Press Command-H to hide the app you’re using, or Option-Command-H to hide the other apps. To hide all windows with one shortcut, use Hidy.
Hide windows with the built-in shortcuts
Choose the shortcut for what you want to hide:
- Command-H hides the app you’re using.
- Option-Command-H hides the other apps and keeps the current app visible.
Hiding an app hides its windows together without closing its documents. Click its Dock icon or switch to it with Command-Tab to bring it back.
Apple lists these commands in its Mac keyboard shortcuts reference.
Hide all windows with one shortcut
Hidy lets you choose one shortcut to hide all windows.
- Download Hidy from the App Store and open it.
- Open Hidy’s Settings.
- Record a keyboard shortcut that you don’t use in other apps.
- Return to your work and press that shortcut when you want the windows out of the way.
Press the same shortcut again to bring the hidden windows back.
Hidy leaves Finder windows visible. To reach a desktop file behind a Finder window, use Show Desktop. The guide to hiding, minimizing, and Show Desktop explains the difference.
Prefer the mouse?
You can also hide windows with Hidy’s menu bar icon. In Settings, choose which click opens the menu and which hides windows.
Prefer using a screen corner? Set up a Hot Corner to hide and restore windows with the mouse.