Command Tab Hide?

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Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Command Tab Hide?

Does anyone know of a way to Hide other apps when using command tab to switch apps??

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 20, 2021 10:34 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kurt Lang

Level 9

59,178 points

Jul 21, 2021 8:51 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

I don't believe there's a way to do what you want in one move. But if you want to hide the currently foreground app before switching to another with Command+Tab, either press Command+H, or Option+click anywhere the desktop is visible.

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Answer 2

Jul 21, 2021 8:34 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

Dancin_Brook wrote:

Does anyone know of a way to Hide other apps when using command tab to switch apps??

Mac OS X Hints offers some (are dated) suggestions.

Specifically, Quicksilver and Keyboard Maestro (rolled my own)

Betting Applescript and maybe even Shortcuts would work too.

I can not speak to your third party apps...or attempts

The beauty of the Heads up display (HUD) ie Command Tab is the one and only way to see all running apps, active inactive, Hidden, not hidden, full screen or not. I do not see that functionality changing in the macOS.

You can submit your submit your Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 3

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 20, 2021 11:01 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Distraction; clutter,...

If you use Command tab to switch, it al isl still very accessible. Should be able to see a selection of apps, but option to hide when switching, just like you see them when selecting something that is hidden.

An "Option-tab" would be great.

I'm betting someone has written such a utility if it isn't built in and hiding. ;-)

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Answer 4

Jul 20, 2021 11:07 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

I routinely have ten or twelve applications open at any time but there is no need to keep applications open if not really being used. Most applications launch very quickly.

And it is easy to reach the application I want to switch to: arrow keys work in a circular way so even with ten applications each one is no more than 5 arrow presses away.

But I guess what you are asking is likely possible and perhaps someone has already implemented it. Let us know if you find it. Not for me, but others may want a similar feature.

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Answer 5

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 20, 2021 5:56 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I'm never sure why folks try to answer questions by telling someone they are doing things wrong, or question their reasons (vs asking clarifying questions). Regardless...

One example: Mail refreshes constantly, (as does Reminders, Calendars, and Notes, across devices. I prefer to laeave these open so they don't take any time to open, or refresh one they do open.

You might think of this as "Spaces" without the "Spaces" (which I find unpredictable, especially when using different monitors set ups.

BTW: Witch says it's on their feature list but no date...

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Answer 6

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 20, 2021 6:00 PM in response to Dancin_Brook

Here is a semi solution via How To Geek:

"If clutter is a bigger problem than performance, you can also bulk hide applications. Bring up the application switcher again, select the application you want to hide, then press “h.” Every window for the selected application will be hidden instantly."

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Answer 7

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 21, 2021 8:02 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Command-Option-H hides everything except the front-most app; I asked about hiding just the app I'm switching from.

Example: I leave three apps visible across two screens. Merlin Project on my main screen with Calendar and Reminder on the side screen, side by side. I decided to check on Mail so a Command-Tab to Mail from Merlin. When I switch back to Merlin I want Mail to hide.

Hitting Option-Command-H would then hide Reminders, Calendar, and Mail. Not what I want to do.

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Answer 8

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 21, 2021 10:35 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

Mansplaining??

I don't know?

I can be guilty.

I'm not looking for suggestions that deviate from the question.

I'm not looking for a Spaces solution (never predictable),

And even though I did not rule third party solutions out, using the soon-to-be macOS Shortcuts, Automator, or Apple Script is not 3rd party.

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Answer 9

Jul 20, 2021 10:38 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

I am not aware of any way to do that, but I’m curious: why would you want that? Wouldn’t it make applications running but not easily accessible?

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Answer 10

Dancin_Brook Author

Level 4

2,158 points

Jul 20, 2021 9:28 PM in response to Dancin_Brook

Mac OS X Hints offers some (are dated) suggestions.

Specifically, Quicksilver and Keyboard Maestro (rolled my own)

Betting Applescript and maybe even Shortcuts would work too.

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Answer 11

Jul 20, 2021 10:46 PM in response to Dancin_Brook

If I want to do that I cmd-tab followed by option-cmd-H.

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Answer 12

6x6

Level 6

12,410 points

Jul 21, 2021 8:26 AM in response to Dancin_Brook

My own way of dealing with this is to assign apps to different Spaces/Desktops. Then command+tab just switches to the Space where the app I want to see resides.

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