Spaces guide
When a Mac sleeps with an external monitor attached, the display often drops off. macOS moves its windows onto a screen that is still there, and that can shuffle windows between Spaces too. When you wake it, macOS rarely puts them back. SnapState saves windows on every Space and puts each Space's layout back when you switch to it, automatically on wake or monitor reconnect.
Recommended fix: SnapState. SnapState restores layouts across multiple Spaces (apps go back to the Space they were saved on, full-screen windows return to full screen, and windows on other Spaces are placed when you switch to them). It also relaunches apps and reopens all open browser tabs. $9.99 one-time, up to three Macs.
macOS ties windows to a desktop (a Space) and to a display. When the Mac sleeps, many external monitors drop their DisplayPort or Thunderbolt link. macOS treats that like an unplugged screen and pulls its windows onto a remaining display, and often onto whichever Space is active there.
Mission Control can also reorder the Spaces themselves. The setting Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use, in System Settings > Desktop & Dock, moves desktops around as you use them, so Desktop 2 may not be the desktop you expect after waking.
These help macOS keep desktops in order, but none of them save window sizes and positions on each Space.
| Feature | SnapState | macOS built-in | Fixing it by hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saves window position and size on every Space | Yes | No | No |
| Restores each Space's layout when you switch to it | Yes | No | By hand, one window at a time |
| Relaunches missing apps | Yes | No | No |
| Reopens all open browser tabs | Yes (Safari and Chromium browsers) | No | No |
| Restores after sleep, wake, or a monitor reconnect | Yes, automatic triggers | No | No |
| Keeps an app on one desktop | Restores where its windows were saved | Yes, Dock Options > Assign To | No |
| Cost | $9.99 once, up to three Macs | Free | Free, but slow |
A sleeping external monitor often drops its link, so macOS moves its windows to a screen that is still connected. Automatic Space rearranging can also change the order of desktops. On wake, macOS does not reliably move everything back.
Yes. SnapState restores layouts across multiple Spaces (apps go back to the Space they were saved on, full-screen windows return to full screen, and windows on other Spaces are placed when you switch to them). Capture once with your desktops set up, then restore from the menu bar, a Control-Command shortcut, or automatically on wake.
Yes, since 2.7.2. When an app opens on the wrong desktop, SnapState sends it back to the Space it was saved on, and windows saved in full screen return to full screen. macOS moves an app with all of its windows, so an app with saved windows on several Spaces is not split between them. Re-save workspaces made before 2.7.2.
Partly. Turning off automatic Space rearranging and assigning apps to desktops from the Dock help. Neither restores window sizes, positions, closed apps, or browser tabs.
$9.99 once for up to three Macs, with a 14-day refund. It needs macOS 15.7 or later and runs on Apple Silicon and Intel.
SnapState 2.7.2 is a native macOS menu bar app for macOS 15.7 or later on Apple Silicon and Intel. It costs $9.99 once for up to three Macs, with a 14-day refund, and updates itself. It needs Accessibility permission to move windows, and workspace data stays on your Mac. Firefox tabs are not supported.