MacOS – When switching to a different space, OS X sometimes just switches back to the previous space. Is there a fix for this

macosspaces

I've got a curious problem with my computer, which is set up with 2 spaces. I use the Move left a space and Move right a space shortcut to switch between them.

Quite often, particularly the first time I switch spaces after rebooting, OS X just switches back straight away. The sliding animation finishes, and then – just as the desktop icons would ordinarily start to fade in, or the key window would appear highlighted – it switches back, putting me back where I was. Subsequent switches work fine.

For something so minor-sounding, it's surprisingly annoying. Has anybody else had this, and managed to fix it? I'm not really sure where to begin looking. There are no messages in the console.

OS X Lion 10.7.5.

Best Answer

I have the same issue on High Sierra and only just figured out what's causing the issue for me. It happens when I:

  • have the same application open in both desktops/spaces, Chrome windows in this example
  • switch from Chrome to another application
  • change desktops

It will revert to the previous desktop and make Chrome the active application. Now when I change desktops it will not switch back. I have not yet found a solution to this issue, other than making the application that is on both desktops, the active application before switching.

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