Cycle Through Windows – Switch Between Open Apps

Introduction

Managing multiple open windows efficiently is crucial for productivity. Windows provides several built-in keyboard shortcuts to cycle through applications quickly, making it easy to switch between tasks without using a mouse. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user, knowing how to cycle through windows can significantly improve your workflow.

How to Cycle Through Windows in Windows 10 & 11

1. Use Alt + Tab to Switch Between Open Windows

The most commonly used shortcut to cycle through open windows is:

👉 Alt + Tab

Press Alt + Tab once to switch to the last active window.
Hold Alt and keep pressing Tab to move through all open windows.
Release Alt when the desired window is highlighted.

🔹 Pro Tip: In Windows 11, the Alt + Tab menu now displays larger thumbnails, making it easier to find the right window.

2. Use Windows + Tab for Task View

Another way to cycle through windows is:

👉 Windows key + Tab

Opens the Task View, showing all open windows and virtual desktops.
Allows you to click or navigate to a window using arrow keys.

This method is useful if you work with multiple desktops and need a broader view of open applications.

3. Cycle Through Windows of the Same App (Ctrl + Tab & Alt + `)

Sometimes, you only want to switch between windows of a specific application, such as multiple browser tabs or Word documents.

For browser tabs (Chrome, Edge, Firefox): Press Ctrl + Tab to move to the next tab.
For multiple windows of the same app: Use Alt + ~ (tilde key) to switch between them.

🔹 Note: The Alt + ~ shortcut may require a different key on non-US keyboards (e.g., Alt + ^ in some layouts).

Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.

https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/

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