How to fix if Alt Tab is not working? 13 ways to fix it.
Nothing happens when you press Alt-Tab on Windows 10? Are your apps disappearing before you can navigate to them? Or does the app switcher not open a program after you've selected it?
Many reasons can prevent the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut from working properly on your computer. Technical glitches, corrupted keyboard drivers, conflicting system settings, etc. are just a few of them.
Below you will find some troubleshooting tips and methods to fix Alt-Tab not working on Windows 10. Feel free to skip anything that doesn't work.
1. Restart Windows Explorer
In almost all cases where the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut does not work, you can fix it immediately by restarting the Windows Explorer process.
1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Select "Details" to expand the Task Manager.
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3. Scroll down the Processes tab and find Windows Explorer. Then right-click it and choose Restart.
Note. If you have Explorer windows open, you can find the Windows Explorer process listed under Applications.
4. Wait a few seconds until Windows Explorer restarts. In the meantime, you will see the taskbar and desktop icons disappear.
5. Press Alt + Tab and see if the keyboard shortcut works without problems.
2. Reboot the Computer
If restarting Windows Explorer didn't help, try restarting your computer instead. This should fix any minor technical issues that are preventing the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut from working as expected.
3. Uninstall/Reinstall Keyboard Device
You can rule out any problems with a corrupted keyboard driver by uninstalling and reinstalling the keyboard through Device Manager.
1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards.
3. Right-click the HID Keyboard Device and select Uninstall Driver.
4. Select "Remove" to remove the keyboard.
Note. If you see multiple instances of HID Keyboard Device, uninstall all of them.
5. Restart your computer. Windows 10 should automatically detect your keyboard and reinstall its driver.
4. Install Support Software
Did you get an issue with Alt-Tab right after using the new keyboard? Visit your keyboard manufacturer's website (Logitech, Dell, HP, etc.) for any specific device drivers or assistive software. Install them and see if that solves the problem.
5. Check Keyboard on Another PC
If you're still having trouble with Alt-Tab not working on your computer, your best bet is to connect your keyboard to another computer and test both keys to rule out any hardware-related issues. If everything is ok, continue fixing.
6. Remove Third-Party Alt-Tab Switcher
Do you have a third-party Alt-Tab program installed on your computer? Despite the improved functionality of the app switcher, it can also break. Try removing it from your computer.
1. Click the start menu with the right mouse button.
2. Select Apps & Features.
3. Find the third-party Alt-Tab program and select Uninstall.
If you are unable to uninstall the Alt-Tab program (for example, if it is a portable applet), open it and return any changed settings to their defaults.
7. Enable Peek
Sometimes Alt-Tab will refuse to switch windows if you have disabled Peek in Windows 10. This is a feature that allows you to "peek" into the desktop when you drag your cursor to the lower-right corner of the screen. Turn it back on and see if that helps.
1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter.
2. Click the "Advanced" tab and select "Settings" in the "Performance" section.
3. Select the "Enable Preview" checkbox.
4. Select Apply and then OK to save your changes.
5. Open the Start Menu and select Settings.
6. Select "Personalization".
7. Go to the side tab of the taskbar.
8. Click the radio button next to Use Peek to preview your desktop.
9. Close the settings panel and restart your computer.
8. Update Video Card Drivers
The Alt-Tab application switcher may stop working if your computer has outdated video card drivers. Try updating them.
You can get the latest graphics card drivers by going to the Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD websites. Alternatively, you can use the Driver Updater to automatically update the video drivers on your computer.
9. Update Windows 10
If you are still having problems, you should update Windows 10. This should fix any known errors that prevent the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut from working properly.
1. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings".
2. Select "Update & Security".
3. On the Windows Update side tab, select Check for Updates and install any pending updates.
In addition, select the View Additional Updates option and install any hardware driver updates.
10. Run a Malware Scan
Malware can hijack your computer and prevent basic Windows 10 functions from working properly. If you haven't already, use Windows Security to perform a quick malware scan.
1. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings".
2. Select "Update & Security".
3. Click on the Windows Security side tab.
4. Select Virus & threat protection.
5. Select "Quick Scan".
Your best bet is to use a dedicated malware removal tool like Malwarebytes to make sure your computer is free of malware.
11. Run SFC Scan
Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool through an elevated Command Prompt console to scan and fix any corrupted system files on your computer.
- Open the Start menu, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
- Enter sfc / scannow.
- Press Enter to start scanning.
The SFC scan should take a few minutes. After that, restart your computer and check if Alt-Tab works without problems.
12. Switch to Old Alt-Tab Viewer
Try switching to the older Alt-Tab app switcher (which displays app icons instead of preview thumbnails) and see if that helps.
1. Press Windows + R to open Run.
2. Type regedit and click OK.
3. Copy and paste the following path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window and press Enter:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Explorer
4. Right-click the AltTabSettings registry entry and select Modify.
5. Set the value to 1 and click OK.
6. Restart your computer and check if Alt-Tab works without problems.
Let's say you don't see the AltTabSettings registry key in Registry Editor. Open an elevated command prompt console and run the following command:
REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Explorer / v AltTabSettings / t REG_DWORD / d 1
This should automatically create the AltTabSettings registry key with the correct value. You do not need to revisit Registry Editor, but you must restart your computer.
13. Tweak Multitasking Settings
Are you using multiple desktops on Windows 10? In this case, the Alt-Tab app switcher will not show open apps on desktops unless you change your multitasking settings.
1. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings".
2. Select "System".
3. Click the Multitasking side tab. Then open the menu in the section. Pressing Alt + Tab shows open windows and select All desktops.
The multitasking screen also includes an additional setting that lets you customize the behavior of the Alt-Tab app switcher when used with Microsoft Edge. Use the menu under Alt + Tab to determine if you want the Application switcher to display browser tabs as separate windows or not.
Alt-Tab Your Way Through
Most likely you fixed Alt-Tab right away by restarting the Windows Explorer process. If not, then other fixes should help if Alt-Tab doesn't work. However, if you still have problems, try resetting Windows 10 to factory settings. This should take care of any corrupted settings or other issues preventing your computer from working properly.
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How to fix if Alt Tab is not working? 13 ways to fix it
How to fix if Alt Tab is not working? 13 ways to fix it