Fix Guide: Sequoia Stage Manager "App Grouping" Fix

Symptom: In macOS Sequoia, windows from the same app (like multiple Finder windows) refuse to group together in the Stage Manager strip, cluttering the left side of your screen.

Why this happens

Sequoia's Stage Manager has a new "Auto-Group" logic that can break if the app's window restoration state is corrupted.

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Fix 1: Toggle Grouping Settings

1. Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
2. Click Customize... next to Stage Manager.
3. Ensure "Recent apps" is ON and "Show windows from an app" is set to All at once.
4. Toggle these off and on to reset the preference.

Fix 2: Reset WindowManager Cache

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WindowManager.plist; killall WindowManager

1. Your screen will flicker; Stage Manager will rebuild its grouping logic.

Recommended Tool: Magnet

If you find Stage Manager's grouping too unpredictable, Magnet or Rectangle are better alternatives for window management on Sequoia, offering classic snapping that doesn't hide your apps.