How I Figured Out Switching Windows on Windows and Mac—Without Losing My Mind
Honestly, toggling between open windows on my PC and Mac used to be pretty frustrating, especially when trying to keep the flow going but ending up clicking around aimlessly. Luckily, after some trial and error (and a few late-night Google searches), I discovered that both systems have handy built-in shortcuts that make the whole process a lot smoother. Here’s what finally clicked for me, along with some tips I wish I’d known earlier.
On Windows: The Classic ALT + TAB and the Task View
If you’ve used Windows before, you’re probably familiar with ALT + TAB. It’s the main shortcut for switching between open windows. Just hold down ALT and press TAB, and a thumbnail view of all your open apps pops up. It’s a bit like flicking through cards—each press moves to the next window. Keep holding ALT, and you can cycle through them; release to jump straight to the selected window. Simple and effective once you get the hang of it.
Sometimes this shortcut slows down or doesn’t respond well, especially if you’ve got heaps of apps running or if the system isn’t running smoothly. What helped me was disabling unnecessary startup apps and updating my graphics drivers. Also, if your PC feels sluggish or the thumbnails lag, a quick restart or closing background programs can do the trick.
Need a more comprehensive view of your desktops and open windows? That’s where Task View comes in. Just press Win + Tab. It shows all your desktops and open apps arranged in a neat grid. It’s a bit bulkier than ALT + TAB, but perfect for multitasking or managing multiple desktops.
A quick note: some PCs, depending on their brand and BIOS settings, might have different or disabled options for quick switching—especially if OEMs lock down certain features. On my older ASUS, window switching options were hidden in the Advanced menu, which was a bit of a hassle to find. Also, Windows 10 and 11 still support ALT + TAB, but you can tweak some settings under Settings > System > Multitasking for a better experience.
On Mac: Command + TAB and the App Carousel
Switching apps on a Mac is dead easy. The main shortcut is Command + TAB. Hold down Command and press TAB, and a row of app icons—kind of like a carousel—appears with your open apps. Keep holding Command and tap TAB again to move forwards, then release to switch to the highlighted app. Once your fingers get used to the flow, it’s lightning quick.
If you want to move backwards through your list—say, if you overshoot—you can add Shift so it’s Command + Shift + TAB. This is particularly handy when juggling between browsers like Safari and Chrome, or chatting apps like Teams or Slack.
Another thing I didn’t realise at first: you can cycle between multiple windows of the same app using Command + \` (the backtick). Great for when you’ve got several Safari windows or Finder folders open. And if you want to customise these shortcuts, head over to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts — I did this after a bit of trial and error to suit my workflow.
Honestly, these shortcuts save heaps of time—much quicker than clicking through dock icons or navigating the menu bar. Just keep in mind: if you have multiple spaces or desktops set up, switching between them might require a different shortcut, like Control + Left/Right Arrow.
Why Bother with Shortcuts?
Keyboard shortcuts slash the amount of clicking and dragging, speeding up your workflow, especially when multitasking heavily. Yeah, it feels a bit strange at first, trying to muscle memory, but once it clicks, it becomes second nature—even on busy workdays.
Extra Tips & Tricks
- Windows users: hover over taskbar icons to see thumbnail previews or press Win + Tab to view all open desktops and apps—especially handy if your system gets sluggish with lots of apps running.
- Mac users: you can remap or customise shortcuts in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. Also,
Command + \`switches between windows of a single app—don’t forget that one. - Third-party tools like Spectacle or Swish can make window switching even snappier and more flexible if you fancy more customisation or quicker toggling options.
TL;DR — Final Thoughts
Once you get these shortcuts integrated into your routine, moving between windows becomes way faster than clicking menus or dragging windows around. There’s a tiny learning curve—especially if your system is a bit sluggish or if you’ve got heaps of apps open—but it’s definitely worth it. Just make sure your OS and drivers are up to date to avoid lag, and consider trimming down startup programs if things aren’t running smoothly.
Hope this helps—took me ages to figure out all the quirks myself. Now I can switch between tasks in the blink of an eye. Good luck, and happy window hopping!