How to Switch Between Windows on a Mac
To switch between apps on a Mac, press Command+Tab: hold Command, press Tab until the app you want is selected, then let go.
- To switch between windows of the same app, press Command + ` (the key above Tab on a US keyboard).
- To see every window at once, press Control+Up Arrow.
On this page
Switching windows on Windows vs. a Mac
| What you want | On Windows | On a Mac | With WinPlug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next window or app | Alt+Tab (every window) | Command+Tab (one icon per app) | Alt+Tab or Command+Tab (every window) |
| Back to the previous one | A quick Alt+Tab | A quick Command+Tab (previous app) | A quick Alt+Tab (previous window) |
| Windows of the same app | Hover the taskbar button | Command + ` | Two quick Alt+Tab |
| See every window | Win+Tab | Control+Up Arrow (Mission Control) | Same as Mac |
| Windows of the front app | — | Control+Down Arrow | Same as Mac |
| Show the desktop | Win+D | Command + Mission Control, or Fn+F11 | Same as Mac |
Mac built-in vs. WinPlug Switch
Your Mac does the basics well: Command+Tab for apps, Command + ` for windows, Mission Control for the big picture. WinPlug works like Alt+Tab on Windows and goes further.
| Mac (built-in) | WinPlug Switch | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | One icon per app | One thumbnail per window |
| Two windows of the same app | Command + ` or Mission Control | Both in the same list |
| Minimized windows | Not in the app switcher | Included |
| Find a window | Look through Mission Control | Press S and type part of its name |
| Act from the switcher | Q quits, H hides the selected app | W closes the window, M minimizes it, Q quits the app |
| Shortcut | Command+Tab | Alt+Tab, and Command+Tab too |
How do I switch between apps with Command + Tab?
- Hold Command and press Tab. The app switcher shows the icons of your open apps.
- Keep holding Command and press Tab until the app you want is selected. Add Shift to go backward.
- Let go of Command. The app comes to the front.
Tip: a single quick Command+Tab takes you back to the app you used just before.
How do I switch between windows of the same app?
Press Command + ` (grave accent). On a US keyboard, it’s the key above Tab. Each press brings the app’s next window in front. Add Shift to go the other way.
Other ways:
- Control+Down Arrow shows all the windows of the app in front, side by side. Click one.
- The Window menu of most apps lists their open windows at the bottom.
How do I see all my open windows at once?
Use Mission Control:
- Press Control+Up Arrow, press the Mission Control key (F3) if your keyboard has one, or swipe up with three or four fingers on the trackpad.
- Every open window appears, spread out.
- Click the window you want.
To see the desktop instead, press Command + Mission Control, or Fn+F11.
Is there Alt + Tab on a Mac?
Yes, with WinPlug. No need to relearn your habits: keep your Alt+Tab, window by window.
With WinPlug, Alt+Tab shows a thumbnail of every open window, in the order you used them, like on Windows. Two windows of the same app show up as two thumbnails.
- A quick Alt+Tab takes you back to the previous window, even within the same app. Two quick presses go to the app’s next window.
- Hold Alt and press Tab or the arrow keys to move, Shift to go back.
- Press S, then type part of a window’s name to find it.
- W, M or Q close the window, minimize it, or quit its app, without leaving the switcher.
- Minimized and hidden windows are included.
On a Mac keyboard, your Alt key is Option, so it’s Option+Tab. WinPlug also takes over Command+Tab, so both show your windows. Prefer the Mac’s app switcher? Turn that off in Settings. Get Windows-style Alt-Tab on your Mac.
Keep your Windows habits on your Mac
WinPlug brings back the taskbar, Alt-Tab, the Windows shortcuts, the snipping tool and more, in one app.
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Other Windows habits WinPlug brings back
- Win + ← and Win + → snap windows to half the screen. See how to split screen on a Mac.
- A taskbar at the bottom of the screen, with a button for every window.
- Alt+F4 closes the window you’re in. See where the Alt key is on a Mac.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch between windows of the same app on a Mac?
Press Command + ` (grave accent), the key above Tab on a US keyboard. Each press brings the next window of the app in front. Control+Down Arrow shows all the windows of the app side by side.
Is there Alt + Tab on a Mac?
The Mac’s version is Command+Tab, but it switches between apps, not windows. With WinPlug, Alt+Tab shows every open window with a thumbnail, like on Windows.
How do I see all open windows on a Mac?
Press Control+Up Arrow, or the Mission Control key (F3) on Mac keyboards that have it, or swipe up with three or four fingers on the trackpad. Click a window to bring it in front.
Why doesn’t Command + Tab show all my windows?
Command+Tab lists apps, not windows: an app with five windows shows up once. Use Command + ` to go through that app’s windows, or Control+Down Arrow to see them all.
How do I go back to the previous window on a Mac?
Press Command+Tab once and let go: you’re back in the app you used before. With WinPlug, a quick Alt+Tab takes you back to the previous window, even within the same app.
Sources
- Apple Support, “Mac keyboard shortcuts”, support.apple.com/en-us/102650 (checked October 2026).
- macOS User Guide, “Use apps in Split View on Mac” (Control+Up Arrow, swipe up with three or four fingers), support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchl4fbe2921/mac (checked October 2026).
- Apple Support, “How to use the function keys on your Mac” (Mission Control key, F3), support.apple.com/en-us/102439 (checked October 2026).
