Can someone explain the difference between minimizing an app and hiding an app in OS X. I would like to know what happens behind the scenes during each of these actions. Is one preferred over the other?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Resolved What is the difference between minimize and hide?
- Thread starter ardchoille50
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well, the obvious differences to me are:
1. Minimize uses any enabled animations, .e.g. Genie, whereas hide just makes the window disappear with no eye candy.
2. Minimize is just for the active window, whereas Hide affects all windows in the application.
1. Minimize uses any enabled animations, .e.g. Genie, whereas hide just makes the window disappear with no eye candy.
2. Minimize is just for the active window, whereas Hide affects all windows in the application.
This is the biggest functional difference. When an application is hidden, windows can be brought back up through the Application Switcher on the keyboard (command + tab). If a window is minimized, the user must click on the dock or scroll across the dock using the keyboard to restore it. I tend to hide things more than I minimize them. I am a big keyboard shortcut guy. It's easier to hide and show than to minimize and restore.