Make switching apps (Cmd-Tab) skip hidden apps?

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Make switching apps (Cmd-Tab) skip hidden apps?

Prior to using Mac OS X 10.8, I used 10.6.8. In that version of the OS, and probably all the previous ones, I was used to hidden apps being moved to the right end of the apps list used by Cmd-Tab when switching from one app to another. When hidden apps were moved to the end, they were less likely to be selected and unhidden. It also meant that after an app was hidden and moved to the end of the list, a simple press of Cmd-Tab to switch to the previous app would not select the hidden one (unless it was one of only two apps running).

However, in 10.8, hidden apps aren't shifted to the end of the list. Therefore, hiding an app, followed by a simple press of Cmd-Tab will make the just-hidden app reappear, even if there are several apps running.

Is there some way to get the Mac OS X 10.6 functionality back that moves hidden apps to the end of the list?

That is, if the apps list currently contains:

A B C D

"A" is the current app. If I hide that app, "B" becomes active and "A" should move to the end of the list:

B C D A

While app "B" is active, pressing Cmd-Tab will switch to app "C".

Posted on Sep 24, 2013 8:20 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 10, 2014 3:34 PM in response to lsloan

Please bring this functionality back! If I hide an app it's because I want to completely remove it from thought and view. I would close instead if I didn't want to receive notifications from it or for it to continue playing music, etc. I can't tell you how many times I've hidden an app just to accidentally cmd+tab back to it a minute later. The same goes for minimized apps when all windows are minimized. If there are no windows to cmd+tab to it should go to the end of the list.

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