How to Close Windows on a Mac Using the Keyboard
When opening multiple business documents and applications on your Mac system, you have two ways to close the document and application windows quickly. One way is to use your mouse to click the close icon -- the red circle -- on each window. The other way is by using keyboard shortcuts. The shortcuts close the opened windows immediately and you don't have to move your Mac's mouse. You can also minimize windows using keyboard shortcuts.
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1.
Press and hold "Command-W" to close the window that is active on your Mac's screen. The Command key is also known as the Apple key on some keyboards.
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2.
Press and hold "Command-Option" and then press the "W" key to close all the windows on your Mac's screen.
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3.
Press and hold "Command-M" to minimize the window that is active on your Mac's screen, if you don't want to close the window completely.
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4.
Press and hold "Command-Option" and then press the "M" key to minimize all windows on your Mac's screen.
References
Warnings
- The steps in this article apply to Macs running OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and previous OS X versions.
Writer Bio
Nick Davis is a freelance writer specializing in technical, travel and entertainment articles. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and an associate degree in computer information systems from the State Technical Institute at Memphis. His work has appeared in "Elite Memphis" and "The Daily Helmsman" in Memphis, Tenn. He is currently living in Albuquerque, N.M.