Published on

How to use Mission Control for multitasking.

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    how-to.digital
    Twitter

How to Use Mission Control for Multitasking

Mission Control

Mission Control is a powerful feature available on macOS that enables users to efficiently manage and navigate through multiple applications, windows, and workspaces. Whether you are a developer, designer, or multitasker, mastering Mission Control can greatly enhance your productivity and workflow. In this tutorial, we will explore the various functionalities of Mission Control and learn how to effectively use it for multitasking.

Table of Contents

  • Enabling Mission Control
  • Basic Navigation
  • Using Spaces
  • Creating a New Space
  • Moving Windows between Spaces
  • Managing Fullscreen Apps
  • Adding Apps to Mission Control
  • Customizing Mission Control
  • Conclusion

Enabling Mission Control

By default, Mission Control is already enabled on macOS. However, it is worth ensuring that this feature is enabled on your system. To do this:

  1. Click on the Apple menu located on the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
  3. In System Preferences, locate and click on the Mission Control icon.

Basic Navigation

Once Mission Control is enabled, you can access it using various methods:

  • Swipe Up Gesture: With three or four fingers, swipe upwards on the trackpad or Magic Mouse to open Mission Control.
  • Keyboard Shortcut: Press the F3 key (or Control + Up Arrow for smaller keyboards).
  • Hot Corner: You can also set up a hot corner to activate Mission Control when you move your cursor to a specific corner of your screen.

Using Spaces

Spaces are virtual workspaces that allow you to have multiple desktop-like screens without needing multiple monitors. Mission Control organizes Spaces to provide a clean and clutter-free environment for multitasking. Here's how to navigate and use Spaces:

Switch between Spaces

  1. Open Mission Control using any of the methods mentioned above.
  2. Swipe left or right on your trackpad or Magic Mouse to switch between different Spaces.
  3. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts:
    • Control + Left Arrow: Move to the left Space.
    • Control + Right Arrow: Move to the right Space.

Creating a New Space

Creating a new Space helps you to organize your work and keep different sets of applications separate. To create a new Space:

  1. Open Mission Control using any of the methods mentioned above.
  2. At the top-right corner, you will find a "+" symbol. Click on it to create a new Space.
  3. You can also create a new Space by dragging an application window to the top-right corner of Mission Control.

Moving Windows between Spaces

Mission Control allows you to move windows between different Spaces with ease. Follow these steps to move a window:

  1. Open Mission Control and navigate to the desired Space.
  2. Drag the window from the current Space to the top of the screen; this will allow you to move it into another Space.
  3. Alternatively, you can also drag the window to the edge of the screen corresponding to the Space you want to move it to.

Managing Fullscreen Apps

Mission Control also helps you manage fullscreen apps efficiently. Here's how to work with fullscreen apps:

Activate Fullscreen Mode

  1. Open the desired application.
  2. To activate fullscreen mode, click on the green maximize button located at the top-left corner of the application window.
  3. Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + F.
  1. Activate Mission Control using any of the methods mentioned earlier.
  2. In Mission Control, you will find a separate section at the top dedicated to showing fullscreen apps.
  3. Click on the desired fullscreen app's preview to switch to it.

Adding Apps to Mission Control

Mission Control allows you to add frequently used applications for easy access. Here's how to add apps to Mission Control:

  1. Open Mission Control.
  2. Locate the desired application on your desktop or in the Dock.
  3. Drag and drop the application onto the top section of Mission Control.

Customizing Mission Control

Mission Control provides customization options to tailor it to your personal preferences. Here's how to customize Mission Control:

  1. Open Mission Control preferences.
    • From System Preferences, click on the Mission Control icon.
    • Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut: Control + Up Arrow + Mission Control.
  2. Customize your preferences in the settings:
    • Dashboard: Choose between Off, As Space, or As Overlay.
    • Hot Corners: Set up hot corners for quick access to Mission Control or specific functionality.
    • Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize or change the default keyboard shortcuts associated with Mission Control.

Conclusion

Mission Control is a powerful tool for multitasking, organization, and navigation on macOS. By utilizing its features effectively, such as switching between Spaces, creating new Spaces, moving windows, managing fullscreen apps, adding apps, and customizing preferences, you can significantly boost your productivity. Experiment with Mission Control, find your preferred workflow, and make the most out of this fantastic feature provided by macOS. Happy multitasking!