Mac OS: Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Applications with One Open Space
When working on a Mac, switching between open applications is a common task. By default, you can use the Cmd + Tab keyboard shortcut to cycle through open applications. However, if you prefer to have only one application open at a time, you can modify this shortcut to make the process more efficient.
Understanding the Concept
The Cmd + Tab shortcut is a powerful tool that allows you to quickly switch between open applications. However, if you prefer to focus on one application at a time, you may find it distracting to have other applications open in the background. In this case, you can modify the shortcut to cycle through open applications without showing the ones that are not currently active.
Modifying the Keyboard Shortcut
To modify the Cmd + Tab shortcut, follow these steps:
- Go to
/System Preferences/Keyboards. - Select the keyboard you want to modify (if you have multiple keyboards, you may need to repeat these steps for each one).
- Click on the "Shortcuts" tab.
- Select "App Shortcuts" in the left sidebar.
- Click the "+" button to add a new shortcut.
- Type the name of the application you want to modify (you can find this in the "Applications" folder).
- Leave the "Menu Title" field blank.
- Press the keys you want to use as the shortcut (for example,
Cmd + W). - Click "Add".
Now, when you press the new shortcut, the current application will close, and the next one in the cycle will open. This allows you to switch between applications without having to see the ones that are not currently active.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Using a keyboard shortcut to switch applications with one open at a time has some advantages and disadvantages:
- Advantages:
- Reduces distractions by keeping other applications hidden.
- Makes it easier to focus on one task at a time.
- Disadvantages:
- Requires more keyboard shortcuts to switch between applications.
- May take longer to find the shortcut for a specific application.