Command Reopen

Fix Cmd+Tab for minimized and closed windows on macOS.

Cmd+Tab to an app with a minimized or closed window — and nothing happens. Command Reopen makes the native Cmd+Tab restore those windows, the way it should have always worked.

_{Prefer a free build? Grab the DMG from GitHub Releases · Landing · 中文}

Features

• Restore minimized and closed windows with Cmd+Tab — if an app has no open windows, a new one is created automatically
• Zero permissions for core reopen — the main Cmd+Tab reopen behavior needs no Accessibility or Screen Recording permission
• Native switcher preserved — works invisibly behind the stock Cmd+Tab UI
• Configurable exclude list for apps you don't want restored
• Lightweight menu bar app, <2 MB, near-zero CPU
• Open source (MIT) and fully auditable

macOS Window Shortcuts You Should Know

Shortcut	Action
Cmd+Tab	Switch between apps
Cmd+`	Switch windows within the same app
Cmd+H	Hide current app (Cmd+Tab brings it back)
Cmd+M	Minimize current window to Dock
Cmd+W	Close current window
Cmd+Option+H	Hide all other apps
Cmd+Tab → hold Option → release Cmd	Restore one minimized window (native workaround)

Notice the gap? Cmd+H (Hide) works perfectly with Cmd+Tab — the window comes right back. But Cmd+M (Minimize) and Cmd+W (Close) don't — Cmd+Tab switches to the app but the window stays gone.

That's exactly what Command Reopen fixes. Every Cmd+Tab switch restores your windows automatically.

How It Works

Command Reopen listens for app activation events via NSWorkspace.didActivateApplicationNotification. When you Cmd+Tab to an app, it first checks whether that app already has a visible on-screen window by inspecting the public CoreGraphics window list (CGWindowListCopyWindowInfo). Only if no visible window is found does it send a restore request through NSWorkspace.openApplication(at:configuration:). This brings back minimized windows and recreates closed ones — all using standard macOS APIs that require no special permissions.

The core logic is ~300 lines in a single file: ActivationMonitor.swift.

FAQ

Why does Cmd+Tab not restore minimized windows?

macOS treats minimized windows as intentionally "put away." Cmd+Tab switches the active application but does not restore minimized windows by design. The only native workaround is Cmd+Tab → hold Option → release Cmd, which restores only one window at a time — and most users don't know it exists.

Does Command Reopen need any permissions?

No special permissions for the core app behavior. It uses NSWorkspace APIs available to sandboxed apps and needs no Accessibility or Screen Recording permission for Cmd+Tab reopen.

Does it change the Cmd+Tab interface?

No. The native Cmd+Tab switcher stays exactly the same. Command Reopen works invisibly behind it — you won't notice any visual difference.

Can it reopen windows that were closed, not just minimized?

Yes. If you Cmd+Tab to an app that has no open windows, Command Reopen will create a new window automatically.

Privacy

Command Reopen collects no data. Everything runs locally on your Mac. See PRIVACY.md.

License

MIT