Master Windows 10’s Alt+Tab Switcher with These Tricks

Alt+Tab lets you switch between open windows, but there’s more to it than that. The Alt+Tab switcher has other useful-but-hidden keyboard shortcuts. These tips apply to both Windows 10 and 7.

Standard Alt+Tab usage is pretty basic. Just press Alt+Tab, hold the Alt key down, and then keep pressing the Tab key to scroll through your open windows. Release the Alt key when you see an outline around the window you want.

Alt+Tab in Reverse

Alt+Tab normally moves forward, from left to right. If you miss the window you want, you don’t have to keep pressing Tab and go all the way through the list again. That works, but it’s slow—especially if you have lots of windows open.

Instead, press Alt+Shift+Tab to move through the windows in reverse. If you’re Alt+Tabbing and go past the window you want, press and hold the Shift key and tap Tab once to go back to the left.

Select Windows with the Arrow Keys

You can select windows in Alt+Tab with the arrow keys. Press Alt+Tab to open the switcher and keep holding down the Alt key. Rather than pressing Tab, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight the window you want, and then release the Alt key, press the Enter key, or press the space bar.

Use Your Mouse to Switch and Close Windows

You can also use your mouse with the Alt+Tab switcher. Press Alt+Tab, keep holding the Alt key and click the window you want to switch to.

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