Missing the Windows taskbar on a Mac? What to do
The Mac Dock shows apps, not windows. How to see every open window the way the Windows taskbar does, with built in tools and a strip dock.
The Dock shows apps, not windows: an app with five windows is one icon. To see every window like the Windows taskbar, use Mission Control (⌃ ↑), or right click an app's Dock icon to list its windows.
Built in ways to see windows
- Mission Control, ⌃ ↑: every window on the desktop.
- App Exposé, ⌃ ↓: every window of one app.
- Right click a Dock icon: a list of that app's windows.
- The Window menu in each app lists its windows.
Window shortcuts compared
| On Windows | On a Mac |
|---|---|
| Alt Tab (windows) | ⌘ Tab (apps), then ⌘ ` for windows |
| Win and arrows | Fn ⌃ and arrows (Sequoia and later) |
| Win D (show desktop) | ⌘ F3 |
| Win Tab (task view) | ⌃ ↑ (Mission Control) |
A taskbar for your windows
ClutterFreeMac has a strip dock: a bar at the bottom of the screen with every window on the strip, in order. Click one to slide to it. It can auto hide, stay on, or be off, in Settings, Navigation. See also Windows Snap Layouts on Mac.
Questions
How do I see all open windows on a Mac like the Windows taskbar?
Press ⌃ ↑ for Mission Control, or right click an app in the Dock to list its windows. Window managers can add a bar of every window.
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