Minimize all windows/apps in Mac OSX Lion [solved]
Q. How do I quickly minimize all runnings apps/windows and show the Mac OSX desktop?!
A. The best way I know of is to press the F11 key (or Fn+F11 on some MacBook keyboards…) this should push all your apps out of the way and show the desktop. To get your apps back in place, just press F11 again!
PS another method is to command+option+click on the desktop, (or instead of Desktop, a Finder window, or the Finder icon in the dock). I personally don’t like this method as well as F11…
I hope this helps!
More tips:
OS 10.4 – Minimize All Windows – Mac-Forums.comhttp://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/79838-minimize-all-windows.htmlHello, What is the best way to minimize all windows, not close them to quickly get to the desktop? Thanks for your time!
[…]
To minimise all windows of the app in focus, press Command + Option + M
Otherwise, a better option is to press Command+H which will hide the application. That way, you don’t have to bring up each window from the dock
Of course, for quick access to the desktop, nothing beats the F11 key. Actually, there is. You can set one of your corners to “Show Desktop” in the dashboard and Expose preference and then with the flick of a mouse, you can access your desktop.
Do you have an alternative tip or suggestion? Let me know by commenting!
Thanks for a great tip.
Glad it helped!!!
F11 just lowers my volume.
Hi Chris, you may want to try pressing Fn+F11 or go to System Preferences and check the box “Use all F keys as standard function keys“.
Best regards,
-JD
that clears the desktop but doesn’t actually minimize all the windows (I still couldn’t open another window then without all of my other windows coming back to the desktop). Btw, can do the same thing hitting Fn-F3.
Hi AG,
Thank you for mentioning this oversight.
Best regards,
-JD
THANK YOU, this took me forever to figure out till I found your site.
Thank you for your comment Butch, I am glad it helped! 🙂
I still don’t get it. I loved the old function of the F11 key (clearing all open windows to reveal the desktop). With my new Mac (OS 10.7.4), the F11 key no longer has that function, but just lowers the volume. When I look in System Prefs (Mission Control), “Show Desktop” is set for the F11 key, but it doesn’t work. What am I missing?
Hi M.K.,
Thank you for your comment.
Have you tried pressing fn+F11 to show the desktop? Newer Macs default to having to press the fn key AND the numbered function keys in order to access the old features.
I hope this helps!
Best regards,
-JD
Thank you! It worked!
Awesome M.K.! Very glad it helped, and enjoy your new Mac 🙂
Best regards,
-JD