how to get Finder to automatically open a Finder window / or always keep one open?

Question

Let's say I have all my Finder windows closed. I'm in an application, like let's say Google Chrome. I ⌘-tab to the Finder icon to switch to Finder. But it shows me nothing... no windows, because I have no windows open. I have to then invoke ⌘-N to open a Finder window.

Is there a way to get OSX to automatically open a Finder window when I ⌘-tab to the Finder icon to switch to Finder, since anytime I switch to Finder, I always want a window?

This bugs me to no end when I want to drag a file to somewhere other than the desktop. You used to be able to drag a file to the finder icon and up would pop the top-most window or a window would be summoned, but this no longer works on Mountain Lion. — bmike, May 06 '13 at 21:05
I have not tried it but this looks interesting. http://manytricks.com/witch/ — Ruskes, May 06 '13 at 21:30
@Buscar웃 Witch does not change how Finder reacts - just cmd-tab to separate Windows (I just tested this as I run Witch) — mmmmmm, May 06 '13 at 21:45
This is by desugn - any Document based app (ie with multiple windows) behaves the same way if no windows open — mmmmmm, May 06 '13 at 21:47
You can already open a new window if one is not already open by pressing the Option key during Command - Tab and releasing on it. As far as doing it automatically you'd probably have to script something. — l'L'l, May 07 '13 at 02:05

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited May 08 '13 at 19:20

2

You can already open a new window if one is not already open by pressing the

COMMAND-TAB and hold down COMMAND.

Release TAB, keep holding down COMMAND,

then press OPTION and hold it down.

While still holding down OPTION, release COMMAND. Then release OPTION.

As far as doing it automatically you'd probably have to script something.

Source: @l'L'l

edited May 08 '13 at 19:20

Ruskes

48,129

answered May 07 '13 at 05:29

incandescentman

973

NOPE, it does not work ! – Ruskes May 07 '13 at 08:07
It works for me. – incandescentman May 08 '13 at 18:44
What am I doing wrong? – Ruskes May 08 '13 at 18:53
COMMAND-TAB and hold down COMMAND. Release TAB, keep holding down COMMAND, then press OPTION and hold it down. While still holding down OPTION, release COMMAND. Then release OPTION. It's like playing a sonata. :-) – incandescentman May 08 '13 at 18:59
1

Sonata in C-mol ....it worked :) – Ruskes May 08 '13 at 19:17
1

Is there a way to make it default behavior? – Pawel Furmaniak Dec 14 '15 at 18:04
Crazy! Why does this work? Anyone know what this is doing? – pdenya Feb 07 '23 at 14:57

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:45

There is a distinction (in AppleScript terms) between reopening and activating an application.

For example clicking a Dock icon reopens an application: if there are no visible windows, it opens a new default window, or if all windows are minimized, it unminimizes one of them.
The application switcher activates applications by default, but if you hold option before releasing command, it reopens the selected application.
Opening an application from the Spotlight menu, Finder, or Alfred reopens it.

Witch has an option to tell applications with no windows to reopen:

Or if for example you use Alfred to assign shortcuts to opening applications, the shortcuts always reopen applications.

how to get Finder to automatically open a Finder window / or always keep one open?

2 Answers2