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Is there a simple keyboard shortcut, or setting to enable a shortcut, or anything, that. would allow me to quickly move ALL open windows from the external display to the main laptop display?

The problem is that frequently, I need to plug the laptop for a presentation or a class and I have a bunch of windows on the external display that shouldn't be there. So I'd prefer it doesn't remember which windows were in the external display from work, and just assume I want all windows to start in the main display only!

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  • System Prefs > Mission Control - what's the status of 'Displays have separate Spaces'? Commented Dec 15, 2022 at 9:46
  • Alternatively, you could hide all apps except that one you use for the presentation (under [App name] > Hide Others). Commented Dec 15, 2022 at 11:02
  • @Tetsujin "Displays have separate Spaces" is on. Should I turn it off? Commented Dec 15, 2022 at 12:53
  • @jaume If I understand correctly, that does not move windows from one screen to another, right? If I unhide the app, it go back to the external display. Commented Dec 15, 2022 at 12:54
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    Yes, that's right, windows would go back to is previous location (either on the external or built-in display) when unhiding. Commented Dec 16, 2022 at 9:27

1 Answer 1

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There's no built-in command to move windows from Space to Space.

As you use 'Displays have separate Spaces', then set up one additional space & leave it empty.

If you didn't have it switched on, any windows on the 2nd screen would all drop back to the primary each time you unplug the secondary [and would not automatically return when you re-connect].

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  • Thanks, this does what I want. Why 'Displays have separate Spaces' is on by default? It seems to me a more "sane" setting is to have this off! Commented Dec 16, 2022 at 15:51
  • A lot of people seem to like it. idk why:\ I switched it off the day it first appeared, maybe a decade ago. I like my displays to shift in pairs. It does mean you can't use fullscreen though [which I also see zero use for on two 27" displays] I'd guess it's more useful to people with laptops & disparate display sizes. Commented Dec 16, 2022 at 15:55
  • What's the default setting for this option? Off? In any case thanks for pointing it out. I think I also find it more natural to have this off. Commented Dec 16, 2022 at 23:51
  • Sorry, I can't remember what the default was, it's been too long. Commented Dec 17, 2022 at 8:10

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