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⌥+⌘+M as mentioned in multiple docs only appears to minimize the current (focused) window.

I am looking for the "Show Desktop" equivalent. If it matters I'm using 10.6.4.

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  • The question asks how to minimize all windows TO THE DOCK, not hide them or show the desktop. Somehow, mac people are happy to "hide" a window rather than minimizing to the dock, but I prefer the latter. No one has attempted to answer the question, I'm disappointed to say. I guess it's because it can't be done. Too bad.
    – user153789
    Oct 22, 2015 at 21:38

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
16

⌥+⌘+M actually minimizes all windows of a current application, not just the current focused window (unless of course, the application you have running only has one non-minimized window.)

The easiest way to hide all active applications is to select the Finder/Desktop, and then "Hide Others." The keyboard shortcut is ⌥+⌘+H.

You can also simply hold ⌥ and ⌘ and click on the Desktop, or Finder on the Dock, or of course, simply use Expose and hit F11 (Or whatever you've rebound Hide-all to.)

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  • Didn't realize the differentiation between focused/other windows of an app before. Option-Command-H works as planned. If you have a app focused it will leave that one alone also.
    – bobtheowl2
    Aug 18, 2010 at 1:20
  • Yup, hence my suggestion to select the Finder first if you want to show desktop. It's actually "Hide Others", not "Hide All", so that makes sense.
    – LessPop_MoreFizz
    Aug 18, 2010 at 1:27
  • Careful for apps that override the default keystrokes with their own. Photoshop is particularly annoying in this regard.
    – Scott
    Aug 19, 2010 at 14:06
  • 2
    Love the [command] + [option] + [click on desktop] tip - that's really useful!
    – robsoft
    Aug 20, 2010 at 13:27
  • I always switched to finder and then used Hide Others, never knew you could click the icon on the dock to do it though! Very handy tip thanks
    – Adam Dempsey
    Aug 22, 2010 at 13:01
4

I just use Hot Corners to do it.

System Preferences >> Desktop & Screen Saver >> Hot Corners >> Select "Desktop" from one of the dropdowns. I use the bottom left, since that's where I was used to the Desktop button in XP lol.

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1

I finally found how to do it with Command+Option+H+M.

This works for me on Mac OS X Lion.

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  • 2
    Unfortunately this will not work if you have Firefox running.
    – Martin
    Nov 20, 2013 at 0:04

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