The Hiding Option
Mac Tip #385, 20 May 2009

Open application windows can be distracting visual clutter. Hide them for a quick clean up.

I have open my web browser and a load of other apps.

Whether I’m working or playing on my Mac I tend to have a dozen applications running at once. There are windows open all over my screen, maybe in separate Spaces or maybe all in the same Space.

Sometimes this can be distracting. Recently I was writing a long blog post when a Skype video call came in. I wanted to clear away the open work windows and give all my attention to the video call. I had several options:

• expand the Skype video window to fill the screen
• move the Skype window to an empty Space
• hide all the other applications.

I chose to Hide Others, partly because it was quick and easy.

How to Hide Other applications

Only my web browser is displayed.

To make sure the application you want visible is at the front, click on an open window from that application. In my case, I clicked on the Skype window. Then either:

• Press Command Option h (⌘ ⌥ h).
• Go to the Application menu and choose Hide Others.

The application you want to see stays on screen, but all the other applications go into hiding.

That’s it. You’ve gone from clutter to clear in one easy action.

Note: in my experiments I found some applications had not assigned the keystroke to the Hide Others menu item. If ⌘ ⌥ h doesn’t work then try the Application menu.