How I can unminimize windows from an application using a key combination?

Question

Coming from the Windows world, I was initially used to using Cmd-Tab to switch between open windows. On OS X this switches between applications, so I had to learn to use Ctrl-` to switch between windows in an application. However, even this doesn't seem to switch to minimized windows and (for better or worse) I am in the habit of minimizing windows. The only way I have found to unminimize them is to long-click on the icon in the dock and select the window I want, which is annoying. Is there a key combination I can use which will switch between windows and unminimize them at the same time, or any related keys which would help?

I am using OS X 10.8.

score 22 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 15 '13 at 01:09

I'm from the same boat;

the best native keyboard-only I've found is

CTRL-DOWN-Arrow; (you enter app expose)
DOWN-arrow; (if there are any minimized windows, this'll put a cursor on one)
LEFT-arrow/RIGHT-arrow (to select from multiple minimized windows) or hold OPT if you want all of them restored.
RETURN

alternative step1: getting into app expose before you've alt-cmd'ed to an app:

with CMD still held down, (the task switcher is visible) tap DOWN, or UP, or 1 (now in app expose)

The above shows only one app's minimized windows at a time; for selecting from any minimized window regardless of app, CTRL-F3 moves focus to the dock, and you can arrow left to get to the minimized list.

if your CTRL-F3 instead shows you the app-expose, try FN-CTRL-F3. (In my settings/keyboard, I've flagged "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys")

Some apps have specific alternatives; I use Terminal's CMD-window_number, which unminimizes and focuses that window.

Using this technique one can easily follow the same path with gestures — Benjamin, Dec 16 '13 at 08:59

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 05 '14 at 22:22

7

Take a look at tip #10 on http://www.macworld.com/article/2048857/10-tips-for-managing-minimized-windows.html -- that did it for me.

Essentially, you use ⌘ Cmd+Tab/~ as usual, and for minimized windows, hold down the ⌥ Opt key before releasing the ⌘ Cmd key, and the application opens as you last minimized it.

edited Mar 05 '14 at 22:22

Jawa

2,484

answered Mar 05 '14 at 20:55

Daniel

71
1
1

3

This works, but seems very clumsy to me; I have to know it was minimised (which isn't obvious from the Cmd-Tab window), and the keychord isn't exactly easy to manage either. Thanks though :) – Andrew Ferrier Mar 07 '14 at 20:28
1

I either can't get this to work on El Capitan, or can't follow what it's trying t say. – hippietrail May 29 '16 at 10:18
Works for me on MacOS Ventura 13.2.1. The idea of pressing opt before letting go of cmd seemed tricky to me before I realised there is another opt key on the right of the keyboard - I never use it! – drkvogel Jun 04 '23 at 09:34

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 14 '13 at 23:47

3

If you want to unminimize ALL windows (not just from one application), you can create the following Automator service and assign it a hot key.

In Automator, create new service

Give it one action: Run Shell Script

The shell script is this:

killall -HUP Dock

This will kill the Dock process (which will then respawn), in the process liberating all windows that have been minimized into the Dock.

enter image description here

Save the service, then use System Preferences to assign a shortcut key to the service.

answered Feb 14 '13 at 23:47

Daniel

34,803

I tried this manually in the terminal killall -HUP Docker and it did not work as described. I'm running Mojave macOS 10.14.6. It's been 7 years since this answer was posted, so maybe the OS behavior has changed since then. – Rob Bednark Sep 14 '20 at 06:05
"Docker" isn't the same as "Dock" – Daniel Sep 14 '20 at 18:49
1

That said, it appears that restarting the Dock process indeed does not maximize minimized windows anymore. Alas. – Daniel Sep 14 '20 at 18:52
Typing "killall Dock" in the terminal and pressing return un-minimized all of my windows in all open applications on macOS 12.7.1.
"killall -HUP Dock" did not do anything at all
– Mike Richardson Nov 14 '23 at 04:10

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Witch includes minimized windows by default. You can also assign shortcuts for showing only minimized windows and unminimizing windows.

You could also assign a shortcut to a script like this:

tell application (path to frontmost application as text)
    try
        set miniaturized of windows to false -- most applications
    end try
    try
        set collapsed of windows to false -- at least Finder
    end try
end tell

If minimizing windows to application icons is not enabled, this clicks the icon for the last minimized window in the Dock:

try
    tell application "System Events" to tell process "Dock"
        click (last UI element of list 1 where role description is "minimized window dock item")
    end tell
end try

This doesn't really seem to work. Using Witch's default Window Cycle key includes minimized windows in the list, but doesn't actually unminimize them when you switch to them. — Andrew Ferrier, Jan 08 '13 at 09:24

How I can unminimize windows from an application using a key combination?

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