Close All Open Windows of an App in Mac OS

This article teaches you how to close all the windows in an app without quitting the app, using Mac OS.

10 Second Summary

1. Open multiple windows in an app.
2. Click the app icon on the Dock.
3. Click File on the menu bar.
4. Press and hold Option/Alt on your keyboard.
5. Click Close All on the File menu.

Steps

Using the Menu Bar

  1. Open multiple windows in an app. You can open and close multiple windows in most apps, including all internet browsers, text editors, productivity apps, media players, image viewers, and file managers.
    • You can also use this method to close all folders if you have multiple windows open in Finder.
  2. Click the app icon on the Dock. You will see this app's icon on the Dock at the bottom of your screen. Click on it make sure you're not closing any other apps. You will see the app name on the menu bar in the upper-left corner of your screen.
  3. Click the File button on the menu bar. This button is located next to the app name in the upper-left corner of your screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. Press and hold the ⌥ Option button on your keyboard. Without closing the File menu, press the Option button to see more menu options. Some of the options in the drop-down menu will change.
    • On some keyboards, you will have Alt instead of Option. In this case, look for the ⌥ sign on your keyboard.
  5. Click Close All on the drop-down menu. It will close all open windows in this app without quitting the app. The app will keep running in the background.

Using Keyboard Commands

  1. Open multiple windows in an app. You can open and close multiple windows in most apps, including all internet browsers, text editors, productivity apps, media players, image viewers, and file managers.
    • You can also use this method to close all open folders if you have multiple windows open in Finder.
  2. Press and hold the ⌘ Command button on your keyboard.
    • On some keyboards, you will see ⌘ Cmd instead of Command.
  3. Press Tab ↹ while holding ⌘ Command. This button is in the upper-left corner of your keyboard. This key combination will let you scroll through app icons to switch between apps currently open and running on your Mac.
  4. Make sure the application switcher is on the app you want to close. Scroll through apps in the switcher until you're on the correct app.
  5. Press ⌥ Option+⌘ Command+W on your keyboard. Press the three buttons at the same time to close all the open windows in this app. All open windows will close. The app will keep running in the background.
    • On some keyboards, you will have Alt instead of Option. In this case, look for the ⌥ sign on your keyboard.

Tips

  • If you're not using the app anymore, you can select Quit from the app menu. This menu looks like the app's name in the upper-left corner of your screen. If you see a different app here, click on the app icon on the Dock.

Warnings

  • Make sure to save your changes before you close a window in an app. All unsaved changes will be lost.
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