Where Does Stage Manager Store Settings on Mac?
Stage Manager prefs on macOS in WindowManager plist, plus where window state lives.
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Stage Manager options live in macOS preferences under the WindowManager domain. Recent apps and positions rebuild at login.
There is no document library to back up. Toggling the feature in Control Center writes the same keys editing the plist does. Use System Settings for normal changes and touch files only to reset.
Where Stage Manager stores this, by platform
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WindowManager.plist
Main prefs (enabled state, hide recent apps, show widgets). Delete or move it with logout to reset layout. App positions themselves restore from login state, not this file alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset Stage Manager layout?
Turn Stage Manager off in Control Center, log out, move the plist above aside, then log in and reenable. Windows return to default spots. Your files never move.
Does Stage Manager store window contents?
No. It only tracks grouping and visibility. Documents stay in their apps. If windows look missing after toggling, check Mission Control before resetting prefs.
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