I open a lot of separate windows of Chrome on my Mac. However, juggling between two separate windows of Chrome doesn't work with Command+tab. When I press command+tab, only one instance of Chrome can be seen although there are many others in the dock.
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Applications on Mac OS X are generally only started once, and multiple windows belong to the same process. Internally, there can be additional processes (like for Chrome, or even Safari now), but there is one process responsible for the UI (e.g. the single Dock icon). Workarounds exist, but they are not well known, easy to use, and unreliable.
By clicking a Dock icon or selecting an entry in the application switcher (Cmd-Tab), you focus that application and all its windows.
To switch to a different window of an application, you can press the keyboard shortcut configured in System Preferences » Keyboard » Keyboard Shortcuts » Keyboard & Text Input:
To go in the reverse direction, additionally press Shift.
Another solution for switching between applications and/or windows is Exposé, now in Lion part of Mission Control. You can configure shortcuts for viewing all applications' windows or the current application's windows in *System Preferences » Mission Control:
When invoking the Application windows hotkey (or using the trackpad gesture configured in System Preferences » Trackpad » More Gestures » App Exposé, it presents the application windows side by side, with minimized windows shown smaller below:
There are also third party applications that make window switching easier for users coming from other operating systems, like Witch.
Daniel Beck
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Mac apps generally only have one instance, even if they have many separate document windows open. To use the keyboard to switch between windows of the same app, use Command+` (backtick, above the tab key, at least on my US-Qwerty keyboard layout).
I'm not sure what to make of your comment that "there are many others in the dock". Did you make multiple copies of "Google Chrome.app" so you can launch multiple instances, and that's what you see in the dock? It's possible that although you have many copies of Chrome in the dock, maybe you've only actually launched a single instance. Or did you minimize some Chrome windows to the dock, and it's the minimized window icons that you see in the dock that you're thinking are separate instances of Chrome? I think it's probably this.
Spiff
- 110,156
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I'm also new to mac and was searching for best solution for switching between windows instead of apps. Specially if they are minimized. It was almost impossible to dig them out. Like they are buried in the dock. I even tried Witch.
In the end for me best/easiest to remember/most logical way is:
- Cmd-Tab + Down Arrow
Meaning:
- Switch to your app with Cmd-Tab
- Keep holding Cmd
- Press Down Arrow
You will get into expose and all your application windows will be drawn on screen - even minimized ones - with small images below big ones. Now just select your window using arrows and press Enter You can also use arrows in Cmd-Tab while holding Cmd
Why is it most logical - because on Cmd-Tab menu you imagine applications are horizontally and windows are vertically - like on PSP menu. And when u get to expose u even see what is big is active window, what is small is minimized - that why it is so difficult to get to it - it is buried under running windows :)
Even though having hide and minimize doesn't make sense, apple should remove one of them, and fix alt tab - on minimized window - it should come up automatically :)
blur
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I really recommend HyperSwitch. Free little app for switch between windows previews of the same application
qoomon
- 258
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cmd+` won't work if the window is fullscreen.
use control + -> and control + <- to switch windows.
GorvGoyl
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Macbook Pro 2020 user here. None of these tips worked, but you know what did?
To switch between two Chrome windows in Macbook with keyboard, I tried: Cmd + Shift + ` and tadah! Works like a charm.
Tiia
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Most of the solutions provided are either inconvenient or didn't work for me. I'm using Mac for the first time and the easiest way I found to switch between multiple chrome windows or other applications is to "Swipe up with three fingers on the trackpad and choose from the multiple open application windows". Works like a charm and it's more functional than cmd + Tab as it displays all the open applications' windows.
You can also drag a window and place it over the other to split screen.
DarkDiamond
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Ronit Khatua
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To toggle between windows in both Chrome and Safari, Cmd ` works if you don't have your windows in full screen mode.
Evelyn
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To juggle between two chrome windows in Mac, press the following keys together ⌘ ~
Command key(⌘) and Tilde (~) together
Anand
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contexts, paid app but it does everything you need, makes alt-tab/command-tab work like Windows (selects between same app windows) and more. Saved me from the muscle memory re-training when I switched to mac.
Some people thought it was dead and intel only, but it was updated for mac silicon last year.
ummwhat
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Swedish keyboard: cmd+<. This should also work for nearly every other application for OS X.
If you have another localisation you could try cmd+"left-bottom-most" key. Hopefully the location is the same.
elofturtle
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Mavericks and Chrome AND an external keyboard:
need to use ⌘-\ key (to the left of the z) instead of ⌘-`
Kevin Panko
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Ario
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