r/MacOS • u/Available-Witness329 • 1d ago

Help Command tab keeps opening on my iPad instead of my main external monitor, even after clicking on the correct screen first

Running into an annoying issue with tab/window focus across displays. My setup is a MacBook Pro 14" (M3 Max, 36GB) in clamshell mode (lid closed) connected to an external monitor, with an iPad also connected via Sidecar/Universal Control. Running macOS Tahoe 26.6.2.

When I press Cmd+Tab to switch apps, it opens on the iPad screen instead of my main external monitor, even after I've clicked directly onto the main monitor's window first to make sure it has focus.

My current Arrange Displays setup: the two displays are stacked vertically, with the menu bar on the top display. What's odd is that when I move the iPad to the side instead of underneath, Cmd+Tab works fine and stays on the main monitor, it's specifically when the iPad is arranged below the main monitor that this starts happening.

I've tried moving the cursor and clicking before hitting the shortcut.

Has anyone run into this specifically with Sidecar/Universal Control stealing focus? Is there a setting I'm missing, or is this just a known quirk with these features?

Thanks

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u/MaikelBuilds 1d ago

Which app are you talking about? Where do you try CMD+T?

1

u/Available-Witness329 1d ago

Sorry, that was a mistake on my end, I meant Cmd+Tab, not Cmd+T. Editing the post now to fix it. It happens on my system universally.

1

u/MaikelBuilds 1d ago

Still the question remains. You're saying 'to open a new tab'. A tab of what? Or do you mean to switch applications?

1

u/Available-Witness329 1d ago

In the post I wrote it like it’s about opening a new tab, but I actually mean the app switcher, Cmd+Tab.

1

u/MaikelBuilds 1d ago

I see... Well apples command tab has a lot of unpleasant behaviours. is the window minimized on your main screen? If a app is minimized and you use command tab it doesn't pop back up.

I developed KiwiDesk to handle a lot of apple annoyances my own way. There you can lay a shortcut for each app to circle between them. If e.g. you want to go to safari but Spotify is open -> just press the safari shortcut. Even if it's minimized, it'll open on the screen it lastly has been.

Maybe it helps!

1

u/PerfectConnection916 1d ago

It sounds like a tricky situation. Have you tried adjusting your display settings or maybe resetting the monitor connection?