Filed under: Macintosh, Productivity, Apple
Mac OS X tip: Navigating open applications
by Sheila Ward Jun 16th 2007 at 3:30PM
Here are some quick shortcuts for navigating open applications in OS X that will save you a few mouse clicks. You probably know all about switching between applications with Command-Tab, but you may no know that you can hide and close applications too:
- If you want to close an app, hit "Q" when it's highlighted
- If you just want to hide an app, hit "H" when it's highlighted.
- If you decided you want to stay in the app you had active when you invoked Command-Tab, hit ESC.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave Chartier said 12:20PM on 6-16-2007
You can also cmd-opt-h to hide all applications *but* the one you're currently using. Killer for clearing your desktop quickly.
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Neil Cauldwell said 3:51PM on 6-16-2007
Thanks Sheila - I bought my first ever MacBook Pro (and Mac system) the other day, so these shortcuts are priceless. Keep 'em coming!
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ipodrulz said 4:19PM on 6-16-2007
If you click Shift-Tab-Cmd it'll go backwards... and if you are using Dvorak keyboard you have to click the QWERTY keys for the shortcut, so instead of Cmd-Q (in Dvorak) it'll be Cmd-'.
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Eric Arseneau said 6:13PM on 6-16-2007
These are a start. There is a system extension called Witch, which if you come from Windows is really nice. Alt-Tab works between windows. It takes a bit to get used if you come from Windows, but its really good.
http://www.manytricks.com/witch/
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Kalessin said 6:13PM on 6-16-2007
Also: once you've Command-tabbed to get the applications on the screen, before letting go of the Command key, move the mouse pointer to the application you want to switch to (no need to click).
Also: once you've Command-tabbed to get the applications on the screen, instead of repeatedly hitting the tab key, try scrolling with the mouse wheel.
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Sergio said 6:25PM on 6-16-2007
Additionally, when you are dragging an item (say from the desktop,) you can cmd-tab to the desired app while still holding the item and drop the item there. Very useful and also works in windows (replace cmd with alt). No need to arrange application windows so that you can drag from one to the other.
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Ali Karbassi said 8:11PM on 6-16-2007
Best resource is here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459
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Sheila Ward said 9:14PM on 6-16-2007
Great tips guys and gals. Thanks for sharing!
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Sigurdur Armannsson said 4:49PM on 6-17-2007
If you need quickly to hide the application you are in, (someone comes in when you are doing something you should not be doing) Option-click on your Desktop.
It's more and less the same as Command+H, but insures that it will be the Finder that gets in front. (Who knows what other things you have in action in other programs.)
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Eneko said 5:59PM on 6-18-2007
Hi there, I'm new to Mac too and one thing I miss from Windows is when "tabbing" through the applications, the window doesn't automatically restore/show if it was minimized or hidden.
I can use Cmd+M to hide/minimize a window, but what about showing the windows minimized? Is there any key command for that?
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