How to Assign Apps to Specific Spaces in macOS 13

Assigning apps to specific virtual desktops—known as Spaces in macOS—allows you to streamline your workflow and keep projects organized. In macOS 13 (Ventura), you can designate an application to open on a particular desktop, appear on all desktops, or switch off desktop assignment completely directly from the Dock.

Step 1: Create Your Desktops (Spaces)

Before assigning an app, ensure you have multiple desktops set up:

  1. Open Mission Control by swiping up with three or four fingers on your trackpad, or by pressing the Mission Control key (F3) on your keyboard.
  2. Move your cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the Spaces bar.
  3. Click the Add Desktop (+) button on the far right to create a new Space.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Desired Desktop

Move to the desktop number where you want the application to permanently reside. You can do this by clicking the space in the Mission Control bar or by swiping horizontally with three or four fingers on your trackpad.

Step 3: Assign the App from the Dock

  1. Open the application you want to assign so its icon appears in your Dock.
  2. Right-click (or hold Control and click) the application's icon in the Dock.
  3. Hover your cursor over the Options menu.
  4. Under the Assign To section, select one of the following:
    • This Desktop: The app will always open on the currently active Space.
    • All Desktops: The app will stay visible on your screen regardless of which Space you switch to.
    • None: The app will open in whichever Space you are actively using at the moment of launch.

Changing or Removing Assignments

To change where an app opens in the future, navigate to the new Space and repeat the process, selecting This Desktop. If you want the app to stop sticking to a dedicated Space, right-click the app icon in the Dock, go to Options, and select None.