For those who have gotten used to utilizing Spaces since it’s initial release in OS X Leopard 10.5, don’t panic when you boot up Lion for the first time. Spaces is now integrated into the new Mission Control, along with Expose, and has been rebranded with a more idiot-proof name: Desktops. Mission Control is the new one-stop-shop to access any open applications and widgets. It also is where you now control Spaces, aka Desktops. Here you can create as many desktops as you want (up to a maximum of 18), and gives you the ability to organize your windows based on applications, or by the type of work you’ll be performing in each Space. For example, you could keep your web design coding applications in one Desktop, and have your graphic design software in another, and your email in another, etc. So now that we know the basics, lets look at how this thing works.
Creating a new Space Desktop
There are three ways to create a new Desktop. The first way, and likely the most common, is by launching Mission Control by hitting F3, and hovering your mouse over the top left or right corner, where you’ll see a window appear with a + sign – clicking it will create a new Desktop for your within Mission Control:
The second way to create a new Desktop space is by enabling full screen mode from the right-hand corner of the title bar:
When you do this, a new Desktop will be created in mission control for the full screen application. All full screen applications automatically get their own Space Desktop:
The third way to create a new Desktop space is by dragging and dropping a currently-open window from the Mission Control section to the top left or right corner until the Desktop icon appears. This automatically creates a new Desktop and moves this application to it.
Moving Applications and Windows Between Spaces Desktops
Moving windows between your spaces desktops is as simple as dragging the application you want to whatever Desktop you want to move it to. This is a great way to quickly organize a busy or chaotic workspace:
Removing Spaces Desktops
If you need to get rid of Desktop spaces, just hover your mouse over the top left corner of the Desktop you want to remove in Mission Control and you’ll see an ‘X’ appear (any windows or applications currently in the Desktop you are closing will be shifted to your main Desktop 1):
Assigning Windows to Specific Spaces Desktops
You may decide you’d like to have certain windows always open in certain Desktops. To do this, navigate to the Desktop you’d like the application to open in and right-click on the application in the Dock (yes, you have to have the application in the Dock) and click Options > This Desktop. You can also have the application be available to All Desktops or select the default of None:
Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts to Move Between Spaces Desktops
You can actually still move between Spaces Desktops using your keyboard, but the setting has now moved to the Keyboard section of System Preferences. Simply open up the Keyboard settings, and select “Mission Control” from the list under the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab:
JUL
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