For macOS 13 and later
Names inside Mission Control. Actually inside it.
macOS has labelled your desktops “Desktop 1, 2, 3” since 2011 — and people have asked to rename them for just as long. DeskStag puts your own names directly on the Mission Control thumbnails. Not in a menu bar. In Mission Control.
Notarised by Apple · SIP stays on · No subscription, no account
The receipts
The most-requested feature Apple never shipped
Apple Community threads asking to rename desktops go back to 2011, with thousands of votes. Fifteen years of workarounds followed — Stickies, colour-coded wallpapers, menu-bar labels you glance away from Mission Control to read. The one tool that drew names into Mission Control needed SIP disabled and Dock injection, and was abandoned years ago. DeskStag does it on a stock Mac, with SIP exactly where Apple left it.
Here it is, actually working.
Nothing hidden, nothing phoned home
Nothing hidden
- Accessibility — so DeskStag knows when Mission Control opens, which desktop is which, and where to place each label.
- Screen Recording — macOS files “reading other apps’ window names and positions” under this permission; DeskStag never records, stores, or transmits your screen.
- No SIP disabling, no system files modified, no kernel or system extensions.
- The only network call is a one-time licence check (plus update checks) — your desktop names never go anywhere.
- No account, no login, no subscription. Uninstall by dragging it to the Bin.
Features
Names render inside Mission Control
On the thumbnails themselves, where your eyes already are.
Rename in seconds
Click a label in Mission Control and type — full inline editing.
Names persist
Across reboots, and when desktops are added, removed, or reordered.
Multi-display aware
Works with “Displays have separate Spaces” on or off.
Emoji and symbols
Want Desktop 3 to be 🐎? It can be.
Lightweight
A tiny menu-bar presence, no background churn.
Keyboard friendly
A global hotkey to flash the current name; switch to a desktop by name.
“Impossible” was a workaround talking
| Product | Names in Mission Control | SIP stays on | Maintained |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeskStag | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Desktop Space Renamer (App Store) | menu bar only | ✓ | ✓ |
| SpaceJump / Spaceman | menu bar only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spaces Renamer (open source) | ✓ | SIP off + injection | ✗ |
Menu-bar tools tell you where you are. DeskStag labels where you’re going.
Who it’s for
One price. No subscription.
£9.99 / $11.99 Launching soon
14-day free trial · all 1.x updates free · major versions are optional paid upgrades
FAQ
Is this safe to install?
DeskStag is notarised by Apple, runs on a completely stock Mac, and modifies no system files. The two permissions it asks for are explained above.
How many Macs does one licence cover?
One licence covers every Mac you personally use.
What if it’s not for me?
The 14-day trial is the full app, so you’ll know before you pay. If you buy and change your mind within 14 days, reply to your receipt for a refund.
Why does it need Screen Recording permission?
Apple groups “reading other apps’ window names and positions” under that permission. DeskStag uses it to know what’s on each desktop — it never captures, records, or transmits your screen.
Why isn’t it on the Mac App Store?
App Store apps must run in Apple’s sandbox, which forbids the cross-process work needed to draw inside Mission Control — which is why every App Store alternative is menu-bar-only. DeskStag is sold directly and notarised by Apple, the same route as Bartender, BetterTouchTool, and Alfred.
Will a macOS update break it?
Mission Control’s internals are undocumented, so a release can move things. We test against developer betas; if Apple shifts the ground, labels fall back to the menu bar instead of breaking; fixes ship as free updates.
How do I uninstall it?
Quit DeskStag and drag it to the Bin. Remove the two permissions in System Settings if you like. Nothing else is left behind.