How to Prevent macOS from Bringing All Windows to the Front When Switching to an App
If you’re a macOS user with a multi-display setup, you may have experienced the frustration of having all windows of an app brought to the front when switching to that app. This can be particularly annoying if you have multiple windows of the same app open on different displays. For instance, you might be writing on one display and viewing reference material on another. When you switch to an app like Google Chrome, all its windows are brought to the front, which covers the windows on both displays and disrupts your workflow.
The Problem
By default, macOS brings all windows of an app to the front when you switch to that app. This behaviour can be problematic in a multi-display setup for a few reasons:
- Disruption of Workflow: If you’re writing on one display and using reference material on the other, switching to an app can cause your reference material to be covered by the app windows from the other display.
- Unnecessary Clutter: Bringing all windows to the front can create unnecessary clutter, making it harder to focus on the task at hand.
This issue persists even if you have set your displays to have separate Spaces in macOS.
The Solution
Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem: using a third-party app called AltTab.