How do I close the workspace window in Mac?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 14, 2021
2 replies
3059 views

In the past entering command-w would close everything but now it only closes the file I'm working on. How do I get back to my desktop without having to additionally click the red button at the top left of the workspace window?

macOS

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Correct answer CShubert

Ok, Command +H will hide Photoshop and you will be back at your desktop.... try that and let us know.

The first time you try this it will ask you if you want to use this shortcut to hide Photoshop, you can say yes and that should be it. You can also create your own shortcut if you wanted here:

CShubert

Community Manager

Hi Woody16B8,

Are you trying to close as in quit the entire application, or are you trying to minimize? Command + W does close the file you are working on and returns the home page, but are you looking for some other function?

Here is the entire list of shortcuts in case you want to file this away for future needs:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html

Let me know if I missed your goal and will be happy to help further.

W

Woody16B8Author

Known Participant

I don't want to go back to my home screen, I want to return to my desktop with a keyboard command.

Conrad_C

Community Expert

Cmd-W does not close all windows, it closes the active window. Always and forever. As for cmd-H, that's used to hide extras (like your selection) so I don't use it to hide the application.

@Lumigraphics wrote:

As for cmd-H, that's used to hide extras (like your selection) so I don't use it to hide the application.

This is more of a matter of which tradition a user wants to follow.

Yes, Photoshop traditionally used Command-H for Hide Extras, but when Apple started using Command-H has a standard system-wide shortcut for Hide Application (probably around 22 years ago with Mac OS X), that created a shortcut conflict with Photoshop. That is why, the first time someone presses Command-H after a preferences reset, Mac Photoshop asks you which way you want to do it, and it can be changed at any time in, again, Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.

So, those who have used Photoshop for more than 20 years would tend to prefer Command-H to Hide Extras, but Mac users who habitually use Command-H to hide all their other Mac apps would prefer the shortcut to Hide Photoshop.