How to hide a window on Mac with a keyboard shortcut
The built-in shortcuts
macOS has a few shortcuts that get windows out of sight:
| Shortcut | What it does | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘M | Minimizes the front window to the Dock | Only the front window, with an animation, and anyone can click it back in the Dock |
| ⌘H | Hides the whole front app | Every window of that app disappears, not just one |
| ⌥⌘H | Hides every app except the front one | Usually the opposite of what you need |
| ⌃⌘Q | Locks the screen | You can't keep working |
All of them act on whatever is in front. If the private window is behind the one you're working in, you have to bring it forward first — which puts it on screen.
Hide one window with Hushwin
- Install Hushwin and turn on the Accessibility permission when it asks (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility).
- Look at the window you want to hide and press ⌃⌘W. It's hidden at once.
- Hold ⌃⌘W for about a second to bring it back to the same place on the same monitor. If that monitor has been unplugged since, it opens in the middle of the screen you're on.
The shortcut is saved by key position, so it works the same whether you're typing in English, Korean, Japanese or any other input source.
Hide several windows at once — from any app
If the same windows need hiding again and again — a chat, a spreadsheet with salaries, a personal browser window — make them hidden windows:
- Look at each window and press ⌃⌘S. A short notice confirms it; press again on the same window to undo.
- From now on, press ⌃⌘E to hide all of them at once, whichever app you're in.
- Hold ⌃⌘E to show them all again.
You can also give each hidden window its own shortcut in Settings, or designate a whole app so that every window it opens later is hidden too. Hushwin remembers hidden windows by app and window title, so it finds them again after the app restarts.
Make it instant
By default Hushwin moves windows off-screen with no animation, so they all vanish together — handy when someone walks up behind you. If you prefer the usual minimize-to-Dock animation, turn off Hide instantly (all at once) in Settings.
Stop people reopening it from the Dock
Anyone can bring an unlocked hidden window back from the Dock or the app's Window menu. Turn on the lock next to a hidden window and it opens only after a long press plus Touch ID. Locked windows stay out of the Dock — they're moved off-screen instead — and any other attempt to bring one back hides it again and asks for Touch ID. See how to lock an app window with Touch ID.
Quick comparison
| ⌘M | ⌘H | Hushwin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hides only the window you choose | Front window only | Whole app | Any window |
| Works while another app is in front | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Same key hides and reopens | ✗ | ✗ | Short / long press |
| Can be locked with Touch ID | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
FAQ
What is the keyboard shortcut to hide a window on Mac?
⌘M minimizes the front window and ⌘H hides the whole front app. With Hushwin, ⌃⌘W hides the window you're looking at, and holding it for about a second brings it back to the same place.
Can I hide a window that isn't in front?
Not with the built-in shortcuts, which act on whatever is in front. In Hushwin, make it a hidden window once with ⌃⌘S; after that ⌃⌘E hides it from any app.
Do the shortcuts work with a non-English keyboard?
Yes. Hushwin saves shortcuts by key position, so they work the same with any input source.