What is Apple Stage Manager and how to use it

macOS Ventura's Stage Manager: A powerful tool to improve the efficiency of multitasking on Mac

Apple's Mac system has always been known for its ability to process multiple applications and files simultaneously, but there is still room for improvement. The Stage Manager feature launched by macOS Ventura is designed to optimize window management to enable you to find the applications and files you need more quickly. This article will explore in-depth the functions of Stage Manager and how to use it.

What is Stage Manager?

Stage Manager is one of the best new features of macOS Ventura. It arranges your windows in a clear and intuitive layout, allowing you to focus on the current application, while conveniently switching other applications, and supports overlapping window display, making it easy to view information from multiple applications.

The app you are using is located in the center of the screen, while other open apps are displayed on the left as thumbnails.

Pros and Cons of Stage Manager

Before exploring how to enable Stage Manager, let's find out if it suits your needs.

advantage:

Stage Manager provides greater organization than traditional Mission Control. The application thumbnail on the left is clear at a glance, and click to activate the window. If an app has multiple windows, they will be displayed as stacked thumbnails.

More conveniently, you can create workflow-related window groups. For example, when writing a research paper, you can open applications such as Pages, Safari, Dictionary, and Notes and drag their thumbnails to the center of the screen to group them. Stage Manager will automatically create a group. Click the group thumbnail to display the window of the group, and other windows will be hidden.

Stage Manager also offers the option of Hide Recent Apps, a major improvement to Mission Control without having to find windows.

If you are an active user of Mission Control, try Mission Control Plus, which extends the capabilities of Apple native tools without redesigning, just add very useful features to existing applications.

Advantages of Stage Manager:

• No-use applications are hidden.
• The applications being used are grouped together.
• Get started very quickly.

shortcoming:

Stage Manager displays up to six recently used app thumbnails and cannot be rearranged or resized. In addition, right-clicking on thumbnails does not have any options, such as not being able to directly close a window in Safari or exit the app.

Disadvantages of Stage Manager:

• Exiting Stage Manager requires more steps than entering.
• After exiting Stage Manager, applications tend to stack in the center of the screen.
• More suitable for smaller monitors.

Mac and iPad that support Stage Manager

To use Stage Manager, your Mac or iPad needs to run macOS Ventura or iPadOS 16. While this feature is compatible with any Mac that can run macOS Ventura, the iPad is limited to models equipped with the Apple M1 chip.

Mac models that support macOS Ventura:

• iMac (2017 and beyond)
• MacBook Pro (2017 and beyond)
• MacBook Air (2018 and beyond)
• MacBook (2017 and beyond)
• Mac Pro (2019 and beyond)
• iMac Pro
• Mac mini (2018 and beyond)

How to use Stage Manager on Mac

You can enable or disable Stage Manager through the Control Center switch.

Stage Manager displays the app you are using in the center of the screen, while other apps appear on the side as thumbnails.

• Toggle window: Click on the thumbnail. To access desktop files and folders: Click on desktop.
• Create a window group: Drag the thumbnail to the center window, or press the Shift key while clicking the thumbnail.
• Remove window from group: Drag it to the thumbnail panel.
• Hide the application's thumbnails and windows: Press Command H.

Combination of Stage Manager and Spaces

The Spaces feature allows you to create multiple desktops, making it easy to organize different work content. You can use Stage Manager in conjunction with Spaces to manage different applications and file groups in different Spaces.

Alternatives to Stage Manager

If you don't like Stage Manager, you can try alternatives such as apps like Workspaces, Spotless, and CleanMyMac X that can help you organize files, emails, and apps, and clean your desktop.

Summarize

This article introduces the Stage Manager features of macOS Ventura, including its advantages and disadvantages, usage, and use with Spaces, and provides some alternatives. Hope this article helps you better utilize Stage Manager to improve the multitasking efficiency of your Mac.

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