minimized-window-restore

The Problem

On macOS, when you minimize a window to the Dock and then use Cmd+Tab to switch back to that application, the window does not automatically restore. This is default macOS behavior, not a bug - Cmd+Tab switches to the application but leaves minimized windows in the Dock.

Common symptoms:

• Cmd+Tab switches to the app, but the screen remains empty
• You have to click the Dock icon or use other methods to restore the window
• Unlike Windows, there’s no automatic un-minimize behavior

Why This Happens

macOS treats minimizing and hiding as different actions:

• Minimize (Cmd+M) - Sends window to Dock, Cmd+Tab won’t restore it
• Hide (Cmd+H) - Hides all app windows, Cmd+Tab WILL restore them

Apple’s design philosophy is that minimized windows are explicitly “put away” and require explicit action to retrieve.

Solutions

Solution 1: Cmd+Tab+Option (Built-in Keyboard Shortcut)

How to use:

1. Press and hold Cmd+Tab to bring up the app switcher
2. Keep holding Cmd and press Tab to highlight the minimized app
3. While still holding Cmd, press Option
4. Release all keys - the minimized window will restore

Pros:

• No additional software needed
• Works on all macOS versions

Cons:

• Requires extra keypresses and coordination
• Easy to forget the Option key

Solution 2: Cmd+Tab+Arrow Keys (Window Exposé)

How to use:

1. Press and hold Cmd+Tab to bring up the app switcher
2. Keep holding Cmd and press Tab to select the app
3. While still holding Cmd, press ↑ or ↓ arrow key
4. This shows all windows for that app in Exposé view
5. Use arrow keys to select the minimized window
6. Press Return to restore it

Pros:

• Shows all windows for the app
• Useful when you have multiple windows

Cons:

• Even more keypresses required
• Slower than other methods

Solution 3: Use Cmd+H (Hide) Instead of Cmd+M (Minimize)

Recommended workflow change:

Instead of minimizing windows, use Cmd+H to hide applications:

• Hidden apps are automatically restored when using Cmd+Tab
• Cleaner workflow than minimize/restore cycle
• No Dock clutter from minimized windows

To restore hidden apps:

• Just use regular Cmd+Tab - no extra keys needed

Pros:

• Works perfectly with standard Cmd+Tab
• No extra software or keypresses
• Cleaner Dock

Cons:

• Requires changing your habit from Cmd+M to Cmd+H

Solution 4: Mission Control Setting (Partial Fix)

Configuration:

On macOS Ventura and later:

1. Go to System Settings → Desktop & Dock
2. Scroll to the Mission Control section
3. Enable: “When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application”

On macOS Monterey or earlier:

1. Go to System Preferences → Mission Control
2. Check: “When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application”

What this does:

• If you have windows in different Spaces/Desktops, Cmd+Tab will switch to the Space with that app’s window
• Does NOT restore minimized windows from the Dock
• Only helps with window visibility across Spaces

Solution 5: Option+Double-Click Dock Icon

How to use:

1. Hold Option key
2. Double-click the app icon in the Dock
3. All minimized windows for that app will restore

Pros:

• Quick for mouse users
• Works on macOS Sonoma and later

Cons:

• Requires using the mouse, not keyboard-only

Third-Party Solutions

TabLift (Recommended - Free & Open Source)

TabLift is a lightweight macOS utility that automatically restores minimized windows when using Cmd+Tab, making it work like Windows Alt+Tab.

Features:

• Works with standard Cmd+Tab - no extra keypresses
• Runs silently in the background
• Completely free and open source
• Lightweight and resource-efficient
• No data collection, operates entirely locally
• Requires macOS 13 (Ventura) or later

Installation:

# Download from website
open https://tablift.dev

# Or install via Homebrew (if available)
brew install --cask tablift

Setup:

1. Download from tablift.dev
2. Open the .dmg file and move TabLift to Applications
3. Launch TabLift and grant accessibility permissions
4. Start using Cmd+Tab normally - minimized windows will now restore

GitHub: TabLift source code

AltTab (Alternative Window Switcher)

AltTab is a comprehensive app switcher replacement with visual previews.

Features:

• Shows thumbnails of all windows (including minimized ones)
• Windows-style Alt+Tab behavior
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts
• Shows windows across all Spaces
• Free and open source

Installation:

brew install --cask alt-tab

Configuration:

• After installing, minimized windows appear in the switcher with visual indicators
• You can customize whether minimized windows appear at the end of the list
• Use Option+Tab (default) to see all windows

Note: AltTab shows minimized windows in the switcher but doesn’t auto-restore them unless you select them. It’s more of a visual enhancement than an automatic restore solution.

Comparison of Solutions

Recommended Approach

For most users:

1. Install TabLift - Makes Cmd+Tab work as expected with minimized windows
2. Or change habit - Use Cmd+H (hide) instead of Cmd+M (minimize)

For keyboard power users:

• Learn Cmd+Tab+Option for occasional use
• Use Cmd+H as primary “get out of the way” action

For visual learners:

• Install AltTab for thumbnail previews of all windows
• Provides more context when switching

Why There’s No Native Setting

Apple intentionally distinguishes between:

• Minimize - “I want this window in the Dock for later”
• Hide - “I want to temporarily focus on other apps”

The design philosophy is that minimized windows require intentional action to restore, while hidden windows are part of the normal app switching flow.

There is no macOS system setting to change this behavior. You must either:

• Use keyboard shortcuts (Cmd+Tab+Option)
• Change your workflow (Cmd+H instead of Cmd+M)
• Install third-party software (TabLift, AltTab)

Sources

1. TabLift - Fix Cmd+Tab on macOS
2. Macworld - Command-Tab to minimized windows
3. Apple Community - Restoring Minimized Windows
4. AltTab for macOS
5. Hacker News Discussion - Minimized Window Shortcuts