Switch Windows Shortcut (Alt+Tab / ⌘Tab)
Switch apps: ⌘Tab on Mac, Alt+Tab on Windows. Same-app windows and desktops below.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switch between apps | ⌘Tab | Alt+Tab | |
| Switch apps backwards | ⌘⇧Tab | Alt+Shift+Tab | |
| Switch windows of the same app | ⌘` | Alt+Tab (each window) | |
| Show all windows (Exposé / Task View) | ⌃↑ or F3 | Win+Tab | |
| Switch virtual desktop | ⌃→ / ⌃← | Win+Ctrl+→ / ← | |
| Minimise window | ⌘M | Win+↓ |
Hop between apps
Hold ⌘ and tap Tab on the Mac, or hold Alt and tap Tab on Windows, to cycle through open apps. Keep the modifier held to see the switcher; release to land on the highlighted app. Add ⇧ to move backwards.
Same-app windows and desktops
On the Mac, ⌘Tab switches apps; to switch between windows of the same app use ⌘` (the key above Tab). Windows treats every window separately in Alt+Tab. To see everything at once, use Win+Tab (Task View) or ⌃↑ / F3 (Mission Control).
FAQ
How do I switch between open windows?
Hold ⌘ and tap Tab on the Mac, or hold Alt and tap Tab on Windows, to cycle through open apps. Add Shift to go backwards.
How do I switch between two windows of the same app on a Mac?
Press ⌘` (Command plus the key above Tab) to cycle through windows of the current app, since ⌘Tab only switches between apps.
How do I see all my open windows at once?
Press Win+Tab (Task View) on Windows, or ⌃↑ / F3 (Mission Control) on the Mac.