Dashboard has no exit in El Capitan. Is there a work around?

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Level 1

8 points

Dashboard has no exit in El Capitan. Is there a work around?

Ever since I downloaded El Capitan, Dashboard and its widgets will still work, but there is no exit, no way out of Dashboard and back into Finder, or iTunes, or Safari, or whatever app I was in before I opened the Dashboard. There must be a better exit from the Dashboard than unplugging the Mac Miniagainst is embarrassing when my G5 desktop running Tiger behaves better than Mini Me, er, I mean Mini Mac.Anybody got any ideas?

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 15, 2015 2:08 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 15, 2015 2:26 AM in response to QuartetTenor

Doesn't using the Mission Control keyboard shortcut work for you?

F12 to enter, F12 to exit works here.

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Answer 2

QuartetTenor Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2015 2:26 AM in response to actionmarker

Command tab brings up my open apps, and I can get around it that way, but the keyboard is awkward to get to. I have a trackball that I use on a regular basis, but there isn't enough desk space for three keyboards, 4 monitors and three trackballs. I had hoped Apple might fix the glitch, but if it is only my problem, I shall have to continue with the work arounds, mostly consisting of me using the G5 Dashboard instead of the Mini Mac Dashboard. Thanks. :-)

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Answer 3

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Nov 15, 2015 3:01 AM in response to QuartetTenor

HI QT,

I have gestures enabled with either the Tracpad or you can also use the mouse. Continuing the four finger swipe to the right will take you there, and a four finger swipe to the left will take you out of the Dashboard. I must admit that I use the pad quite extensively, as well as Keyboard shortcuts.

Leo

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Answer 4

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Nov 15, 2015 3:16 AM in response to QuartetTenor

If the System Preferences > Mission Control > Dashboard popup is set to "As Overlay" then just click anywhere on the desktop that isn't covered by a Widget.

If the System Preferences > Mission Control > Dashboard popup is set to "As Space" then there are several ways to exit that 'space.'

• Control + left or right cursor keys moves between spaces, including the Dashboard space

• There should be a hollow circle with a > symbol in it in the lower right corner of the screen. Click on that to exit Dashboard

• Press the Escape key

• Use any shortcut you have set for moving between spaces

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Answer 5

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Nov 15, 2015 3:03 AM in response to R C-R

Meanwhile R C-R has covered the keyboard shortcuts for you as well.

Leo

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Answer 6

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Nov 15, 2015 3:14 AM in response to Leopardus

The second method doesn't use the keyboard. In fact, it is one I often use with my trackball.

Also note that setting the preference to "As Overlay" makes Dashboard behave as it did in older OS X versions (Widgets are superposed over the desktop) & just clicking anywhere except on a Widget returns you to the desktop, just as it did in the older OS X versions.

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Answer 7

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Nov 15, 2015 3:41 AM in response to R C-R

R C-R,

I use fn F12 to switch to the dashboard. It is because normally F12 is Up Volume. Then ctrl Up Arrow twice to exit the dashboard. My dashboard is setup as spaces.

Agreed, your second methodology does not use the keyboard.

Leo

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Answer 8

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Nov 15, 2015 4:09 AM in response to Leopardus

FWIW, many older Apple keyboards are preset to use the F4 key to toggle off & on Dashboard, & are marked with a symbol to indicate that, like this one:

For those that are not, this key can be set to show & hide the Dashboard in System Preferences > Mission Control in the "Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts" section. It is also possible to set a "Hot Corner" to show & hide Dashboard, yet another way to do this without using the keyboard.

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Answer 9

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Nov 15, 2015 5:08 AM in response to R C-R

Thanks, I'm aware of this one. I think they did away with it when Launchpad came about. I can't remember how I came about the fn F12, and the double ctrl up-arrow. Only knows that it works on all our Macs😉. Hope the OP now have enough options to solve his predicament.

Leo

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Answer 10

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Nov 15, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Leopardus

Yes, after Launchpad was added to the OS, the default behavior of the F4 key was changed to invoke it instead of Dashboard, & on keyboards manufactured after that the symbol was changes to this:

Ones sold for different countries may have different markings, too.

Regardless, QuarterTenor has several choices for keyboard shortcuts (settable in System Preferences > Mission Control) & for those involving only clicks. Since he mentioned having a G5, using the old "As Overlay" choice might be preferable since it would be consistent across different Macs running different OS X versions.

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