If you use a MacBook with an external monitor, you live in two worlds. At your desk, you have your full multi-monitor setup with windows carefully arranged across displays. On the go, you are working on a single laptop screen with a completely different window arrangement. Every time you dock or undock, you spend minutes dragging windows back into place.

What if your Mac could detect when your display setup changes and automatically restore the right window layout? That is exactly what display triggers do, and MacLayout is the only macOS window manager that supports them.

What Are Display Triggers?

Display triggers are automation rules that fire when your Mac detects a change in connected displays. When you plug in an external monitor, disconnect one, or dock your laptop at your desk, MacLayout notices the change and automatically restores a layout you have assigned to that display configuration.

This means you can have a "Desk Setup" layout that activates when you connect your external monitor, and a "Laptop Only" layout that activates when you undock. The transition is automatic and takes just a few seconds.

Setting Up Display Triggers in MacLayout

Setting up display triggers takes just a few minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Create Your Layouts

Start by creating a layout for each display configuration you use. For most people, this means at least two layouts:

Desk layout:Connect your external monitor(s) and arrange your windows across all displays the way you want them. Click the MacLayout icon in the menu bar, select "Save Layout," and name it something like "Office" or "Desk Setup."
Laptop layout:Disconnect your external monitor(s) and arrange your windows on the laptop screen. Save this layout with a name like "Laptop Only" or "On the Go."

You can create as many layouts as you need. Some users create separate layouts for different desk setups, such as one for the office and another for a home desk with a different monitor configuration.

Step 2: Assign Display Triggers

Open MacLayout's preferences and navigate to the Triggers tab. You will see a section for Display Change Triggers. Here, you can link each of your saved layouts to a specific display configuration.

MacLayout identifies display configurations by the number and type of connected monitors. When you set up a trigger, MacLayout records your current display configuration and associates it with the selected layout. The next time it detects that same configuration, it automatically restores the linked layout.

Step 3: Test It Out

With your triggers set up, try disconnecting and reconnecting your external monitor. Within a few seconds of the display change, MacLayout should detect the new configuration and restore the appropriate layout. All your windows will move to their saved positions, resize to their saved dimensions, and even move to the correct Spaces if your layout spans multiple virtual desktops.

Advanced: App Launch Triggers

Display triggers handle the hardware side of workspace automation, but MacLayout also supports app launch triggers for the software side. App launch triggers restore a specific layout when a particular application launches.

Here are some practical examples of how app launch triggers can streamline your workflow:

Development Workflow

Create a "Development" layout with your code editor taking up the left two-thirds of your main display, the terminal at the bottom right, and a browser window on your second monitor. Set Xcode or VS Code as the app launch trigger. Every time you open your editor, your entire development environment arranges itself.

Communication Workflow

Create a "Comms" layout with Slack on the left, your email client on the right, and your calendar in a smaller window. Set Slack as the trigger. When Slack launches in the morning, your communication workspace appears automatically.

Design Workflow

Create a "Design" layout with Figma or Sketch maximized on your main display and reference images or documentation on your secondary screen. Trigger it when your design tool launches, and your creative workspace is ready instantly.

Combining Display and App Triggers

The real power of MacLayout's automation comes from combining display triggers and app launch triggers. Display triggers handle the macro level, ensuring your workspace matches your physical setup. App launch triggers handle the micro level, arranging windows for specific tasks.

For example, when you dock your laptop at your desk, the display trigger restores your general "Office" layout. Then, when you open Xcode, the app launch trigger refines the arrangement into your "Development" layout with the IDE and terminal positioned just right.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Triggers

Keep layouts focused. Instead of one massive layout with every app, create several smaller layouts for different tasks. This makes triggers more useful and keeps your workspace clean.
Name layouts descriptively.Use names like "Office - 2 Monitors" or "Home Desk" instead of generic names. This makes it easier to assign triggers and find layouts in the menu bar.
Add keyboard shortcuts as backup. Even with automation, it is helpful to assign keyboard shortcuts to your most-used layouts. Sometimes you want to manually switch without waiting for a trigger.
Update layouts as your workflow evolves. As you discover better window arrangements, save updated layouts to replace old ones. Your triggers will automatically use the updated layout.

Why No Other Tool Offers This

You might wonder why popular tools like Rectangle, Magnet, and Moom do not offer display triggers. The answer is that these tools are primarily focused on window snapping, which is the act of positioning individual windows using shortcuts or gestures. Detecting display changes and automatically restoring complete multi-window layouts is a fundamentally different feature that requires a different architecture.

MacLayout was designed from the start as a layout and automation tool, not a snapping tool. Every feature, from layout saving to smart positioning to display detection, was built to work together as a cohesive system. The result is workspace automation that feels seamless and invisible, exactly how technology should work.

How to Automate Your Mac Workspace with Display Triggers