Meet the three windows

What each window does

Window	Purpose	Open it	Where work continues
Workspace	Browse folders, edit files, keep tabs, split the view and save	Start the app; New Window in the top bar; ⌘N / Ctrl+N	In that workspace’s tabs
Hub	Find apps, files and folders; create files; resume work	Hub / ＋ in the top bar or tab rail; ⌘Shift+H / Ctrl+Shift+H	In the most recently active workspace
Quick Look	Temporarily preview a selected file	Select a file in the browser and press Space	Esc closes it; Open in Window continues in the workspace

A new tab, a new file, and a new window are different operations. To add a tab, open Hub first. ⌘N / Ctrl+N creates another workspace window.

Workspace: your everyday work

Navigation on the left opens locations and folders. The tab rail switches open content, the center contains the active tool, and the inspector on the right provides information and contextual AI actions. The top bar contains Hub, Split View, New Window, keyboard shortcuts, and Settings. Toolbars change with the active app.

Screenshots show the macOS development app based on 3.2026.920, using demonstration files only. Windows window controls differ; shortcuts for both platforms are included below.

Hub: the entry point for new tabs

Hub opens a separate search window. Search files inside open folders or choose an app below. Apps that need a file open a file picker. New File creates a document before opening its editor. A successful selection usually closes Hub and opens content in the focused group of the most recently active workspace. Equivalent content already open in that group reuses its tab.

See Open a new tab with Hub for the full procedure.

Quick Look: a temporary preview

Select a file in the file browser. With focus in the listing rather than a search or rename field, press Space. Press Esc to close the preview. To continue editing, choose Open in Window and use a suitable tool.

See Quick Look.

Tabs, a split, or a new window?

• Switch files within one task: keep several tabs.
• See two items at once: use Split View, with a tab group on each side.
• Work across monitors or independent tasks: create another workspace window.

Saving, printing, and tool shortcuts target the active content. Click the intended pane and check its file name first.