settings, press Add controls, and add Show Stage Manager in menu bar.
Stage Manager vs Mission Control vs. Spaces
Stage Manager is best for quick app switching with a visual overview.
Mission Control lets you see all your open windows at a glance, definitely my go-to if I’ve got so many windows open and I can’t find something.
Spaces lets you create an entirely separate desktop, great for projects.
The great thing about all of these features is that they can be combined.
Third-party tools like Magnet or Rectangle might be best when users want a snap tile layout or view.
Keep an eye on your Mac’s output; multitasking can slow things down. I always use the Menu App from CleanMyMac, which lets me keep an eye on real-time performance and manage things directly, like quitting resource-heavy apps; here’s how;
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Start your free CleanMyMac trial (free for seven days).
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Once installed, select the apps icon in your top menu bar.
Extra tips on getting the most out of Stage Manager
I mentioned the Stage Manager Mac shortcut earlier, which will help you save time. If you use multiple displays, each one can have its own Stage Manager setup, extra useful for serious multitasking.
Another tip is to set a hot corner up to trigger both Mission Control and Stage Manager. Dragging and dropping between your groups is also really easy.
If you switch to full-screen mode in an active app, you’ll notice Stage Manager quits. An alternative is to use a split-screen view instead, so you can still have your apps in full screen. Think about showing widgets alongside Stage Manager or not, to keep your view a bit tidier and less hectic.
If you do notice your Mac slowing down when you’re switching between groupings, clear up some of your system cache or even free up space. Use CleanMyMac for this; its Performance feature is a game-changer.
Stage Manager on Mac not working
Stage Manager option is greyed out
You need to make sure the Displays have separate Spaces is toggled on in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control. Also, it’s worth checking that your current macOS version has compatibility.
Sidebar thumbnails are not appearing
Make sure in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Desktop & Stage Manage that Show recent apps is toggled on.
Performance slows down when using Stage Manager
Close down any unnecessary open apps, and check inside Activity Monitor for resource-heavy processes. If you don’t see anything noticeable, give your Mac a restart.
Stage Manager doesn’t remember window positions
I read a lot of users saying this happened after a macOS update. The only thing that works here is to reset Stage Manager by toggling it on and off.
Apps not grouping properly
Some apps might not support grouping; all you can do here is quit the app and try again.
If performance-related issues show up often when you’re using Stage Manager, use the Cleanup feature from CleanMyMac to get rid of any conflicting system junk and cache.
So that’s all on Stage Manager on Mac.