Minimize All in Mac OS?

Question

I am a recent refugee from Windows land (at least on my of my PCs). One thing I really miss in Mac OS is the ability to minimize all windows.

I can't seem to find the shortcut that does it, or even a script. Anything would be good.

Answer 1

Mac OS X calls it Exposé and the default key is F11 or Command-F3. You can change this — and also map it to moving the mouse into a screen corner — in the Control Panel.

This doesn't exactly minimize all windows though, it just swishes them all out of the way temporarily so you can see the desktop.

To minimize the current window, press Command-M. To minimize all windows of the app in focus, press Command-Option-M. Or you can press Command-H which hides the application. Command-H will minimize your apps one by one, but it won't work on the last open one. Command-Option-H will hide all other apps but the active one.

Another relevant shortcut is to hold down Command+Option and click the desktop, which will minimize everything but an open Finder window. Doing the same and clicking on a dock icon will minimize every other window but that program (and open that programs window if it is not open).

Answer 2

I use Command-Alt-Desktop (clicking somewhere on the desktop). All windows go away.

Answer 3

Here is an AppleScript that switches to Finder, hides all other programs, and then minimizes all Finder windows, basically the same as in the accepted answer, but combined into one script.

tell application "Finder" to activate
tell application "System Events"
    tell application process "Finder"
        tell menu bar 1
            click menu item "Hide Others" of menu of menu bar item "Finder"
            click menu item "Minimize All" of menu of menu bar item "Window"
        end tell
    end tell
end tell

You can add this to a Service created in Automator to make it available from the Services menu and optionally assign a keyboard shortcut.

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Alternatively, save as application in AppleScript Editor and add it to your Dock. Click to run it and execute the script.

Answer 4

You can assign you own shortcut key to the Desktop item in the Expose & Spaces category in the Keyboard (and Mouse) preference pane of the System Preferences application.

That will hide all windows allowing you to access any content on the desktop. The cool thing is that hitting that same shortcut again will restore everything as it was before.

Answer 5

You can show the desktop directly without minimizing windows. You can create an Active screen corner, a corner of the screen where, if you go, an action is performed. Go to System Preferences -> Expose and Spaces, choose the Expose tab and at the top you have Active screen corners. Define one and choose Desktop from the combobox.

That way, when you go to that corner, all windows fly away, revealing the desktop.

Edit: you might also be interested to see how you can maximize a window (I'm a recent Mac OS user, so I know how annoying it is to press on the green button and not have the window maximize): you can read more here.

Answer 6

Best and fastest way to see desktop , just move your four fingers upside

Answer 7

Most of the other answers are about using Expose to push windows aside temporarily. If you actually want to minimize all windows, you can do that per-application by ⌘⌥M (some applications) or ⌥-clicking the minimize button on any window (always).

Answer 8

As a recent windows refugee myself, I find cmd + F3 does the equivalent, scattering all my open windows to the edges of my desktop

Answer 9

As a Windows convert your shortcut was Control-D. On the Mac it's F11.

This applies to Snow Leopard: I went to System Preferences » Keyboard » Expose & Spaces (in the left pane). In the right pane you'll see Exposé with a drop down and Spaces with a drop down. Under Exposé you'll see "Desktop", if it's checked then F11 will minimize all windows and show your desktop.

You'll see the "F11" to the right of "Desktop". Click on "F11" and it will give you the option to change the shortcut. I reassigned the "Desktop" command to Command-D.

Exit, and now you Mac will act like your old PC. I just figured this out after reading the posts above and not having them work for what I think you were trying to do.

Answer 10

Somebody finally figured out how to Show Desktop correctly:

http://www.everydaysoftware.net/showdesktop/index.html

EDIT: This ShowDesktop app works like the Windows Show Desktop button... it will simultaneously hide/minimize all windows (with option to include Finder windows) with a single click on it's icon which you can put in the menu bar.

Answer 11

No need for scripts,etc..

Just click:

⌥ + ⌘ + H + M