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Is there any program or way to make Mac OS X's ⌘Tab(Command-Tab) behave like Windows' AltTab?

That is, instead of switching between applications, to switch between windows of all applications?

I do know there's a way to switch between windows of the same application using ⌘`, but that's not what I want either.

I'm not just trying to make Mac OS X behave like my recent former OS, I've been a Mac user for over two years and before that Ubuntu. After using Expose and ⌘Tab I think Windows' or Ubuntu's AltTab is better.

pkamb
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Pablo Fernandez
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10 Answers10

79

Use ⌘ Command+Tab to switch between different open applications and ⌘ Command+` (backtick) to switch between multiple open windows of a single program.

iono
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Krishna
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You can get Witch which makes alt-tab work like Windows switching between windows not apps. However see This question if there are alternatives.

The Apple way is exposé but does require a different way of thinking.

Community
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mmmmmm
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Alt-Tab

Alt-Tab is a free solution that has been in my toolkit for a few years now.

The project page includes a comparison between the popular projects.

Download it from the homepage or alternatively from homebrew:

brew install --cask alt-tab

It's free software! Also it has a good amount of customisability and allows to recreate your favourite experience. The settings page should give you an idea about the range of possible options:

Preferences

Kos
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Hyperswitch is another application to switch between all open windows of all open applications like in Windows/Linux. It defaults to using alt+tab so that you can still use the default ⌘ command+tab switching, but you have the option of overriding that and can set it to use ⌘ command+tab to replace the default functionality.

It is currently free while it is in beta.

Otherwise you have to do ⌘ command+tab to get to your application, let go of the tab and press 1 to activate the windows of your application, then use the arrow keys (or the mouse) to select the window you want.

Or control+F4 but that doesn't give you the previews - it just cycles open windows.

opticyclic
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8

Another option is to 'hide' the application using ⌘(command) + H rather than minimizing it. This way you can use ⌘(command)+tab to select the application and bring it to focus like Windows.

Chris
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5

For me the best option is contexts. Just check their site, app is amazing and beat all other solutions (and believe my, I try almost all of them). It's not yet perfect, but for me, competition is miles behind.

SuitUp
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As a user with the same need, so far Witch is really the best answer. It provides a recent window switch behavior very much like Windows/UNIX.

The one drawback I've experienced, is that when you close a window in MacOS, it brings the next window from that application forward -- very annoying behavior when you expected to get back to the window from the OTHER application underneath. I'm doubtful there will be a way to fix this behavior.

For users who don't understand why Command-Tab is not a viable alternative.... Command-Tab brings ALL of an application's windows forward, which is not the desired behavior. Switching quickly between 2-4 recently used windows without disturbing any other windows is very easy with windows-style alt-tab, and very hard with mac Command-tab command-tilde.

David Jeske
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4

You may want to try Optimal Layout as well: it combines powerful application and window switching with instant preview of window content + grid based window resizing and layout if needed.

Philippe
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Option + Tab switches between windows like Windows. Shift + Option + Tab to reverse cycle.

If it's not working check Keyboard Shortcuts Move focus to active or next windows and set to Option + Tab.

Sam Inverso
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I just found that there's another alternative, that I'm using on my Ubuntu machine: there I switch between applications using Alt-Tab and between their windows using Alt-^ (which is the button on the top left corner on a German keyboard layout; on US keyboards it's actually ~ as Krishna pointed out). This way you only have to lift your finger a little higher when you want to switch windows of the current application.

To set that shortcut change Settings > Keyboard > Move focus to next window to ⌘-~ (DE: ⌘-^)

Stefan
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