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adezero Sep 9, 2012 @ 2:21am

How do you minimize your steam game on a mac?

I've been looking around and most likely the answer is: you can't.

This is extremely frustrating and needs to be addressed.

obviously, command M, F, and H do not work. function keys do not work. command tab does not work. I can't seem to get a command to launch expose, dashboard, launchpad, mission control, etc...

Also, I don't want to play windowed.

Last edited by adezero; Sep 9, 2012 @ 2:22am

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Showing 1-15 of 35 comments

Chalupacabra Sep 9, 2012 @ 4:56am

You can do it, in a round about way with Comman/Option/Esc & Finder. My guess would be that allowing to maximize and minimize the full-screen mode at-will could lead to all sorts of strange videocard issues on the mac. For example, when I play 'Killing Floor' I can force to desktop, but the videocard starts having issues. My monitor's brightness settings become too bright on the desktop until I close the game and when I bounce back into the game I have graphics issues as well.

adezero Sep 9, 2012 @ 3:22pm

Thanks for your reply,

I tried command/option/esc which normally brings up the force quit menu. But in while in a steam game, it force quits the game automatically. Not exactly a solution.

I loaded up killing floor and got the same thing.

코아 Sep 10, 2012 @ 1:46am

What are you on? Mac Book? iMac? PC with Mac operating system?
Mac Book (and MacBook Pro):
If you one with the new trackpad, three fingers should bring Mission Control up, which you should have learned. There should also be a button on your keyboard. (F3) If you bring your cursor to the right side (look around for it) there should be something that pops up on the side. If you click it, it opens up another desktop. If you go to Mission Control while in a game, you can open up that extra desktop. You can always go back to the game by clicking the game icon in your dock.
iMac:
Same thing, except with the new mouse. I have no expierience with that.
PC with Mac operating system:
I have no advice for you here.

Always remember update your software!

adezero Sep 10, 2012 @ 2:55am

I'm on an imac.

No OSX key command will work while in a steam fullscreen game. F3 doesn't do anything. I cannot launch mission control through any key command, I've even set buttons to my multi button mouse to launch mission control (or others: launchpad, dashboard etc), these buttons will not work in-game. "hot corners" does not work either.

The tip for launching a new desktop in mission control was helpful, but it does not help this situation.

I'm using mountain lion's most current software.

The problem isn't the mac. It's steam's bad porting of the steam application. The only solution in my mind is for the steam developers to add a bit of mac functionality to their client.

코아 Sep 10, 2012 @ 3:22am

Originally posted by adezero:
I'm on an imac.

No OSX key command will work while in a steam fullscreen game. F3 doesn't do anything. I cannot launch mission control through any key command, I've even set buttons to my multi button mouse to launch mission control (or others: launchpad, dashboard etc), these buttons will not work in-game. "hot corners" does not work either.

The tip for launching a new desktop in mission control was helpful, but it does not help this situation.

I'm using mountain lion's most current software.

The problem isn't the mac. It's steam's bad porting of the steam application. The only solution in my mind is for the steam developers to add a bit of mac functionality to their client.

Ahh. I see. I'm on a MacBook Pro, and I can access Mission Control from anywhere. I don't really have another solution for you. You can try emailing a Steam Support rep. I don't see what else you can try, but hopefully it all works out! Good luck!

PoepSnoep Sep 10, 2012 @ 10:45pm

alt tab works and if that doesn't do the trick command tab.
Got this working on every mac game from steam, one of those 2 will work it just depends from the game

Last edited by PoepSnoep; Sep 10, 2012 @ 10:46pm

adezero Sep 11, 2012 @ 2:32am

Originally posted by R3dzn:
alt tab works and if that doesn't do the trick command tab.
Got this working on every mac game from steam, one of those 2 will work it just depends from the game

no it doesn't, just tried it. I'm talking about a fullscreen game. This would work if you played windowed.

Vanish Sep 22, 2012 @ 3:43am

If you press SHIFT-TAB to bring up the community, you can Command-TAB to other applications just fine. Been doing that forever. Not ideal, but it does work.