What is the difference between pressing Alt+Tab and Ctrl+Alt+Tab?

Question

When I press Alt+Tab, then I get a window to switch between windows. With Ctrl+Alt+Tab, I get the same result. What is the difference between them?

Answer 1

Keyboard shortcuts in Windows

• Alt+Tab Switch between open apps.
• Ctrl+Alt+Tab Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.

In other words:

• Alt+Tab Switches between open apps immediately after releasing the Alt key.
• Ctrl+Alt+Tab Opens a quasi-dialogue window where you use the arrow keys to walk over all open apps and you need to press Enter (or click a mouse button) to confirm your choice.

Answer 2

Alt + Tab will let you select the application, and when you release the Alt key, you will be switched to the window you selected. With Ctrl + Alt + Tab, the selection screen will remain displayed, and you will have to press Enter to actually change the focus.

Answer 3

1. Alt + Esc Switches to the next open window

2. Alt + Shift + Esc Switches to the previous open window

3. Alt + Tab Cycles through open windows, and switches to the window when the Alt key is released. This is known as Coolswitch. Pressing Esc cancels switching windows.

4. Alt + Shift + Tab Cycles backwards through open windows, and
   switches to the window when the Alt key is released. This is known as Coolswitch. Pressing Esc cancels switching windows.
5. Ctrl + Alt + Tab Vista: Starts Windows Coolswitch. Use Arrow keys, Tab, or Shift + Tab to navigate and Enter or Space to activate.
   Pressing Esc cancels switching windows.
6. Winkey + T Toggle speech dictation mode. Vista: Cycles through
   Taskbar buttons, Press Enter or Space to activate a window. This is same as Winkey + Tab in older versions.
7. Winkey + Tab Cycles through Taskbar buttons, Press Enter or Space to activate a window. Vista: Cycles through open windows using
   Windows Flip3D. Release keys to activate window. Pressing Esc
   cancels switching windows.
8. Winkey + Ctrl + Tab Cycles through parts of the desktop and
   taskbar. Vista: Starts Windows Flip3D. Use Arrow keys, Tab, or Shift + Tab to navigate and Enter or Space to activate. Pressing Esc cancels switching windows.

From Shortcut Keys and Key Modifiers at https://onedrive.live.com/?id=E2F0CE17A268A4FA%21121&cid=E2F0CE17A268A4FA

Answer 4

There is just difference that Ctrl+Alt+Tab leaves your window selection on screen when you release the keys.

By the way, you can hover over the window with your mouse and click to select the chosen one.