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Space Cadet: Bringing clarity and focus to macOS Spaces
Organizing your work across multiple Desktops is a great way to reduce window clutter and improve focus, especially when you use each Desktop for a consistent work area: one for your inbox, one for deep work, one for research, and so on.
The trouble starts when you try to switch between Desktops. macOS won't let you name them, offering only a row of small numbered thumbnails in Mission Control. Instead of jumping straight to the Desktop you want, you end up scanning and guessing. This can be especially frustrating if you have vision issues or if you rely on clear structure to stay focused.
Space Cadet is a menu bar utility built to solve exactly this. It enables you to create Workspaces, associate them with Desktops on your primary and secondary displays, and give them memorable names so you can navigate to them with one click.
How It Works: The "TV Remote" Model
You can think of Space Cadet as a remote for your Mac's screens.
Choosing a Workspace from the Space Cadet menu changes the active Desktop, or paired set of Desktops on your primary and secondary displays, just like a remote control changes channels.
Just like a TV, you can still switch Desktops manually using macOS gestures or shortcuts. Just know that Space Cadet, the "remote," won't know what you have done. Pick a Workspace from Space Cadet's menu and everything will be back in sync.
Setup & Compatibility
- System Settings: Space Cadet needs specific macOS permissions enabled to switch Desktops reliably. The onboarding guide walks through this in detail.
- Keeping Desktops in sync: Manage all your Desktops (up to 16) through Space Cadet. If you add or remove a Desktop in Mission Control, update your Space Cadet Workspaces to match.
- Full-screen apps: Full-screen windows operate independently of Space Cadet, so you can use as many as you want without having to reconfigure Workspaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Getting Started & Setup
What is Space Cadet, and how does it work?
Space Cadet is a macOS utility designed for anyone who uses macOS Spaces/Desktops as dedicated work areas for specific tasks or projects. It places a tool in your menu bar that lets you create named Workspaces, assign desktops to them on both main and extended displays, and switch between them with a single click.
What are the minimum system requirements?
Space Cadet requires a Mac running macOS 15.5 (Sequoia) or later.
How do I learn how to use Space Cadet?
Space Cadet includes a built-in Getting Started Guide that opens automatically the first time you launch the app. It takes just a few minutes to walk you through granting system permissions, naming your workspaces, configuring your preferences, and trying Space Cadet for the first time.
You can reopen the guide at any time by clicking the Gear icon in the Space Cadet menu bar tool and selecting Revisit Getting Started Guide.
Does Space Cadet require special system permissions?
Yes. When you first use Space Cadet to navigate to a workspace, macOS will ask you to enable the Accessibility permission.
- When prompted, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
- Toggle the switch next to Space Cadet to On.
Note: Space Cadet uses this permission exclusively to manage your Workspaces and Desktops. It operates entirely locally and never monitors keystrokes or background activity.
How do I configure Space Cadet to launch automatically at login?
Space Cadet provides three convenient ways to enable launch at login:
- In the Getting Started Guide: The last tab in this guide offers a simple checkbox for turning Launch at Login on or off.
- Directly from the Menu Bar: If launch at login is not enabled, a reminder will appear at the top of the Space Cadet menu along with a button for enabling it.
- From the Gear Menu: You will find a selection within the Gear menu in the Workspace Manager that you can turn on or off.
If you need to modify this setting later or accidentally turn it off within System Settings > General > Login Items, you can do so by revisiting the Getting Started Guide or by going to the Gear menu within the Workspace Manager.
I restarted my Mac and Space Cadet has disappeared. What should I do?
To restart Space Cadet, locate the app in your Applications folder and double-click it. The Space Cadet menu bar icon will reappear.
To avoid this problem in the future, we recommend enabling Launch at Login. You can do this using any of three convenient methods:
- Revisit the Getting Started Guide: The last tab in this guide offers a simple checkbox for turning Launch at Login on or off.
- Directly from the Menu Bar: If launch at login is not enabled, a reminder will appear at the top of the Space Cadet menu along with a button for enabling it.
- From the Gear Menu: You will find a selection within the Gear menu in the Workspace Manager that you can turn on or off.
2. Core Features & Usage
What is the difference between Mission Control, Spaces, Desktops, and Workspaces?
- Mission Control — The built-in macOS feature that displays an overview of all open windows, Spaces, and full-screen apps. Open it using the F3 key or the Dock icon.
- Spaces — Individual desktop views managed within Mission Control. They allow you to group app windows into distinct, dedicated work areas and switch between them smoothly.
- Desktop — The individual screen displaying your wallpaper and desktop icons. Apple labels each created Space as Desktop 1, Desktop 2, etc., making the terms virtually interchangeable in macOS.
- Workspace — A custom grouping created by Space Cadet that maps to a single Desktop (or pairs Desktops across multiple monitors). A Workspace is treated as a single unit, letting you switch display layouts across all screens simultaneously.
How do I rename my Space Cadet Workspaces?
Use the Gear icon in the Space Cadet menu bar tool to open the Workspace Manager, then enter a new name for the Workspace you want to change.
Will my Workspace names persist after a System or Space Cadet restart or display disconnect?
Yes. Your Workspace names and Desktop assignments are saved in a local database. They automatically restore when Space Cadet restarts, your system reboots, or you disconnect and reconnect displays.
How do primary/secondary relate to main/extended with respect to Displays?
In macOS, your main display contains your menu bar and primary screen, while extended displays expand your desktop across additional displays. In Space Cadet, Primary refers to your main display and Secondary refers to an extended display. If you have more than one extended display, Space Cadet uses the one whose Desktops are numbered contiguously after your Primary display's Desktops. That display is your Secondary display.
How do I add or edit a Workspace?
To add or edit Workspaces:
- Workspace Manager: Click the Gear icon in the Space Cadet menu bar and select Manage Workspaces. From here, you can add new Workspaces or edit existing Workspace properties.
- Quick Rename Shortcut: To simply rename a Workspace, right-click its name directly in the Space Cadet menu bar list and select Rename Workspace.
3. Troubleshooting & Frequently Encountered Issues
I'm clicking on a Workspace name and nothing is happening. What should I do?
- Check that a Desktop is assigned to the Workspace. If not, open the Workspace Manager and assign one.
- If you're already on the Desktop assigned to that Workspace, clicking it won't do anything — you're already there.
- Using the Gear icon in the Space Cadet menu bar tool, open Revisit Getting Started Guide, click on the Shortcuts tab, and follow each step.
- Check that the Desktops on each display match the configuration footnote at the bottom of the Workspace Manager.
Clicking a Workspace takes me to the wrong Desktop. What should I do?
- Check that the Desktops on each display match the configuration footnote at the bottom of the Workspace Manager, and the Desktops are assigned to the correct Workspace.
Why do my Desktops shift when I unplug my Secondary display?
This happens because of how macOS manages Desktops across multiple displays:
- Automatic Desktop Consolidation: macOS ties each Desktop to a specific display connection. When you disconnect or turn off an extended display, macOS automatically transfers its Desktops to your primary display so you don't lose access to active windows. Space Cadet will continue to provide access to your Workspaces.
- Order Realignment: When the Secondary Desktops shift to your primary display, macOS renumbers and re-orders them sequentially.
Because Space Cadet maps your Workspace names to specific Desktops, automatic desktop consolidation shifts the underlying Desktop order, causing Space Cadet's Desktop assignments to realign to match the new display configuration. Reconnecting your extended display automatically restores your Desktop and Workspace alignment in Space Cadet.
I'm trying to open Space Cadet and nothing is happening.
It may already be running. Look for the Space Cadet menu bar tool icon in the menu bar.
4. Account, Licensing & Support
Is Space Cadet a one-time purchase or a subscription?
Space Cadet is a one-time purchase and is eligible for Family Sharing.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
You can talk with us about bugs, features, or whatever is on your mind by clicking the Contact Us button at the top of this page.
What is your privacy policy regarding user data?
Space Cadet runs locally and does not collect or share any personal data.
For Space Cadet to operate, it requires that you enable System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. Space Cadet uses this exclusively to manage your Workspaces and Desktops. It operates entirely locally and never monitors keystrokes or background activity.
You can see our full Privacy Policy here.
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