Good afternoon, I'm little stumped. Despite setting the hotkey window setting "Window restoration policy" to "Restore Hotkey Window" in iTerm2, it frequently (curiously not always) launches a new window instead of restoring the hotkey window.
Introduction
iTerm2 is a popular terminal emulator for macOS, known for its robust features and flexibility. However, some users have reported an issue where non-hotkey windows open automatically, even after setting the hotkey window restoration policy. This article aims to provide a detailed explanation of the context topic and help users resolve this issue.
Understanding Hotkey Windows and Window Restoration Policy in iTerm2
A hotkey window in iTerm2 is a specialized window that can be triggered with a global hotkey. This allows users to quickly open a terminal window, regardless of which application or space is currently active. The "Window restoration policy" setting, located in iTerm2's preferences, determines whether the hotkey window should be restored or a new window should be created when triggered.
The Default Behavior
By default, iTerm2 is configured to open a new window instead of restoring the hotkey window when the global hotkey is triggered. This behavior can be confusing for users who prefer to have a single, persistent hotkey window.
Configuring the Hotkey Window Restoration Policy
Users can change the hotkey window restoration policy by going to iTerm2's preferences, navigating to the "General" tab, and selecting "Restore Hotkey Window" under "Window restoration policy."
iTerm2 > Preferences > General > Window restoration policy: Restore Hotkey Window
Preventing Non-Hotkey Windows from Opening Automatically
If your hotkey window setting is configured correctly but iTerm2 still opens a new window, there are several potential causes and solutions.
Check for Conflicting Hotkeys
Ensure that no conflicting global hotkeys are present in other applications. Conflicting hotkeys can prevent iTerm2's hotkey window from being restored and may result in the creation of a new window.
Update iTerm2 to the Latest Version
Make sure you're using the latest version of iTerm2. The issue described in the introduction may have already been addressed in more recent releases.
Temporarily Disable Your Login Shell Profile
If you suspect that your login shell profile might be causing the issue, you can temporarily disable it by renaming or moving the profile file. Once the profile is disabled, test the hotkey window behavior and re-enable the profile once you've confirmed the issue has been resolved.
Reset iTerm2 Preferences
As a last resort, consider resetting your iTerm2 preferences. This will revert iTerm2 back to its default configuration. Note that this step will remove any customizations you've made to iTerm2. Make sure to back up your preferences before attempting a reset.
To reset iTerm2 preferences, close iTerm2 and delete the preferences file at ~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist.
- Hotkey windows in iTerm2 are a useful feature for quickly opening terminal windows using a global hotkey.
- To prevent non-hotkey windows from opening automatically, configure the "Window restoration policy" in the iTerm2 preferences.
- Potential causes for the issue include conflicting hotkeys, outdated software, and problematic login shell profiles.
References
- Book: iTerm2: Power Users Guide
- Article: iTerm2 Cheat Sheet: Tips, Tricks, Shortcuts
- Online Resources: iTerm2 Documentation and FAQ