When you have a dozen apps open, the window you need can disappear behind the others. Windows 11 and Windows 10 give you several quick ways to see every open window at once, from Task View to Alt+Tab to the taskbar thumbnails.
Quick Answer
Press Windows+Tab to open Task View, which shows thumbnails of all open windows. Click one to switch to it. Alt+Tab shows the same windows in a quick switcher.
How to See All Open Windows
- Press Windows+Tab, or click the Task View button on the taskbar.
- Look over the thumbnails of every open window on the current desktop.
- Click the window you want, or press Esc to close Task View.
- For a faster switch, hold Alt and tap Tab to move through open windows, then release Alt.
- Hover over a taskbar icon to see thumbnails for all windows of that app.
Ways to View Open Windows
| Method | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Task View | Windows+Tab |
| Quick switcher | Alt+Tab |
| Taskbar thumbnails | Hover over an app icon |
| Minimize everything | Windows+D |
| Snap layouts | Windows+Z (Windows 11) |
On a Mac, read how to see all windows on a Mac.
To separate work and personal apps, make a new desktop.
Get More Out of Alt + Tab
- Ctrl + Alt + Tab opens the switcher and keeps it on screen after you let go, so you can pick a window with the arrow keys or the mouse.
- Alt + Shift + Tab moves backward through the list.
- While the switcher is open, press Delete to close the highlighted window.
- In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Multitasking and use Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt + Tab to choose whether Microsoft Edge tabs appear as separate items. Pick “Don’t show tabs” for a shorter list.
See Windows on Every Virtual Desktop
Task View and Alt + Tab normally show only the current desktop. To include windows from all desktops, open Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Desktops, and set both the taskbar and Alt + Tab options to On all desktops. In Task View, hover over a desktop at the bottom of the screen to preview its windows. For more on managing desktops, see how to close virtual desktops on Windows 11.
Find a Window That’s Off Screen
If an app is open but you can’t see its window, often after unplugging a second monitor:
- Click the app on the taskbar so it’s the active window.
- Press Windows + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow to move it to the other display.
- Or press Windows + Up Arrow to maximise it on the current screen.
If it still won’t appear, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, right-click the app on the Processes page, and choose Maximise or Bring to front if available, or End task and reopen it.
Arrange Several Windows So You Can See Them
Seeing windows side by side is often better than switching between them. In Windows 11, hover over a window’s maximise button or press Windows + Z and pick a snap layout. Windows remembers the group, and hovering over one of the apps on the taskbar shows the whole snap group so you can restore it in one click. In Windows 10, drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen to snap it, then choose a second window to fill the other half.
Troubleshooting
- A window is missing from Task View: it may be on another virtual desktop. Check the desktops strip at the bottom of Task View.
- A window is open but off-screen: select it on the taskbar, press Windows+Up to maximize it, or see how to bring all windows to one screen.
- To arrange several windows side by side, read how to tile windows in Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alt+Tab show windows from all desktops?
By default it shows only the current desktop. Change it in Settings, System, Multitasking.
Can I hide the Task View button?
Yes. Right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, and turn off Task View.
How do I close a window from Task View?
Hover over its thumbnail and click the X.
Summary
- Press Windows+Tab for Task View.
- Use Alt+Tab for quick switching.
- Hover taskbar icons for app windows.
- Check other virtual desktops.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.