I have set up on System Preferences to have my monitor as primary and MBP secondary but I don't think it working right all new windows still appeared on my MBP is this suppose to happen?
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using my monitor as primary and MBP as secondary screen?
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As you have said you’ve setup your external as primary, this is probably completely unnecessary, but I’ll add it for completeness.
In the image below, the white bar at the top of one of the displays denotes the primary display - you’ll likely be well aware of that.
You can drag it onto whichever one you want to set as primary.
That out of the way, some apps do still have a habit of opening on the last screen on which they were used.
If you right click on the icon of any such app in the dock and go to options. You’ll see in there the option to set which screen the app is shown on. Just select whichever one it is you’d like to see it on and it should solve the problem….. At least until you disconnect your MacBook, it doesn’t always persist between disconnects.
Incidentally, the None option for assigning an app to a specific desktop, is the default and the one which remembers the screen on which it was opened.
In the image below, the white bar at the top of one of the displays denotes the primary display - you’ll likely be well aware of that.
You can drag it onto whichever one you want to set as primary.
That out of the way, some apps do still have a habit of opening on the last screen on which they were used.
If you right click on the icon of any such app in the dock and go to options. You’ll see in there the option to set which screen the app is shown on. Just select whichever one it is you’d like to see it on and it should solve the problem….. At least until you disconnect your MacBook, it doesn’t always persist between disconnects.
Incidentally, the None option for assigning an app to a specific desktop, is the default and the one which remembers the screen on which it was opened.
Thank you, that was very helpful! I have been trying to figure how to do that when using my MacBook Pro in clamshell mode with my two Dell 27" 4K monitors.
That's great, I'm always happy to help people, it's one of the great things about MacRumors, we can all share our knowledge with each other.
There are hundreds of hidden features, shortcuts and generally useful things in macOS (and iOS) which are never actually mentioned by Apple, we are left to find them on our own. Or are expected to just know them. I've lost count of how many times I've helped people, even with simple things like keyboard shortcuts for selecting and editing text, its a shame these things aren't mentioned - for the most part.
Anyway, I'm always available for advice or help (where I can), I don't mind people sending me a PM if they're in need of assistance.