How to stop a click on the desktop hiding windows on a Mac (macOS 26)

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 9 November 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-a-click-on-the-desktop-hiding-windows-on-a-mac/ · Checked 9 November 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open System Settings
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
Scroll to Desktop & Stage Manager and set Click wallpaper to show desktop
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, and set Click wallpaper to show desktop to Only in Stage Manager. Clicking the wallpaper then no longer moves all windows out of the way, unless Stage Manager is on.

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: System Settings
Real screenshots: 3 of 3 steps
Checked: 9 November 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap the picture to see it full size
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Scroll to Desktop & Stage Manager and set Click wallpaper to show desktop
Click the menu in that row. Always, the setting in the picture, moves windows out of the way on every click on the wallpaper. Only in Stage Manager limits that to when Stage Manager is on.
Done

About this guide

On recent versions of macOS, one click on the wallpaper pushes every window aside to reveal the desktop items and widgets. If you click the desktop by accident, your windows seem to vanish. The setting behind it has two choices.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.