Disable app hiding when option-clicking into another app on Mac OS

For those of us who use Blender, Cinema 4D or other 3D apps, it's annoying when we option-click into our 3D app and it hides another app that we want to keep open. It looks like there's no way to disable it in System Preferences or Terminal so the best solution I have come up with is to constantly check if an app is hidden and then make it visible in the background via AppleScript.


How to use: Open Script Editor, change "Microsoft Edge" to the app of your choice with the name found in Activity Monitor and save it as an Application, making sure you check "Stay open after run handler" in the Save dialog. The app checks if your app is hidden every half second so not very efficient, but I guess it's the best we've got. Just open the application whenever you are using your 3D app and it'll automatically unhide it:


on idle
    tell application "System Events"
        try
            if exists process "Microsoft Edge" then
                tell process "Microsoft Edge"
                    if not visible then
                        set visible to true
                    end if
                end tell
            end if
        on error
            -- Silently handle any errors
        end try
    end tell
    
    return 0.5 -- Check every half second
end idle

Posted on Jan 16, 2026 6:07 PM

Reply
4 replies

Jan 17, 2026 11:51 AM in response to dfred23

dfred23 wrote:

Option-click and dragging allows you to orbit around in 3D in many 3D applications which is what you do most of the time probably. It’s also a much safer action which doesn’t cause inadvertent changes. Clicking into the app could cause accidental problems like moving selected geometry, deselecting geometry, or applying whatever tool is selected and you might not even notice until it’s too late. Switching back and forth between these 3D apps you instinctively option-click into it all the time.


Thanks much appreciated.

Jan 17, 2026 11:43 AM in response to dfred23


I guess I don't understand the "it's annoying when we option-click"


why the option click to begin with...?


is this isolated to your third party apps ?

Is this something that is typically used in Windows OS?


ref:


Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support


View open windows and spaces in Mission Control on Mac


Command Tab present the HUD (heads up display) all running applications— here you can continue holding the ⌘ and Tab your forward or ~ your way backwards— or use the pointer to move to a open application.




Jan 17, 2026 11:42 AM in response to leroydouglas

Option-click and dragging allows you to orbit around in 3D in many 3D applications which is what you do most of the time probably. It’s also a much safer action which doesn’t cause inadvertent changes. Clicking into the app could cause accidental problems like moving selected geometry, deselecting geometry, or applying whatever tool is selected and you might not even notice until it’s too late. Switching back and forth between these 3D apps you instinctively option-click into it all the time.

Disable app hiding when option-clicking into another app on Mac OS

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