Customizing Mac desktop spaces (also called Spaces) allows you to organize workflows, reduce clutter, and improve productivity by creating dedicated virtual desktops for different tasks. macOS provides built-in tools through Mission Control and System Settings to create up to 16 spaces, assign unique wallpapers, manage app behavior, and control navigation between them. Advanced customization requires third-party tools for features like naming spaces or exceeding the 16-space limit.

Key findings from the sources:

• You can create and manage up to 16 spaces via Mission Control (Control + Up Arrow) or trackpad gestures ^[1][3]
• Each space can have a unique desktop wallpaper for visual distinction ^[1][3]
• Apps can be assigned to specific spaces for persistent organization ^[1][2]
• Stage Manager offers an alternative window organization system that works alongside spaces ^[4]

Customizing and managing Mac desktop spaces

Creating and organizing spaces

macOS allows you to create multiple virtual desktops called Spaces through Mission Control. The default limit is 16 spaces, though workarounds exist for expanding this. To create a new space, enter Mission Control by pressing Control + Up Arrow or swiping up with three or four fingers on your trackpad ^[1][3]. In Mission Control, move your cursor to the top-right corner and click the "+" button to add a new desktop. Each space appears as a thumbnail that you can rearrange by dragging.

Key customization options for spaces:

• Unique wallpapers: Assign different desktop pictures to each space for visual identification. Right-click on a space thumbnail in Mission Control, select "Options," then choose "Change Desktop Background" ^[1]
• App assignment: Drag app windows directly into spaces or assign apps to always open in specific spaces via System Settings > Desktop & Dock > "Assign to" dropdown ^[1]
• Display management: On multi-monitor setups, spaces can be configured to appear on all displays or separately per display in System Settings ^[3]
• Space rearrangement: Disable automatic space reordering in System Settings > Desktop & Dock by turning off "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" ^[6]

For users needing more than 16 spaces, a Reddit user suggests creating additional spaces on a secondary display, disabling that display, then reordering the spaces among those on the main screen ^[7]. This workaround requires careful management but effectively bypasses the default limit.

Advanced customization and productivity features

Beyond basic space creation, macOS offers several advanced features for power users. Stage Manager provides an alternative window organization system that can complement spaces. When enabled in Control Center or System Settings, Stage Manager keeps your active app centered while showing recent apps on the left side of the screen ^[4]. This works particularly well when combined with spaces, as each space can maintain its own Stage Manager configuration.

For users seeking more granular control:

• Third-party naming tools: While macOS doesn't natively support naming spaces, applications like Spaces Renamer and TotalSpaces can add this functionality (though they may require disabling System Integrity Protection) ^[10]
• Keyboard shortcuts: Customize space-switching shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Mission Control to create efficient navigation between spaces ^[3]
• Window management: Drag windows between spaces without entering Mission Control by hovering over the window's title bar and using the trackpad gesture for space switching ^[3]
• Split View integration: Create Split View setups within individual spaces for focused multitasking by clicking and holding a window's green maximize button ^[3]

The MacMost tutorial highlights several productivity-enhancing techniques:

• Grouping windows by application in Mission Control settings
• Using the "Displays have separate Spaces" option for multi-monitor setups
• Managing menu bar visibility in full-screen mode
• Controlling app behavior when switching between spaces ^[3]

For visual customization beyond wallpapers, the "22 Ways to Customize Your Mac" video suggests complementary modifications like changing accent colors, modifying cursor appearance, and adding widgets to the desktop ^[9]. While these don't directly affect spaces, they contribute to an overall personalized workspace environment.