The fastest way to switch windows in Windows is Alt + Tab: hold Alt, press Tab repeatedly to move through your open windows, and let go to switch. Press Alt + Tab once and release to jump back to the last window you used. For a bigger view of everything that’s open, press Windows + Tab to open Task View, or click an app’s icon on the taskbar. On a laptop touchpad, swipe up with three fingers to see all windows.
This guide covers every way to switch windows in Windows 11 and Windows 10, including keyboard shortcuts, the taskbar, virtual desktops, Snap, touchpad and touch gestures, and settings that make switching faster.
Keyboard shortcuts for switching windows
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Show open windows; keep holding Alt and press Tab to pick one |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Move backward through the Alt + Tab list |
| Ctrl + Alt + Tab | Keep the switcher open without holding keys; use arrow keys and Enter |
| Alt + Esc | Cycle through windows in the order they were opened, without a preview |
| Windows + Tab | Open Task View with all windows and virtual desktops |
| Windows + 1 to 9 | Open or switch to the app pinned in that position on the taskbar |
| Windows + T | Move through taskbar apps; press Enter to open |
| Windows + D | Show the desktop; press again to bring windows back |
| Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right arrow | Switch between virtual desktops |
Method 1: Use Alt + Tab
- Hold down Alt.
- Press Tab to see thumbnails of your open windows. Keep pressing Tab to move the highlight.
- Release Alt to switch to the highlighted window.
While the switcher is open, you can also click a thumbnail with the mouse, or press Delete to close the highlighted window.
Method 2: Use Task View
- Press Windows + Tab, or click the Task View button on the taskbar.
- Click the window you want.
Task View also shows your virtual desktops, so you can move windows between them by dragging.
Method 3: Use the taskbar
- Click an app’s icon to switch to it. If the app has several windows open, hover over the icon to see thumbnails and click one.
- Hold Ctrl and click a grouped icon repeatedly to cycle through that app’s windows.
- To show each window separately, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and set Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never (available in recent Windows 11 versions).
Method 4: Use touchpad and touch gestures
- Three-finger swipe up – open Task View.
- Three-finger swipe left or right – switch between open apps (on many precision touchpads).
- Four-finger swipe left or right – switch virtual desktops.
- Touchscreens – tap the Task View button, or swipe in from the left edge in Windows 10.
Customize gestures in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Three-finger gestures.
Method 5: Use virtual desktops
- Press Windows + Ctrl + D to create a new desktop.
- Open the apps you want there, such as work apps on one desktop and personal apps on another.
- Switch with Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right arrow, and close the current desktop with Windows + Ctrl + F4.
Method 6: Snap windows side by side
Instead of switching, show two to four windows at once. Press Windows + Left or Windows + Right to snap a window, or hover over the maximize button (or press Windows + Z in Windows 11) to pick a Snap layout. Windows 11 remembers these as Snap groups on the taskbar, so you can switch back to the whole set.
Settings that make switching easier
- Alt + Tab and browser tabs – in Settings > System > Multitasking, choose whether Alt + Tab shows only open windows or also recent Microsoft Edge tabs. Choose Don’t show tabs for a cleaner list.
- Virtual desktop behavior – in Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops, choose whether Alt + Tab and the taskbar show windows from all desktops or only the current one.
Troubleshooting
- Alt + Tab doesn’t work – check for stuck keys, try the other Alt key, restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager, and make sure a game or remote desktop session isn’t capturing the shortcut.
- Windows don’t appear in Alt + Tab – they may be on another virtual desktop. Change the Desktops setting above.
- A window is off-screen – select it with Alt + Tab, then press Windows + Left or Right to snap it back into view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch between windows of the same app?
Hold Ctrl and click the app’s taskbar icon, use Alt + Tab, or, in recent Windows 11 versions and some apps, press Alt + ` (the key above Tab).
How do I switch windows with a Mac keyboard connected to Windows?
The Mac’s Option key usually acts as Alt, so use Option + Tab.
Do these shortcuts work in Windows 10?
Yes. Almost all of them work in Windows 10; Snap layouts and Windows + Z are Windows 11 features.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.