Alt-Tab was among the many first Home windows keyboard shortcuts I discovered after I first used a PC over 20 years in the past, proper after Ctrl-C (copy) and Ctrl-V (paste). Alt-Tab opens the app switcher, which helps you to shortly carry a special app to the foreground. You should utilize it to shortly swap between two open apps, or to cycle between your whole open apps. However what you may not know is that the app switcher can so much more than that. I am right here to stroll you thru the very best methods hidden within the generally used Home windows function.
Cycle by open apps
Maintain down the Alt key and maintain urgent Tab to open the app switcher and cycle by all of your open apps. When you launch the shortcut, the chosen app will come to the foreground. You can even cycle by this checklist in reverse order by holding Alt-Shift and urgent the Tab key repeatedly.
Cease the app switcher from auto-hiding
The app switcher’s short-term nature is a bit annoying typically. The second you launch Alt-Tab, the app switcher disappears. You may get round this by urgent Alt-Ctrl-Tab. Now, you are free to launch the keyboard shortcut and maintain the app switcher fortunately floating above all of your open apps. Use arrow keys to cycle by your checklist of open apps, or use the mouse to instantly choose the app you want. To dismiss the app switcher, merely click on outdoors of it.
If this shortcut is simply too tough to press, strive utilizing the Alt key to the precise of the spacebar together with Tab. So, press Proper Alt-Tab and it will additionally cease the app switcher from robotically hiding.
Use the app switcher to stop apps
After you have the app switcher open, you should use it to stop apps, too. Press Alt-Ctrl-Tab to open the app switcher, then transfer the cursor to any of the thumbnails on display. You will see a small X button within the top-right nook of every thumbnail. Click on the X to stop that app. Alternatively, you should use the arrow keys to pick any app and press the Delete key to stop the chosen app.
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Take pleasure in a full-screen view
Credit score: Pranay Parab
If a small floating window shouldn’t be enough for you, you can also make the app switcher full-screen as nicely. Press Home windows-Tab to open the Activity View, which reveals an inventory of all open apps in full-screen. You should utilize this to modify to any app or to stop apps. Press Esc to depart this view.
Whereas Home windows’ defaults work nicely, it’s also possible to think about using third-party apps to customise the app switcher’s theme. Each Winaero Tweaker and AltPlusTab allow you to change the feel and appear of the app switcher. You should utilize these apps to vary the switcher’s opacity, fonts, look, and extra.
