The exact shortcut to close all open windows or documents in Adobe Photoshop is Ctrl+Alt+W on Windows, or Command+Option+W on macOS.
Closing multiple open files in Photoshop efficiently can significantly speed up your workflow. While you can close each document individually, knowing the "Close All" shortcut is a valuable time-saver.
Understanding the Close All Shortcut
Based on information, the keyboard shortcut for closing all windows in Photoshop is Ctrl+Alt+W. This is a standard shortcut found in various versions of Photoshop, including CS6 as noted in the reference provided.
This shortcut offers a quick alternative to manually closing each document tab or window one by one.
Comparing Close Single vs. Close All
It's helpful to contrast the "Close All" shortcut with the command for closing a single document:
- Ctrl+W (Windows) or Command+W (macOS): Closes the currently active document window.
- Ctrl+Alt+W (Windows) or Command+Option+W (macOS): Closes all open document windows.
Think of the "Alt" (or "Option") key as modifying the single-close command (Ctrl+W) to apply the action more broadly ("Close All").
Alternative Method: Alt-Clicking the Close Button
The reference also mentions another way to close all windows which predates or complements the keyboard shortcut:
- You can Alt-click (or Option-click on macOS) the small 'X' or close button on one of the document tabs or windows.
This action triggers the "Close All" command, providing a visual way to achieve the same result as the keyboard shortcut. This manual method likely inspired or is directly related to the creation of the Ctrl+Alt+W shortcut.
Summary of Closing Shortcuts
Here's a quick table summarizing the commands for closing documents in Photoshop:
| Action | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut | Alternative Method (Windows/macOS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close Current | Ctrl+W |
Command+W |
Click the 'X' on the tab/window |
| Close All | Ctrl+Alt+W |
Command+Option+W |
Alt/Option-click the 'X' on any tab/window |
Knowing these shortcuts allows you to manage your open documents effectively, whether you need to close just one or clear your workspace entirely.
