How to stop Spaces rearranging themselves on a Mac

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Desktop & Dock › Mission Control

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

If you use several desktops, called Spaces, macOS reorders them so that the ones used most recently are quicker to reach. That means Desktop 2 is not always where you left it. One switch keeps the order fixed.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar

   It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll to Mission Control and switch off the automatic rearranging

   Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use is the first switch of the group. In the picture it is on.

   Done

4. 

   Decide about switching Spaces with apps

   The next switch makes the desktop scroll to a Space with open windows of an app when you switch to that app.

   Done

Good to know

Group windows by application, in the same group, organises the windows by app in Mission Control when several apps have windows open.

In short: System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Mission Control, Automatically rearrange Spaces off.