mspencer94

Q: Windows won't minimize back into icon

On my MacBook Pro, when I minimize a window, it minimizes to the right side of my dock instead of back into the icon. This is fairly recent, within the last week or so. I double checked my system preferences and it still says my preference is to have the windows minimize back into the icon. I tried unclicking and reclicking the box. I restarted my computer (my usual fix) with no success in fixing the problem. Furthermore, my running apps no longer have a black dot underneath them. They don't bounce when I open them and as I am currently using chrome, there is no dot underneath it. When I open a new application that does not live in my dock, it does not show up in the dock, though it is open and running. I'm starting to get frustrated as it makes it difficult for me to navigate around my computer.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on May 11, 2016 9:32 PM

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Q: Windows won't minimize back into icon

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  • by alex_h1,

    alex_h1 alex_h1 May 13, 2016 7:27 AM in response to mspencer94
    Community Specialists
    May 13, 2016 7:27 AM in response to mspencer94

    Hello mspencer94,

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    I see from your post that you're experiencing multiple issues with the Dock in your user account, including no indication an application is open, no animations when opening an application, and unable to minimize into the icon.  To get started I suggest that you boot into safe mode and see if this issue persists.  If it does, then please test this in a new user.

     

    Try starting your Mac in Safe Mode. Restart your computer. Hold the Shift key when you hear the startup sound. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear. This starts your Mac in Safe Mode. Safe mode performs a directory check of your startup disk, and removes some cache data. After your Mac finishes starting up, restart your Mac normally (without holding the Shift key) and see if the issue is resolved.

    How to test with another user account

    You can figure out if unexpected behavior is related to user file or setting by trying to reproduce the issue from another user account. This process includes creating a new user account, logging in to it, and testing for the issue.

    Create a test user account

    1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
    2. Click the Users & Groups icon in the System Preferences window.
    3. Click the lock icon, then enter an administrator name and password.
    4. Click the Add button (+) below the list of users.
    5. Choose a type of user from the New Account pop-up menu.
    6. Give the user a full name, account name, and password.
    7. Click OK.
    8. Close the System Preferences window.

    If there are documents from your original user account that you want to test with, place a copy of these items in the Shared folder in the Users folder. Press the Option key while dragging a file to this folder to create a copy.

    Log in to the test user account

    Log out of your current user account by choosing Log Out from the Apple menu, then log in to the new account you created. If you're prompted to sign in with your iCloud account or Apple ID when you log in, skip this step.

    Try reproducing the issue

    Try the same steps that caused the unexpected behavior to appear before. For example, if you were unable to print, try printing from this user account. If you were unable to connect to the Internet, try browsing a website from this user account.

    If you were using any specific settings that testing depends on (such as using a specific email account or iCloud account) set up the same account in the test user. For email and most other settings you can use the Internet Accounts pane in System Preferences to set up these kinds of accounts. If files from your home folder are needed for testing, copy them to Shared folder in the Users folder (/Users/Shared). After logging in as the test user, copy these items to the same location in the test user's home folder to test with.

    If an issue happens in only one user account

    If performing the same steps in a test user account doesn't result in the same unexpected behavior, you most likely don't need to reinstall any apps or OS X.

    • If an issue only happens in one app, check the app's documentation or support website for instructions on troubleshooting specific preference or setting files.
    • If you need help with a specific alert message or issue, search the Apple Support website for the text of the alert message you're seeing.

    If an issue happens in more than one user account

    If the same unexpected behavior happens in more than one user account on your Mac, try checking for software or hardware issues.

    After you're done

    After you've finished testing, log out of the test account by choosing Log Out from the Apple menu. Then log in to your original user account.

    You can remove the test user account you created when you're done. Make sure you're completely finished testing, and that you don't need any of the files or settings you created or copied there before you remove it.

    Get help

    If you need more help with a software or hardware issue, contact Apple Support. If you work with an Advisor, Genius, or service provider to resolve an issue, be sure to mention any steps you've already tried and the results. Also mention any alert messages you've seen as part of the issue. You can take a screenshot of any messages that appear so you can refer to them later.

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

     

    Have a good one.