I'm a macbook user. It's frustrating the heck out of me that I can't get to the desktop with keystrokes. I've tried Fn F11 and Cmd F3. The thumb & 3 fingers swipe thing works, but it gets to a clean page with just the available Apps, not my personal desktop where I've created my folders or some files that I'm working on. Thanks!
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6
You can show your desktop quickly using Command + F3 (Mission Control shortcut). If that doesn’t work, go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control, and make sure “Show Desktop” is enabled.
Apple’s official guide explains it here:
Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support
You can show your desktop quickly using Command + F3 (Mission Control shortcut). If that doesn’t work, go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control, and make sure “Show Desktop” is enabled.
Apple’s official guide explains it here:
Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support
You should NOT have "Use F1... as standard function keys" activated.
With this on, you will have to use Fn-Command-F3 instead of just Command-F3.
(Fn is the key at the very bottom left, it may also have the globe and is also called the gloke key)
LindaSchminda wrote:
I'm a macbook user. It's frustrating the heck out of me that I can't get to the desktop with keystrokes. I've tried Fn F11 and Cmd F3. The thumb & 3 fingers swipe thing works, but it gets to a clean page with just the available Apps, not my personal desktop where I've created my folders or some files that I'm working on. Thanks!
The thumb and 3 fingers moves all windows aside, and shows you the Desktop. Among these windows that are moved aside could be Finder windows, as the Finder is but an application like any other.
Perhaps you want to see the Finder windows that you already have opened, uncluttered by other application windows? If so, the old method of Command-Tab to Finder works fine; and when in Finder, you can press Command-Option-H to Hide Others. (For the record, this has existed in macOS since just about forever :-))
If you mean you want to switch between spaces, it's control-right or -left arrow.
Work in multiple spaces on Mac - Apple Support
Start here:
Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support
You might also want to spend some time here:
It has lots of links to articles that might be helpful for people just starting out with Macs. Also, if you go all the way to the bottom of the page, there's a link to the User Guide.
Hi,
I followed your instructions. The Command + F3 didn't work, so I went into keyboard settings and set it as request above. I click on it, and nothing moves, only a sound is made. Maybe I'm still doing something wrong. Please see my 2 screenshots below. Thanks!
[Edited by Moderator]
🤣. Cute. Thanks for your answer. I had to transfer years of using windows to Mac for a job. I was never given Mac lessons, just tossed into the job. Hence, simple usage tricks I failed to learn. Is there a list somewhere where there is a definition of what all of the Quick keys do?
Hi Samuelplly,
To my recollection, I used to be able to just swipe tot he next screen with 4 fingers and my Desktop would show up. Following your directions, above, I'm not sure my settings are correct. I'll attach 3 screenshots, if you could take a look and tell me what I'm doing wrong I would be appreciative! I don't see where the last step, above is showing: Mission Control, and make sure “Show Desktop” is enabled. Thanks, Linda
These links are a wonderful help... Thank you! Just gotta find time to spend with them :)
Best of luck!
Getting to the desktop easily after I have several programs already opened
