switching between windows on a mac

[margincall]

How do you switch between windows quickly and easily on a Mac?

I tried 2 different methods.

Method 1:
I have the windows in fullscreen mode and the dock hides. To switch between the windows I use the dock which is supposed to unhide when you move the cursor to the bottom of the screen. But the dock seems to show up whenever it likes. Sometimes it shows, sometimes it doesn't. Why? So my problem is the dock doesn't show up all the time when I want it to.

Method 2:
I size the dock to be small like the taskbar on MS Windows. Then I size the windows to fit in all the area excluding the dock. That way the dock is always visible. Then I simply swop between windows by clicking the icon of the app in the dock. But the problem is that the icons are rather small because the dock is small, so there is a small target area for me to hit with the cursor to get the correct application. Sometimes I find myself missing and opening another application.

 

[FiestaST]

Thread derailment in 3...2...1...



To answer your Q when remoting in via RDP I use the 3 finger swipe on the Magic Mouse. Dead simple.

 

[3WA]

Three finger swipe.

 

[margincall]

Three finger swipe.

I use a mouse only. I prefer something that invloves using the mouse. Pressing the keyboard or swiping on the trackpad takes more time to execute. I am already holding the mouse in my hand and it's faster for me to continue in this motion.

On Windows it's so easy because the application will have a large bar on the taskbar. I simply move the cursor and select the correct bar then the window shows up. Now most apps in Windows have tabs, once the app is open I can select the correct file from the tabs that are open. This is so quick and easy.

I can't find something as fast on the Mac.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Command + Tilde switches Windows.

Command + Tab switches Apps.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I use a mouse only. I prefer something that invloves using the mouse. Pressing the keyboard or swiping on the trackpad takes more time to execute. I am already holding the mouse in my hand and it's faster for me to continue in this motion.

On Windows it's so easy because the application will have a large bar on the taskbar. I simply move the cursor and select the correct bar then the window shows up. Now most apps in Windows have tabs, once the app is open I can select the correct file from the tabs that are open. This is so quick and easy.

I can't find something as fast on the Mac.

So click on the Dock icon for the App and then switch the Windows from there.

It really doesn’t seem like you are making ANY effort at all to learn before running here and asking for a hand out.

All the above could have been Googled. In fact your favourite AI robots would have told you easily.

Fullscreen by design hides everything. You literally are asking it to do that so don’t use it then.

You could also use that new Sideboard thing or whatever it’s called but I comment on that as it makes no sense to me but sounds perfect for you as it’s literally a window manager.

 

[bwana]

Command + Tilde switches Windows.

Command + Tab switches Apps.

This is the quickest, and best, way IMO.

 

[margincall]

So click on the Dock icon for the App and then switch the Windows from there.

It really doesn’t seem like you are making ANY effort at all to learn before running here and asking for a hand out.

All the above could have been Googled. In fact your favourite AI robots would have told you easily.

Fullscreen by design hides everything. You literally are asking it to do that so don’t use it then.

You could also use that new Sideboard thing or whatever it’s called but I comment on that as it makes no sense to me but sounds perfect for you as it’s literally a window manager.

How about just this question?

How do I get the dock to unhide when in full screen mode? Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it does not. This is bugging me and wasting my time.

 

[margincall]

This is the quickest, and best, way IMO.

I do not want to break my stride. Why must I move my hands to do this?

On Windows this is not necessary. I do not break my rhythm to do this.

 

[bwana]

I do not want to break my stride. Why must I move my hands to do this?

On Windows this is not necessary. I do not break my rhythm to do this.

Good thing you're sticking with windows then. If you can't learn new tricks then in you're in for a rough ride.

TL;DR OSX is not Windows.

 

[margincall]

Good thing you're sticking with windows then. If you can't learn new tricks then in you're in for a rough ride.

TL;DR OSX is not Windows.

It's not about new tricks. It's about efficiency.
On Windows, it's more efficient. Faster.

 

[margincall]

I spend alot of time switching very quickly between TradingView, Excel and Chrome.
I need to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible.

On Windows I can do this so quickly. On Mac it's taking me like 2 to 3 times longer

 

[bwana]

On Mac it's taking me like 2 to 3 times longer

Because you're not good at it. You're less efficient, you're slower.

 

[AfricanTech]

How about just this question?

How do I get the dock to unhide when in full screen mode? Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it does not. This is bugging me and wasting my time.

Go to Apple > System Settings > Desktop & Dock - Menu Bar "Automatically hide and show the menu bar" - choose 'Never' from the dropdown

Now the dock will behave exactly like the Windows Bar ie it will stay on screen permanently.

 

[SauRoNZA]

How about just this question?

How do I get the dock to unhide when in full screen mode? Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it does not. This is bugging me and wasting my time.

Just don’t use full screen, it’s kak.

But also try Stage Manager, it sounds like what you need.

 

[AfricanTech]

I spend alot of time switching very quickly between TradingView, Excel and Chrome.
I need to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible.

On Windows I can do this so quickly. On Mac it's taking me like 2 to 3 times longer

Besides the solution I outlined (leaving the dock in place permanently), you may want to explore the "Stage Manager" function -which allows you to quickly switch windows/applications without removing your hand from the mouse. It also allows you to group specific windows together on 'virtual screens' that you can quickly switch to (without having to touch keyboard or trackpad)

 

[backstreetboy]

Buy a windows laptop. You work on the Mac then you can quickly switch to windows.

 

[AfricanTech]

As an aside, the 3 finger gesture on the Trackpad is magical - 3 fingers down - show all open windows in the current Application (I use this with Outlook and Teams all the time); 3 finger swipe up - show all your open Applications - choose the one you want.

 

[AfricanTech]

I use a mouse only. I prefer something that invloves using the mouse. Pressing the keyboard or swiping on the trackpad takes more time to execute. I am already holding the mouse in my hand and it's faster for me to continue in this motion.

On Windows it's so easy because the application will have a large bar on the taskbar. I simply move the cursor and select the correct bar then the window shows up. Now most apps in Windows have tabs, once the app is open I can select the correct file from the tabs that are open. This is so quick and easy.

I can't find something as fast on the Mac.

Btw, if you right-click on the Application Icon it will show a list of all the Applications' open windows

 

[SauRoNZA]

As an aside, the 3 finger gesture on the Trackpad is magical - 3 fingers down - show all open windows in the current Application (I use this with Outlook and Teams all the time); 3 finger swipe up - show all your open Applications - choose the one you want.

Until he throws the mouse away and accepts the Trackpad is better this will never land.