While macOS is already a highly capable operating system, the Hot Corners feature takes it a step further. It allows users to set specific quick actions for each of these four corners on the screen, which can be triggered by moving the cursor to any of these. However, users have complained that after the recent update or when they remove an external monitor, Hot Corners does not seem to be working on their Mac PC.
Why is Mac Hot Corners Not Working and How to Fix It?
The reasons why the issue occurred could be a problematic external monitor and its incorrect configuration, and interference from Bluetooth devices, or third-party software.
Quick Answer
Make sure to update your Macbook and then restart it. If this does not help, quit the dock from the Activity Monitor.
Method 1: Change Hot Corners actions
You can try changing the present actions of your hot corners to see if some specific action isn’t working or if your hot corners in general have an issue. Follow the steps mentioned below under the section How to Enable or Disable Hot Corners on MacOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey to do the same.
Method 2: Alter Modifier Keys
If Mac Hot Corners continue to fail, check whether that corner’s action has an additional key selected. It’s likely that while creating the action, you must have hit one of the modifier keys, such as Shift, Option, Command, or Control. In that case, the hot corner will only work if you are holding the key whilst moving the cursor.
1. Click on the Apple logo at the top-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences from the menu.
2. Move to the Desktop & Dock tab and click on Hot Corners in the right pane.
Note: The name can be Desktop & Screen Saver under other MacOS devices.
3. Now check if there is a modifier key icon next to any action. If there is one, you can change it back or perform the action while holding the keys.
Method 3: Disable, then Enable Bluetooth
As we read occasionally Hot Corners may not be working due to Bluetooth devices connected to your Mac PC. You can turn off the Bluetooth and see if doing so fixed the issue.
1. Click on the Control Center icon at the top right corner, followed by Bluetooth.
2. Turn the toggle off for Bluetooth.
3. Turn on the toggle for Bluetooth again and see if the issue is resolved. Also, if you have multiple Bluetooth devices connected to your Mac, we suggest you disconnect them if possible.
Also Read: How to Fix MacBook Overheating Issue
Method 4: Change Display Resolution
Sometimes, Mission Control Hot Corners stop working on Mac Big Sur and other versions after the external monitor is disconnected. However, changing the resolution can help in such cases.
1. Open the Apple Menu, go to System Preferences, and click on Displays.
2. Select your display, choose Scaled, and select your preferred resolution.
Method 5: Relaunch Finder
Relaunching the Finder can also fix the Hot Corners issue on Mac. Let’s see how:
1. Press the Command and Esc keys together to open the Force Quit Applications dialog window.
2. Click on Finder followed by Relaunch.
3. Select Relaunch again to confirm.
Method 6: Remove Screensaver
You must check if the discussed issue is caused because your screen saver on Mac is enabled. To do so, you can turn it off for a short while and verify if doing so helps.
1. Go to System Preferences and click on Desktop & Screen Saver.
2. Click on Screen Saver and choose Never from the menu.
Also Read: 14 Best Free Live Wallpapers for Mac
Method 7: Reset the Dock
If the above solutions didn’t help you fix Hot Corners on your Mac, try restarting the Dock.
1. Press the Command and Space keys together to launch the Spotlight search.
2. Type Terminal in the search bar and open the app.
3. In the Terminal, type killall Dock and hit Enter. to execute the command.
Method 8: Restart Mac in Safe Mode
When you start your Mac in Safe Mode, macOS checks and attempts to repair directory issues on the startup disk, after which the Hot Corners may start working. You can refer to our guide on How to Boot Mac in Safe Mode for detailed information and steps and follow accordingly.
How to Enable or Disable Hot Corners on MacOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey
Did you just update your Mac and the Hot Corners stopped working? As a simple trick, we suggest you disable and then re-enable it.
1. Open the Apple Menu and click on System Preferences, followed by Desktop & Dock.
Note: The name can be Desktop & Screen Saver in some MacOS versions.
2. Click on Hot Corners at the bottom right corner.
3. Expand the drop-down menu of one corner and select the minus (-) icon to disable Hot Corners for one corner. Similarly, repeat the process for other corners.
4. Wait for some time and then to enable it, select your preferred action for each corner from their respective drop-down menus.
5. Click on OK and Restart your Mac.
Why Can’t I Disable Hot Corners?
If you aren’t able to disable Hot Corners on your Mac, it might be due to a software glitch or conflicting accessibility settings. Just restart the device or follow the above-mentioned steps to turn them off. If that fails, run the following commands in the terminal prompt:
defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-tl-corner -1 defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-tr-corner -1 defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-bl-corner -1 defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-br-corner -1 killall Dock
Recommended Mission Control Settings for Mac and Windows
Mission Control allows you to organize and allocate apps, windows, and tabs across your PC in Mac and Windows. It offers various features like:
- View every open window simultaneously
- Control windows on several monitors
- See all windows in a certain application
- Show the desktop and hide all windows
- Control Mac desktop widgets on the dashboard
- Organise windows and programs among several virtual desktops
Follow these tips to use Mission Control across all computers effectively:
- Use the Dock to put particular apps in places where they belong and streamline the workflow.
- Customise desktop images to improve desktop recognition.
- Use Quick Look to make an image larger in Mission Control when the thumbnail view is too small.
- Make use of Mission Control’s full-screen app support. You may also split-screen two full-screen programs for better multitasking.
- Make the most of its Dock icon. Click on it and use the right-click menu to view more options.
Also Read: Universal Control Not Working on Mac to Switch Seamlessly Between Apple Devices
How to Add Mac Style Hot Corners on Windows 10/11
Even though Windows computers do not have built-in Hot Corners in their system, it does not mean having Mac-style Hot Corners is not possible on Windows 10/11. All you need is to download third-party apps to enable them.
1. Download the HotScreensApp from Source Forge.
2. Open the app, select your hot corners actions, and click Save.
We hope that our guide helped you fix the issue of Hot Corners not working on Mac. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, do let us know in the comments section. Stay tuned to TechCult for more troubleshooting blogs.
