On my Mac, Using Command+Tab to switch windows seems to work only sometime.
Other posts suggest pressing OPTION key and it works.
Though it is not clear to me why Command + TAB works only sometimes to switch the windows and is there a way to fix this? Am I missing something?
I am on MacOS High-Siera 10.13.3
312 Answers
Open Terminal and type
killall DockHit return.
Your Dock will disappear for a second and then reappear but open apps will not be affected.
Try Cmd+Tab now.
5On MacOS you would get best switching experience if you DO NOT MINIMIZE your windows.
Command + Tab : to switch to windows that are not minimized
Command + Tab followed by Option : to switch to a minimized window
When I asked this question, I was a newbie MacOS user with years of Windows experience.
Now, it feels like MacOS design is optimized towards leaving your windows open (irony)
5If you're running a Virtual Machine manager like VirtualBox sometimes it seems that an open Virtual Machine window grabs the ⌘ key (which is often used switch from VM keyboard capture mode).
In this case you'll need to bring the VirtualBox Console window up (e.g. using the Dock bar) and tap the ⌘ key again and it should release it properly.
2Command+Tab allows you to switch between open applications (whereas Command+` allows to switch between open windows within an application).
If these options are not working properly, the Modifier Keys options may have been remapped.
These options are found in System Preferences - Keyboard - Modifier Keys.
Do you use any remote controlling software such as Anydesk or TeamViewer?
In my case, they were grabbing certain keyboard inputs.
Close them all if any other answers don't work.
Use AltTab, it is the exact replica of windows functionality of Alt+ Tab. Takes care of both minimised/maximised window
1As @Custom Soundtrack mentioned, killall Dock should bring those seldom used app back to picture.
As @Amol suggested, avoid to minimize the window to get to more consistent switching experience. One alternative is hiding your window using Command+H. However, unlike minimize, this applies to all the windows of the front app.
If you do minimize you window and still want to keep your hands on keyboard, Command + window number should bring back the main window. Currently Slack is 1, iMessage is 0.
But lots of app don't have a corresponding window number. In this case, there's a trick mentioned in this post. Basically after you Command+tab. Release only tab button. Keep pressing Command and press Option. Now pressing Option release Command button, the windows will be maximized
It just happened to me on my MacBook Pro.
Turns out, I've been using HyperSwitch to manage app-switching and windows-switching, and HyperSwitch recently expired (not sure why). After installing new version of it, cmd-tab is back to working order.
2Use 3 fingers with an up-swipe to see how many desktops you have open and where your applications are. Consider this. When switch from desktop 1, app 1 to desktop 2, app 2 where app 2 is maximized command+tab works as expected. However, switching to desktop 2, app 3 where app 3 is not maximized just brings up app 2. Probably because it is the maximized app in the same desktop as app 3. However, switching from app 2 (in desktop 2) to app 3 (in desktop 2) works as expected. So I think this has to do with which apps are maximized and whether you are switching desktops.
I recently bought a 104 key external keyboard for a work macbook. I had this issue and started trying different key combinations hoping one would work to bring it back. What did it for me was the Function key (the one labeled Fn) and Opt. Press and hold Fn, press and release Opt, then release Fn. Then try Command + Tab again and it should work.
Interestingly I couldn't find anything about this key combo on google, but it consistently disables and re-enables the shortcut for me on this keyboard. I haven't tried on my macbook's built in keyboard yet but I'd bet the same happens there.
My experience is that command + tab works if the current window isn't maximized. If it is (i.e., fit to the screen), command + tab switching doesn't work.
It's possible that the user needs to select: System Preferences -> Mission Control -> When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application.
