macOS 27 compared with macOS 26: We rewrote this guide on macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo): it now has 3 steps instead of 4. The macOS 26 page keeps the steps and screenshots as they were.
howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-spaces-rearranging-themselves-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1
In this guide
Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, then under Mission Control switch off Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use. Your desktops then stay in the order you put them.
If you do not see this option
- Desktop & Dock is not in the sidebar Scroll the sidebar, or type Desktop in the Search field at the top of the System Settings window.
- You cannot see Mission Control It is below the Windows group in the Desktop & Dock pane. Scroll down in the right-hand side of the window.
3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
- App
- System Settings
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Step by step
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap 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.
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
On our MacBook Neo it sits between Appearance and Displays.
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size Switch off Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use
Scroll down past the Windows group to Mission Control. Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use is the first switch there.
On our MacBook Neo it was on. Click it so it turns grey.
If this does not work
- The order still changes Check that Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use is grey, not green. Click it again if it is still on.
- macOS jumps to another desktop when you switch apps That is the next switch, When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application. Switch it off as well if you want to stay where you are.
About this guide
If you use several desktops, called Spaces, macOS reorders them so the ones you used most recently are quicker to reach, so Desktop 2 is not always where you left it. One switch keeps the order fixed.
Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.
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.
On our MacBook Neo, the switch below, When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application, was also on. It moves you to a Space with that app's open windows when you switch to the app.
On our MacBook Neo, Group windows by application was off and Displays have separate Spaces was on.
The Shortcuts… and Hot Corners… buttons at the bottom of the Desktop & Dock pane set other ways to open Mission Control.
In short: Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use off.
Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.
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