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Mike-MBPro
User level: Level 1 (31 points)

App assignment and speaker icon issues in macOS 27 multiple desktops

A couple of bugs when using multiple desktops in MacOS 27.

  1. Assigning an app to "This Desktop" does not work at all. The next launch of the app will not auto-load in the assigned desktop. It will load into whatever desktop is currently being used.
  2. After changing output speakers in one desktop, the speaker icon in the menu bar does not update on the other desktops. For example; Working on Desktop 1 and Speaker 1 is the current choice, and is muted. The icon has the speaker with the slash. Clicking on that icon and choosing another speaker will change the icon, and the mac will use it correctly. Swiping over to Desktop 2, the sound will continue to work correctly, but the menu bar icon will revert back to muted.

Running an M2 mac mini, OS27

Posted on Sep 20, 2026 9:43 PM

3 replies

neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)

Sep 22, 2026 7:34 AM in response to Mike-MBPro

There have been many issues reported with Mission Control and Spaces on macOS 27 Golden Gate, especially regarding the way Full Screen apps and app switching are handled. Some have been resolved by identifying and removing incompatible 3rd party extensions, others are bona fide bugs. 

 

Have you rebooted your Mac? If not, that's the first step. If that does not help, then see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

 

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

 

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

 

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

 

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

 

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

 

Those steps will help to isolate the problem.

 

It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed. 



If the issue persists in safe mode and a new user account, that suggests that it's a bug that Apple needs to address. Bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

 

Reporting issues like this to Apple is the only way to get them fixed. They do prioritize bugs based on frequency of reports, so the more people who report it, the faster it will be addressed.

WheelieNick
User level: Level 9 (74,110 points)

Sep 21, 2026 8:14 AM in response to Mike-MBPro

Hi there


Please try this


  • Ensure the application is explicitly set to None first via Control-click / Right-click on the Dock icon → Options → Assign To: None, relaunch the app on your target desktop, and re-assign it to This Desktop.
  • Some third-party window managers or display settings (such as "Displays have separate spaces" toggled in Mission Control preferences) can interfere with persistent Space assignment. 

Menu Bar Status Icon Desync:

  • This is a cosmetic cache issue where the Control Center / Menu Bar agent fails to poll the updated core audio state when switching active Spaces.
  • Toggling the audio device via the Sound settings pane in System Settings rather than the menu bar shortcut can sometimes force a global state refresh.


Mike-MBPro Author
User level: Level 1 (31 points)

Sep 22, 2026 4:10 AM in response to WheelieNick

Your suggestions worked for both issues until the mini went to sleep. That undid both fixes and brought the issues back to their previous states.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256361641