alt-tab-macos is a free macOS app that aims to bring the Windows 10 app switcher to macOS. If you’re looking for a solution to use the Windows’s alt tab switcher in macOS then this is one of the best apps that you can use. This is a background app that you can run right after downloading it and then use the shortcut to navigate between the hidden windows and open them like you open in Windows 10. Here it adds some really useful commands that you can use with the combination of tab key to switch between the apps and bring focus to any desired window.
Even though macOS ships with a built in app switcher that works with Command+Tab key but it lacks the preview of the app window. But in Windows, this isn’t the case, as you can see the preview of Windows so it is easy to identify which one you want to open if there are multiple instances of same program or app are opened. With the alt-tab-macOS app, you can add this functionality in macOS. One of the best parts is that this is open source and you are free to inspect its source code on GitHub and see some other technical stuff if you want to.
How to Use Alt-Tab in macOS to Switch Windows ?
alt-tab-macos is a very simple app that you can use. The only difference between this and Windows 10 app switcher is that here it operates via “Ctrl” key instead of “Alt” key. You just download this app from here and then run it. At first, it won’t run it as it is from an unregistered developer so you will allow it through the MAC’s security settings. After that, you will also have to allow it though accessibility settings as well. When you run the app, then you can see its icon in the menu bar.
Now, it is time to start using the app. When the app is running, you can simply use the “Ctrl+Tab” key combination to cycle through the minimized or all the unfocused apps. Or, you can use the “Ctrl+Shift+Tab” combination to cycle through the apps in the reverse order. You can see this behavior In the GIF that I added in the beginning of this post.
In this way, you can use Windows 10’s Alt+Tab switching functionality in macOS. You just install the app and then you are ready to go. The app runs in background and may have some problems with macOS Catalina. But all those issues and bugs will be fixed in the coming updates.
Final thoughts
alt-tab-macos is an interesting app that you can try on your MBP or iMAC. If you want to get the Windows 10’s app switcher in MAC then this is a very nice app for that. Also, this will be useful if you just recently migrated to MAC and miss the old Windows OS’s useful features. So, if you are looking for some decent alternative to MAC’s app switcher then you have come to the right place. Just download the mentioned app and give it a try.
