How to Use Alt+Tab Keyboard Shortcut in Windows on Mac
As someone who grew up with Windows XP and still uses Windows 11, I confess that using a Mac is a pleasure. But there are some Windows features that I miss when I work on my Mac. (Of course, the reverse is also true .)
Aside from the excellent windowing system, what I miss the most is the Alt-Tab window switcher. The Mac just shows a horizontal list of recently used apps – no previews, no multi-window support, no shortcuts… nothing. But if you’re like me, I have good news. There is a free and open source application called AltTab that brings all these Windows features to your Mac. It runs reliably in the background and doesn’t overwhelm system resources, so it’s a win-win.
How to use AltTab on your Mac
Once you download and install the app from the website, use the Option + Tab button to open the window switcher in all its glory. You will see all windows of open applications, as well as a preview – this works exactly the same as in Windows. Hold the Option key and press the Tab button to move to the next application in the list, and use the arrow keys to move between all open windows. And there is support for the Option + ` keyboard shortcut to only switch between open windows from the current application.
However, AltTab really stands out for its customization. Open the AltTab application and go to the Controls section , where you can define three additional shortcuts to your liking. And almost the entire interface can be controlled using keyboard shortcuts, which are also customizable. With an application highlighted, you can press W to close the window or Q to exit the application. If you prefer to use multiple monitors , you can restrict AltTab to only the current display. Then go to the Appearance section to customize the appearance of the toggle. If you really miss Windows, you can turn on the Windows theme and pretend that rounded corners were never invented. You can also customize the switcher size, window previews, and more.