Problem Switching between windows and applications in Windows 10 using Alt+Tab and taskbar

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In light of the information given by you, please try the below steps and check if it helps.

Step 1: System maintenance troubleshooter.

Please run the system maintenance troubleshooter and check if the issue persists.

1. Go to control panel.

2. Select system and maintenance.

3. There select troubleshooting.

4. In troubleshooting, go to system and security and select run maintenance task.

5. Select system maintenance and follow the on screen instructions.

If the issue persists, please follow the below step.

Step 2: SFC scan.

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

Follow the below steps to perform an SFC scan.

1. Press Windows key + X key.

2. Select command prompt (admin).

3. Type the below command:

Sfc /scannow

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We apologize for the delay in response. We would like to know if you are using a Local account or Microsoft Account?

In the meantime please try to boot your computer in safe mode and then put your computer in a Clean boot and check if the issue persists.

Step 1: Safe mode:

Safe mode is useful for troubleshooting problems with programs and drivers that might not start correctly or that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. Safe mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. To start your system in safe mode follow the below steps:

1. Press and hold Shift key and restart your Computer.

2. Select Troubleshoot.

3. Select Advance Option.

4. Select Startup settings.

5. Follow the on Screen instruction.

For more information refer to the below link:

After this , please put the computer in clean boot and check if the issue persists.

Step 2: Clean boot.

Putting your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.

DISCLAIMER: After troubleshooting, refer to this section «How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting».

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Switching between applications in windows

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Question

To avoid misunderstanding I would appreciate it if my question is being read carefully before answering.

I open Excel 2013 and then I create a fresh email from Outlook 2013.

Now how can I switch to and fro between the two apps?

I understand that if you use CLT + TAB, you can switch in between excel sheets on internet tabs very quickly, but CLT + TAB, doesn’t allow me to switch between different apps.

TAB + ALT is not what I’m looking for, can I create my own keyboard shortcuts?

Answers

TAB + ALT is not what I’m looking for

Why not? With only two windows it could work just the way you want. BTW it is Alt+Tab that you want (that order of presses) and then depending on how long you held the Alt- key down you would either switch immediately or get to see the Task view list (e.g. to make sure that you were going where you thought you wanted to).

Otherwise, more generally, if you knew the position of each app in the Taskbar you could use Win+ For example, I have IE pinned in position 2 and therefore can switch to it (from anywhere in the Task view cycle) by pressing Win+2.

How to quickly switch between windows and apps on Mac

When you’re working on your Mac, the simplest shortcuts can help you do things faster and easier. Whether it’s gestures or keyboard shortcuts, there are plenty of ways to navigate your Mac and your apps. So, for more to add to your list of shortcuts, here’s how to quickly switch between windows and apps on Mac.

Switch between application windows on Mac

You likely have more than one app open at a time on your Mac. And while the Dock is handy for grabbing the app you need at the time; you can do it with one of two quick shortcuts too.

Keyboard shortcut

Hold Command + Tab and you will see a bar appear on your screen with all open apps.

Continue to hold Command and then press Tab to go through each application. You can hold Command and press Shift + Tab to go in the opposite direction.

And you can hold Command and use your left and right arrow keys too.

Release both keys when you land on the one you want and it’ll pop right to the front of your screen.

If you’re not fond of the keys being used, you can change them in your keyboard settings. Head to Apple icon > System Preferences > Keyboard from the menu bar. Click Shortcuts and select Keyboard on the left.

Trackpad gesture

If you have a Macbook and use your trackpad, you can see all open windows a bit differently. Using three fingers, swipe up on your trackpad. Then just move your pointer over the app you want to focus on, click, and it will become front and center.

Switch between windows of the same app on Mac

Along with switching between your open applications on Mac, you might want to switch between windows of the same app. For instance, you may have more than one Word document, Firefox window, or Numbers spreadsheet open at the same time.

Hold Command + ` (tilde key, to the left of 1 on your keyboard) to switch between windows of the same app.

If you hold Command and continue to click the ` key, it will move you through each open window. Just release your keys when you land on the one you want.

You can also use the trackpad gesture described above, just note that you will see all windows for all open applications.

More shortcuts

Here are some additional keyboard shortcuts you can use for your Mac in case you missed them.

Wrapping it up

Shortcuts using your keyboard or trackpad are just plain handy. It can be hard to remember them all, but once you start using certain ones daily, it’ll become such a habit that you won’t even think about it.

What are your favorite shortcuts? Which ones do you find the most useful? Let us know in the comments below or ping us on Twitter!

Windows Shortcut/Utility to switch between application windows

From using GNOME and MacOS, I’m accustomed to have Alt+` to switch between windows of one application and Alt+Tab to switch between applications.

I have not yet found any setting or utility which would yield the same functionality on Windows (8). Do you have any tips?

4 Answers 4

There’s no built-in way to switch between the windows of the same application. All top-level windows are displayed in Alt + Tab list. I mean if you have two instances of Notepad running, you’ll see two windows of Notepad in Alt + Tab window list.

If you activate two windows of the same application in row, you can switch between them with single Alt + Tab press.

Additionally you can press Alt + Ctrl + Tab to display the list of windows, and then use arrow keys to select the required window; press Enter to switch to the window.
You can also use mouse to select a window from this list.

As an alternative way you can use Windows + T : each press activates the next button on the Taskbar (including the pinned, not started, applications). When you reach the required application, press Enter or Up and then use Left and Right arrows to select the required window and press Enter to switch to it.

Definitely Windows + T is slower than Alt + Tab .

There actually is a way to do this and it’s probably the most often-used keyboard shortcut in my arsenal.

Simply type Windows + number , where number is a single digit, 1, 2, 3, . 9, 0. This allows you to access the first 10 applications that are currently sitting in your taskbar.
For example, I have Chrome pinned to the 1st location in my taskbar, so Windows + 1 always brings up Chrome. My favorite text editor (Vim will never die!) is tied to Windows + 2 . And on down the line. I have the first 10 locations in my taskbar pinned so that I always know what a given Windows + number combination will bring up.

But more to the point, since the OP asked how to switch between multiple windows of the same application, here’s where this keyboard shortcut gets really useful. To refine what I said earlier, Windows + number brings up the first instance of the application. But holding the Windows key brings up a list of windows of that application. (Similar to when you mouse over the grouped icons of an application in the taskbar.) Continuing to type Windows + number scrolls through that list.
For example, I earlier said I have Chrome tied to Windows + 1 . More specifically, I always make sure that my gmail and calendar are in the first window of Chrome, so that Windows + 1 always jumps right to my email. But if I want to cycle through any of my other Chrome windows, I just keep the Windows pressed down and keep typing Windows + 1 .

Another related and particularly useful variation of this is to add the Ctrl key. Windows + Ctrl + number brings up the last active window of the given application. This is very useful when you keep toggling back and forth between two different windows of the same application.

UPDATE Jan/2019: The above Windows + Ctrl + number shortcut appears to have been removed in Windows 10, starting from either version 1803 or 1809. I’ll update this answer if I figure out a way to re-enable this shortcut. See https://superuser.com/a/1388225/288800, where there seems to be consensus that this is a bug, not a feature removal. Hopefully that answer will contain useful information if I forget to come back and update this one.

Please note that this answer was originally written when I was using Windows 7, but these shortcuts are also applicable according to Windows 8 and 10. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts for an explanation of the shortcuts in all three of those versions of Windows. That link also explains Shift and Alt key variations which you may also find useful, so I recommend taking a look at it.

UPDATE Nov/2019: Microsoft appears to have restored the Windows + Ctrl + number shortcut in Windows 10 version 1903. Hooray!

Switching between applications in windows

Вопрос

To avoid misunderstanding I would appreciate it if my question is being read carefully before answering.

I open Excel 2013 and then I create a fresh email from Outlook 2013.

Now how can I switch to and fro between the two apps?

I understand that if you use CLT + TAB, you can switch in between excel sheets on internet tabs very quickly, but CLT + TAB, doesn’t allow me to switch between different apps.

TAB + ALT is not what I’m looking for, can I create my own keyboard shortcuts?

Ответы

TAB + ALT is not what I’m looking for

Why not? With only two windows it could work just the way you want. BTW it is Alt+Tab that you want (that order of presses) and then depending on how long you held the Alt- key down you would either switch immediately or get to see the Task view list (e.g. to make sure that you were going where you thought you wanted to).

Otherwise, more generally, if you knew the position of each app in the Taskbar you could use Win+ For example, I have IE pinned in position 2 and therefore can switch to it (from anywhere in the Task view cycle) by pressing Win+2.