How to Disable Desktop Click on macOS Sonoma: Step by Step

If you're here, you're likely dealing with the issue of your active Mac app windows hiding when you click on the desktop. Unlike macOS Ventura, this behavior is present in macOS Sonoma. Wondering if it's a system bug? Don't worry, it's not.

If you find this feature bothersome and want to disable Desktop Click on macOS Sonoma, keep reading to learn how.

Why Do My Open Apps Hide When I Click on the Desktop?

This behavior is attributed to a new hidden feature in macOS Sonoma Settings, and it's enabled by default.

Now, let's touch on Stage Manager, a standout feature introduced in macOS Ventura. When activated, it conceals all open windows upon clicking on the desktop, offering convenient access to your desktop items. In macOS Sonoma, even with Stage Manager turned off, Apple hides all open apps by default when you click on the desktop. This change aligns with the introduction of Desktop Widgets, allowing you to have more on your desktop.

How to Disable Desktop Click on macOS Sonoma

If you're one of those who don't like this new feature on macOS Sonoma, here's how to stop it.

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Click on Desktop & Dock.
3. Under Desktop, you will find the option Click wallpaper to show desktop items.

   

4. Change the defaut settings from Always to Only in Stage Manager.

   

Note that if you have Stage Manager enabled, clicking on the wallpaper will still hide all open apps. If you prefer not to hide active windows, the best approach is to turn off Stage Manager.

Bonus Tip: How to Speed Up macOS Sonoma

If your Mac is running slowly after the macOS Sonoma upgrade, here are some useful tips to speed things up:

Tip 1. Stop memory-hogging applications.

Tip 2. Clear enough storage space for your Mac by using BuhoCleaner, the best Mac cleaner.

Tip 3. Disable unnecessary startup programs.

Tip 4. Check that Spotlight is indexing.

Tip 5. Update your macOS.

Final Words

The Desktop Click is among my least favorite features of macOS Sonoma. The good news is that disabling it is a straightforward process. How about you? Is there any feature you don't like?

Considering that macOS Sonoma is in its early stages, occasional issues and bugs might arise. To help you navigate these, we've compiled a list of the most common macOS Sonoma issues. Take a look and discover how to address them.

On another note, if you're experiencing poor performance after upgrading to macOS Sonoma, we recommend using the efficient cleaning tool, BuhoCleaner, to clean and optimize your Mac.