How do I hide ALL windows using apple H? The final window stays open.

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Level 1

9 points

How do I hide ALL windows using apple H? The final window stays open.

When I press apple-H it hides the windows except the last one. To hide that one I have to click on the desktop, then back to the window, then press apple H again to hide it.

Is this an intentional function of Mac's operating system? Seems awkward, and it's certainly annoying as I have to access the desktop many times during my work day. I realize I can press F11 and get the desktop, but that merely pushes windows to the side and when I open something new they come back on screen and interrupt my workflow.

I would like to be able to press apple-H multiple times (or a different shortcut) until I reach a clean and clear desktop. So if I have 3 applications open, I want to press apple-H 3 times and to reach the desktop. When I open a folder, I don't want the windows that were pushed aside to slide on screen blocking my workflow.

Posted on May 5, 2014 10:55 AM

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Answer 1

May 5, 2014 12:25 PM in response to SMH123

Hiding applies to applications, not windows. If you hide an application with multiple windows, they are all hidden. But there is always an active application, and an application cannot be hidden while it remains active. If all other open applications are hidden, it is not possible to hide the last visible application. By clicking on the Desktop, you are making the Finder the active application, and thus unhiding it, if it was hidden already.

It seems to me, what you want is to make the Finder the active application (click on the Desktop is one way to do that), then Hide Others (Option-Command-H). If you have open Finder widows in the current space, they will not be hidden, but again, it is not possible to hide every application at once.

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Answer 2

arthur

Level 5

5,254 points

May 5, 2014 11:13 AM in response to SMH123

You don't indicate in your post which mac you have, but on my Macbook Pro, I have the trackpad set to show the desktop with a gesture- spread thumb and three fingers (it's in trackpad preferences).

The equivalent keyboard shortcut is command-F3.

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Answer 3

SMH123 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 5, 2014 11:24 AM in response to arthur

I have a Macbook Pro running Mavericks. I know it's an option to push all the windows to the side, and I have a hotcorner set up for that purpose. The trouble with that is when I attempt to open a folder on the desktop it brings the hidden windows out covering what I'm trying to work on.

I would like to know a shortcut that hides ALL of the windows so I'm at a fresh desktop. When I hide all but the last window I can sometimes click on the desktop, then back on the last remaining window, then press apple-H and it goes away. But these extra steps seem unnecessary, and accessing the desktop ought to be a basic function Apple allows for. I'm sure the answer is simple, I just can't find it!

For example, right now I have Mail, Calendar, Chrome, and Final Cut Pro open as well as my finder windows. My workflow requires me to quickly and repeatedly hide everything to get to a particular folder on the desktop. But the final application doesn't hide, I have to work around it.

I would like to know the equivalent of Apple-H that ALSO closes the final window with nothing lingering in the wings to fly out and cover what I'm working on.

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Answer 4

May 5, 2014 1:17 PM in response to SMH123

Why not use multiple desktops?

I have 5 desktops being used. Desktop 1 is my "working" desktop where I open/close apps/windows a lot. While I keep Calendar on desktop 2, full screen. Mail on 3 at full screen, iTunes on 4 full screen and Stickies, Reminders and Notes on desktop 5.

As I typed this, I tested it out. I opened Messages along with Safari (obviously) on my desktop 1. I then pressed Command H twice. Both Messages and Safari disappeared leaving me with a clean desktop. But it left all my other desktops alone and left each of the apps/windows opened on their desktops. I think this would be a great solution for you as you can leave apps/windows opened on other desktops with out having to disrupt your work flow on your main desktop.

You can also assign an app to open just on one particular desktop. As with me, I have all of those apps to open at start up. But on that desktop that it's assigned to. Example I opened Calendar on desktop 2. Then I right clicked the App in the Dock, scrolled to Options then selected "Assign to This Desktop". And so on with the remaining desktops and apps.

To move between desktops, since you have a Trackpad, just swipe back and forth with four fingers. Or if you are on desktop 1 and want to get to find quickly. You can either click on the app that is assigned to desktop 5, in my case Notes, Stickies or Reminders. Or you can 4-finger swipe up then select desktop 5.

KOT

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Answer 5

benwiggy

Level 4

1,491 points

May 5, 2014 1:34 PM in response to SMH123

As said, Command H should hide the application completely, including all its windows.

If you want to get to the Finder, use Command Tab to cycle through the open apps. Or use separate Desktops for each app, as said above.

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