How to disable all windows disappearing when you click on the Desktop in macOS Sonoma

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I’m all for new features especially when they’re free, but I despise developers who shove them down our throats without asking first. That’s basically the case with some newfangled thing called the Stage Manager in macOS Sonoma. I don’t even know what it is, all I do know that it’s related to all my windows disappearing when I click on an empty spot on my empty desktop.

I hate that behaviour. I want it to go back to what it was like for the last 20 years, just because. Thankfully there’s an option for that:

  • head over to Settings – Desktop and Dock (never knew that existed)
  • under Desktop and Stage Manager find the Show Items section
  • switch “click wallpaper to reveal desktop” from always to “Only in Stage Manager”
  • sadly “never” does not exist

This brings sanity back to my desktop and leaves the windows in place. I’ve also disabled Stage Manager for good measure, perhaps I’ll be brave enough to test it out sometime in 2045. Until then… peace!



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