Press the keyboard shortcut

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 28 views

Introduction

Are you a teacher or a student using a Mac in a classroom setting with a Promethean smart board connected to an iMac via HDMI? Do you often find yourself struggling to move a Chrome window from the external display back to the built-in display on your Mac? You're not alone. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of moving a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma.

Understanding the Issue

When you connect an external display to your Mac, you can easily move windows between the two displays. However, when you disconnect the external display, the windows that were open on it may not automatically move back to the built-in display. This can be frustrating, especially if you need to access a specific window quickly.

Why Does This Happen?

There are a few reasons why windows may not automatically move back to the built-in display when you disconnect an external display:

Window management: macOS uses a window management system that allows you to move windows between displays. However, when you disconnect an external display, the system may not automatically move the windows back to the built-in display.
Display settings: If you have multiple displays connected to your Mac, you may need to adjust the display settings to ensure that the windows are displayed on the correct display.
App-specific settings: Some apps may have specific settings that control how windows are displayed on different displays.

Solutions to Move a Window Back to Built-in Display

Fortunately, there are several solutions to move a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma:

Method 1: Use the Window Menu

One of the easiest ways to move a window back to the built-in display is to use the window menu. Here's how:

Click on the window: Click on the window that you want to move back to the built-in display.
Click on the window menu: Click on the window menu (represented by three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of the window.
Select "Move to": Select "Move to" from the window menu.
Select the built-in display: Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.

Method 2: Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Another way to move a window back to the built-in display is to use a keyboard shortcut. Here's how:

Press the keyboard shortcut: Press the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Shift + > to move the window to the next display.
Press the keyboard shortcut again: Press the keyboard shortcut again to move the window back to the previous display.

Method 3: Use the Displays Preference Pane

If you prefer to use the Displays preference pane to move a window back to the built-in display, here's how:

Open the Displays preference pane: Open the Displays preference pane by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting "System Preferences."
Select the built-in display: Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.
Drag the window: Drag the window to the built-in display.

Method 4: Use the "Move to" Option in the Context Menu

If you right-click on a window, you'll see a context menu with a "Move to" option. Here's how to use it:

Right-click on the window: Right-click on the window that you want to move back to the built-in display.
Select "Move to": Select "Move to" from the context menu.
Select the built-in display: Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you move a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma:

Use the window menu: The window menu is a quick and easy way to move a window back to the built-in display.
Use the keyboard shortcut: The keyboard shortcut Cmd + Shift + > is a quick way to move a window to the next display.
Use the Displays preference pane: The Displays preference pane is a good option if you prefer to use a graphical interface to move a window back to the built-in display.
Use the "Move to" option in the context menu: The "Move to" option in the context menu is a good option if you prefer to use a right-click menu to move a window back to the built-in display.

Conclusion

Q: Why does my window not automatically move back to the built-in display when I disconnect an external display?

A: There are several reasons why your window may not automatically move back to the built-in display when you disconnect an external display. These include window management, display settings, and app-specific settings.

Q: How do I move a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma?

A: There are several ways to move a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma. You can use the window menu, keyboard shortcut, Displays preference pane, or "Move to" option in the context menu.

Q: What is the keyboard shortcut to move a window to the next display?

A: The keyboard shortcut to move a window to the next display is Cmd + Shift + >.

Q: What is the keyboard shortcut to move a window back to the previous display?

A: The keyboard shortcut to move a window back to the previous display is Cmd + Shift + <.

Q: How do I use the Displays preference pane to move a window back to the built-in display?

A: To use the Displays preference pane to move a window back to the built-in display, follow these steps:

Open the Displays preference pane by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting "System Preferences."
Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.
Drag the window to the built-in display.

Q: How do I use the "Move to" option in the context menu to move a window back to the built-in display?

A: To use the "Move to" option in the context menu to move a window back to the built-in display, follow these steps:

Right-click on the window that you want to move back to the built-in display.
Select "Move to" from the context menu.
Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.

Q: Why can't I move a window back to the built-in display using the keyboard shortcut?

A: There are several reasons why you may not be able to move a window back to the built-in display using the keyboard shortcut. These include:

The window is not in focus.
The window is not on the built-in display.
The keyboard shortcut is not enabled.

Q: How do I enable the keyboard shortcut to move a window back to the built-in display?

A: To enable the keyboard shortcut to move a window back to the built-in display, follow these steps:

Go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
Click on the "Keyboard" preference pane.
Select the "Shortcuts" tab.
Click on the "Window" menu.
Select the "Move to" option.
Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.

Q: Why can't I move a window back to the built-in display using the Displays preference pane?

A: There are several reasons why you may not be able to move a window back to the built-in display using the Displays preference pane. These include:

The window is not in focus.
The window is not on the built-in display.
The Displays preference pane is not enabled.

Q: How do I enable the Displays preference pane to move a window back to the built-in display?

A: To enable the Displays preference pane to move a window back to the built-in display, follow these steps:

Go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
Click on the "Displays" preference pane.
Select the built-in display from the list of available displays.
Drag the window to the built-in display.

Conclusion

We hope this article has been helpful in answering your frequently asked questions about moving a window back to the built-in display on macOS Sonoma. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.