How To Use Mac Desktop Stacks

[@dmengle-6538]

Thanks Gary! 👍 Been using stacks for years but never realized there were so many viewing and organizational options. Sure some of these tips and tricks will be coming in handy.

[@bevintx5440]

Thanks! When I first saw the title I mixed Desktop stacks with Dock folder stacks, Now you’ve enlightened me.

[@carolinebarlow4795]

Thanks very much, Gary, for this informative video! It was immensely helpful.

[@carolinemyddelton580]

Yet again, extra tips and useful suggestions on a topic which I thought I had buttoned up! Thanks, Gary, for another super-helpful tutorial!

[@michaelj.1121]

Always amazing, how much thought has gone into all the features of Mac OS

[@loisskiathitis8926]

A very useful and informative video tutorial today! Thank you, Gary!👏🏻❤️

[@stephenbridges2791]

I wondered what those little arrow were when you hovered over a stack. Now I know. Thanks. Very cool.

[@redfava]

Much appreciated, Stacks look useful. I tried it out but opening some stack didn't show the files. Turning Stacks off and all files disappeared (but they were in Finder's Desktop view). A restart fixed this. I guess it's still work in progress.

[@gaylen8467]

thanks Gary, im glad to know I can turn stacks on and off as I need it.

[@Antney946]

I love the instant, effortless order that using stacks creates and this video is very helpful. I have a couple of different stacks that, if opened, FLOOD my desktop with their contents and then it is difficult to find the stack to click to minimize everything and reveal the desktop again. Is there a quick way to close the stack if you can't easily find the button?

[@macmost]

No way that I know of, you just need to find it, probably where you clicked it. You could always hit Control+Command+0 twice to disable and re-enable Stacks and they all start closed.

[@bovineox1111]

I came here looking for something else and found this and was like OMG this is magic!

[@xpflower]

It would be nice if you could choose the folder we want to display on the desktop (for the duration of a work, for example) and with different displays for each folder.

[@edatwell7281]

Hello Gary, Ive been using stacks but was not aware of all the options. I have quite a few folders on my desktop and wanted to put them in a stack. If I understand correctly from your video it is not possible to put folders in a stack. Any guidance?

[@macmost]

Right. Put the folders in another folder.

[@johnburgess4561]

Wow, a fabulous tip. Open question....Does having files on Desktop slow down productivity of my Mac in any way?

[@macmost]

Productivity (you) or your Mac? On very old Macs it used to slow things down for a Mac since the icons on the Desktop were rendering. But that's not tru on a new Mac. But having a cluttered Desktop and a disorganized filing system can definitely be a productivity problem for a lot of people.

[@johnburgess4561]

@@macmost Thank you Gary. helpful as always.

[@junjuntelo7803]

I tried but can't appear on the screen

[@reubenca]

Hi I was wondering you can answer this question. I want to put text on my iMac desktop, just the words, no folder or file. Is this possible? I want to use it for short cuts on the keyboard. Please let me know.

[@macmost]

Maybe look into adding a Notes widget?

[@reubenca]

That is not what I am looking for. I just the text on the screen, no background. @@macmost

[@macmost]

@@reubenca Maybe something like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2XJgpyKiNxmnpY

[@ashishsaxena7671]

Hi Gary! Why there is always screen sharing icon in the menu bar in your video's? Are you recording and sharing screen at the same time.

[@macmost]

The screen is being recorded. That will show up while recording with a third-party app like I am doing. macOS is rightly notifying me of that with that icon as a privacy feature.

[@ashishsaxena7671]

@@macmost I am not talking about screen flow icon here. Want to know about the screen sharing icon next to screen flow, what are you doing with that?

[@macmost]

@@ashishsaxena7671 Yes, that's what I am talking about. I'm not "doing" anything with it. Since an app is recording the screen, this screen sharing indicator is shown.

[@dankanification]

How can I move the stacks to the left?

[@macmost]

You can't. The way they work, how the expand, they have to fall into line starting at the top right.

[@NavidonYoutube]

very very usefull

[@kathydillon4734]

Can you have Stacks position on the left?

[@macmost]

No, the Desktop always starts at the top right.

[@Rohit_Raut1]

hey how to setup folder or files in left side of my macbook desktop , please if possible then make a seperate video on it

[@macmost]

You can't. The folders and files go to the right. You can manually move them to the left, but then sorting and clean up actions will put them back.

[@chezchezchezchez]

Very good video as usual. I’ll never use it though

[@desertpatient]

Thanks bunches

[@daviddahl8562]

do you have an email address where I can send you screenshots to show you better what my issues sre. I have a hard time explaining

[@macmost]

To ask me questions, use macmost.com/ask Upload any screenshots you like to a service like Imgur.com or such. Then include those links in the text of your question.

[@garywagner2466]

I think you need a winter hat with the logo for videos made during cold weather. I worry about your ears getting cold 😉

[@macmost]

I film inside. I'm OK. 🙂

[@randalalansmith9883]

When I do "Use Stacks", "Stack by" is just the same behavior as "Sort by". All I see is all of my folders organized to the right of the desktop. No pop-open stacks. I must have deleted the Stack behavior from the Pref files while typing another command.

[@randalalansmith9883]

oh, I see now. It only works with standalone files-not with folders. I can't stack folders, so I have to just sort my folders into folders.

[@jrpeet]

Cool - helpful

[@nitramluap]

I use my Desktop as my 'to do' list.

[@007Yasir]

Too bad, it won’t help me fully, I have lots of folders on my desktop, especially on an M1 Mac Studio, it’s recommended to work video and other heavy graphics applications on the desktop, because of the throughput of data going on to an external. But you did a good job in exposing as usual, thanks you👌

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean by that. The Desktop is on the internal drive, sure. But so is your Documents folder and everything in your Home folder. Putting video files you are working on in your Home/Movies folder, for instance means they are on the internal drive the same as your Desktop and will have the same speed. But it makes more sense to have them there than creating a lot of clutter on your Desktop.

[@franklingrx]

visual thikers dont use folders unless you absolutely must

[@notlimey]

A few years back you could organize folders alphabetically- I miss that feature

[@macmost]

Which folders? I don't think there has been any change to how you can sort folders. Maybe you aren't looking in the right place?

[@notlimey]

@@macmost I used to have a whole slew of folders on my desktop..... some were separate writing projects, some were financial, some were things I was storing for a friend - I think I had maybe 20 folders? Each was named and I could sort them alphabetically by the name I assigned to each folder - now I've moved to your system where I have them in my documents where they are listed alphabetically ...... I used stacks on my desktop but the folders I had there in the past could not be sorted alphabetically using stacks

[@Liam_Maddog]

With the desktop selected, press Command J and choose how you want items to appear, including spacing and text size.

[@Erin-Thor]

Did someone get a new microphone? The audio sounds better. 😊

[@chezchezchezchez]

Better?

[@Erin-Thor]

@@chezchezchezchez - Yes, the audio seems clearer and a bit louder. 👍🏽

[@macmost]

Been using the same technique for several months now, no changes.

[@Erin-Thor]

@@macmost - Technique? I meant microphone. Sounds louder, more clear.

[@macmost]

@@Erin-Thor The microphone is just one part. I've been using the same mic for about 4 years. But it is also the camera (processes the audio) and camera settings, then I use an AI audio enhancement tool to get rid of noise, echo and artifacts (for about 4 months) and then I filter it to even the level. I also have changed the room and how the sound reverbs inside the room over the years. That plays a big part too.

[@apathynoir]

Do all KZbinrs talk so fast? Just why?

[@macmost]

You can control the speed. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/opq9hayfrp6BpLc