View source for Alt-Tab

{{Short description|Keyboard shortcut to switch windows without using a mouse}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2011}}

'''{{key press|[[Alt key|Alt]]|[[Tab key|Tab]]}}''' is the common name for a [[keyboard shortcut]] that has been in [[Microsoft Windows]] since [[Windows 1.0]] (1985). This shortcut switches between application-level [[Window (computing)|windows]] without using the mouse; hence it was named ''Task Switcher'' (''Flip'' in [[Windows Vista]]).

{{key press|Alt|Tab}} orders windows by [[Common menus in Microsoft Windows#Most Recently Used menu|most recently used]], thus repeated {{key press|Alt|Tab}} keystrokes will switch between the two most recent tasks. It can also be used alternate between a full-size window and the desktop. The window environment maintains a [[Z-order]] list of top-level windows (tasks) with the most recently used tasks at the front and the desktop at the bottom, so the most recently used tasks can be switched to the most quickly.

The {{key press|Alt|Tab}} keyboard combination has also been incorporated in other [[operating system]]s and [[desktop environment]]s such as [[KDE]], [[Xfce]], and [[GNOME]]. [[iOS]] and [[macOS]] have similar functionality by pressing {{key press|[[Command key|Command]]|Tab}} but that switches ''applications'' rather than ''windows''.

== Behavior ==
The use of the [[modifier key]] {{key press|Alt}} in using {{key press|Alt|Tab}} differs from typical modifier key use in the following ways:
* There is a difference in behavior when the user releases {{key press|Alt}} and presses {{key press|Alt|Tab}} again vs. holding {{key press|Alt}} continuously while pressing {{key press|Tab}} repeatedly.
* Releasing {{key press|Alt}} has an immediate effect: it closes the task switcher and switches to the selected task.

There are many subtleties to the behavior of {{key press|Alt|Tab}}, and they have remained mostly unchanged over the years.

The behavior follows these rules:
* If there is more than one window, the task list appears as soon as {{key press|Tab}} is pressed while {{key press|Alt}} is being held down.
* The task list remains open until {{key press|Alt}} is released.
*{{key press|Tab}} moves the cursor forward in the list; {{key press|Shift|Tab}} moves it backward.
*{{key press|Tab}} or {{key press|Shift|Tab}} will [[autorepeat]] if held down (useful if there are many windows).
* With the initial press of {{key press|Tab}} or {{key press|Shift|Tab}}, the selection cursor starts on the window immediately following or immediately preceding the active one.
* If there are no topmost windows above the [[active window]], an initial {{key press|Shift|Tab}} wraps the cursor around to the end of the list.
* Using the mouse to click on a task icon in the task window switches to that task (does not work on Windows XP and earlier).
* Pressing {{keypress|[[Esc key|Esc]]}} or clicking the mouse outside of the task window while {{keypress|Alt}} is still down cancels the switch.
* The windows are listed by their [[Z-order]].
* Any windows that are "always on top" are placed at the front of the [[Z-order]] sequence, followed by the current window and the windows underneath it.
* The desktop is given a window just like it was a top-level window. This no longer works on Windows 10.
* Switching to a window moves it to the front of the [[Z-order]], with the exception that "always on top" windows remain topmost and at the front of the list.
* When the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} task switcher window is not active, {{keypress|Alt|Esc}} places the active window at the bottom of the [[Z-order]]. In Windows 8 the behavior has changed: the window will be moved one level down the [[Z-order]] instead of going to the end.
*{{keypress|Alt|Shift|Esc}} is equivalent to one {{key press|Alt|Shift|Tab}} except that minimized windows are selected without being restored.
* Minimizing a window also sends it to the back of the [[Z-order]] in the same way as {{key press|Alt|Esc}}.

The rules have the following consequences:
* In the absence of "always on top" windows such as Task Manager, pressing {{key press|Alt}}, pressing {{key press|Tab}}, releasing {{key press|Tab}}, and releasing {{key press|Alt}} (the typical way keyboard modifiers are used) will always alternate between the two most recent tasks.
* {{key press|Alt|Shift|Tab}} can restore the most recently minimized window. (If there are "always on top" windows, the lowest of these will be selected instead.)
* Pressing {{key press|Alt|Tab}}-{{key press|Tab}} (two tabs with {{key press|Alt}} continuously held down) performs the same quick switch back and forth, but between three programs. Any number of {{key press|Tab}} presses can be used to achieve this with any number of windows.

When the task list is initially activated by pressing {{key press|Alt|Tab}}, the list is populated in this order:
* Any '''always-on-top' top-level windows'' according to [[Z-order]], front-to-back.
* All ''ordinary top-level windows'' according to [[Z-order]], front-to-back.

The task list does not change order while it is open, but the order of tasks can change between invocations of the task list.

Windows Vista changed the default behavior<ref>{{cite web
|title=Windows Vista changed the Alt+Tab order slightly
|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20080701-00/?p=21793
|author=Raymond Chen
|work=MSDN blog
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|date=2008-07-01
|access-date=2008-07-31
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080803204920/http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2008/07/01/8673981.aspx| archive-date= 3 August 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> (under most default installations) with its Flip interface. The six most recently used items in the Flip order work as described, then remaining windows are ordered alphabetically by application path (and optionally grouped, depending on the 'group similar taskbar buttons' setting which is enabled by default).

Windows 10 removed the desktop from the task list.

=== Illustrative examples ===

Windows may be divided into two categories, 'always-on-top' and ordinary. When a task is switched to, it is moved to the head of its category. For the following example, suppose there are no 'always-on-top' windows. Let ''A'' be the current window title.  Hold down Alt and press and release Tab once, leaving Alt pressed.  The window list comes up.  ''A'' is guaranteed to be first in the list.  Suppose the complete list is ''A W Z E U B C''.  The selection cursor will initially be on ''W''.  Suppose we want to switch to window ''U''.  Without releasing Alt, press Tab three more times and then release Alt.  Then hold down Alt and press-release Tab once leaving Alt down.  The window list will now show ''U A W Z E B C''.  Then Tab over to ''E'' and release Alt, selecting window ''E''.  Press and hold down Alt and press-release Tab once leaving Alt down.  The window list will now show ''E U A W Z B C''.  Note that the windows switched to with {{key press|Alt|Tab}} (''E'', ''U'', ''A'') are in order of how recently they were switched to.  Now Tab over to ''A'' and release Alt.  Press and hold down Alt and press-release Tab leaving Alt down.  The window list will show ''A E U W Z B C''.  The effect of this most-recently used behavior is that to return to the most recent task, Tab is pressed once, for the second most recent task Tab is pressed twice, and so on for all tasks.  The priority of a window in terms of {{key press|Alt|Tab}} accessibility is how recently it was used.  If ''A'' is now minimized, the list will become ''E U W Z B C A'', and if ''Z'' is minimized the list becomes ''E U W B C A Z''.  Thus minimizing a window mimics the effect of not using it for a long time.

The commonplace alternation between the 2 most recent tasks (using a fast {{key press|Alt|Tab}} with all keys released immediately) is precisely a special case of the above behavior.  Suppose the windows are ''A B C'' and we want to alternate between ''A'' and ''B''.  Hold Alt while pressing and releasing Tab; continue holding Alt.  The list will show ''A B C'' and the cursor will initially be over ''B''.  When Alt is released ''B'' will be selected, Tab having been pressed a total of 1 time, and zero attention to the task selection cursor having been necessary.  Again, press and release Tab while holding Alt.  The list will show ''B A C'' and the cursor will initially be over ''A''.  When Alt is released we have switched back to ''A''.  Displaying the list again, the order has returned to ''A B C'' and this sequence can recur.  On close inspection, in the course of typing {{key press|Alt|Tab}} and releasing both keys quickly, the task list window can be observed to flicker for a split second, so .
If the user has been switching among 3 applications and wants to dispense with one of them by minimizing, one of the remaining ones will be on top immediately after minimizing, and ordinarily {{key press|Alt|Tab}} will alternate between the 2 remaining windows.  If a program fails to move to the end of the list when minimized, pressing {{key press|Alt|Tab}} once will return to the minimized program.  Failures such as this can result in a frenzied reordering of the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} list by means of several {{key press|Alt|Tab}}-{{key press|Tab}}-{{key press|Tab}}... sequences to compensate for the program misbehavior.  The algorithm for this reshuffling is intuitive after using for a long time.
If the user attempts to switch to an application using {{key press|Alt|Tab}} but the application fails to update its place in the z-order (for example, if its window procedure is hung), then the next time {{key press|Alt|Tab}} is invoked, the task selection cursor may initially point unexpectedly far into the list of icons, just past the application in question, which will not have been moved to the head of the list.

Applications have some say in where they are located in the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} order.  The list of windows is altered by the creation and destruction of windows, programmatic hiding, showing, raising, and lowering of windows, and alterations to the window [[z-order]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=SetWindowPos Function
|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winui/winui/windowsuserinterface/windowing/windows/windowreference/windowfunctions/setwindowpos.asp
|author=MSDN
|work=MSDN
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|date=2007-01-01
|access-date=2007-01-01
}}
</ref>

The order of the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} list corresponds directly to the z-order, once the windows have been sorted according to 'always-on-top' status. Alt-Shift-Esc is equivalent to one Alt-Shift-Tab except that minimized windows are selected without being displayed.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=What is the Alt+Tab order?
|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20031020-00/?p=42093
|author=Raymond Chen
|work=The Old New Thing
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|date=2003-10-20
|access-date=2006-09-24
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060905163535/http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2003/10/20/55367.aspx| archive-date= 5 September 2006 | url-status= live}}
</ref>

== Windows-specific issues and hacks ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Alttabreplacement.png|thumb|250px|Windows XP {{key press|Alt|Tab}} Replacement Powertoy{{ffdc|1=Alttabreplacement.png|log=2009 August 18}}]] -->
{{key press|Alt|Tab}} works even if [[Windows Explorer]] is no longer running. On [[Windows NT 3.51]] and prior, {{key press|Alt|Tab}} is managed by [[CSRSS]] (Client/Server Runtime Subsystem). On [[Windows NT 4.0]] and later, it's handled by the kernel mode windowing system driver (win32k.sys).<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://securelist.com/windows-0-day-exploit-cve-2019-1458-used-in-operation-wizardopium/95432/
|title=Windows 0-day exploit CVE-2019-1458 used in Operation WizardOpium
|publisher=[[Kaspersky]]
|work=Securelist
|date=2019-12-10
|access-date=2023-08-27
|quote=...&nbsp;Our detailed analysis of the EoP exploit revealed that the vulnerability it used belongs to the win32k.sys driver&nbsp;...&nbsp;The vulnerability itself is related to windows switching functionality (for example, the one triggered using the Alt-Tab key combination). That’s why the exploit’s code uses a few WinAPI calls (GetKeyState/SetKeyState) to emulate a key press operation.&nbsp;...
}}
</ref> It works even when [[Control-Alt-Delete|{{key press|Ctrl|Alt|Del}}]] and {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|Esc}} ([[Task Manager]]) (which are managed by [[Winlogon]]) do not.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2005/07/24/running-windows-with-no-services.aspx
|title=Running Windows with No Services
|first=Mark
|last=Russinovich
|authorlink=Mark Russinovich
|work=Mark's Sysinternals Blog
|publisher=[[Sysinternals]]
|date=2005-07-24
|access-date=2006-09-24
}}
</ref>

{{key press|Alt|Tab}} may be intercepted (or effectively disabled) by means of a low-level keyboard hook.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc302329.aspx
|title=Win32 Q&A: Handy Features in Windows, and Interlocked Functions
|first=Jeffrey
|last=Richter
|authorlink=Jeffrey Richter
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|work=MSDN Magazine
|date=July 2000
|access-date=2006-09-24
}}
</ref> Such a technique is used by applications such as the [[Virtual Network Computing]] (VNC) viewer to pass {{key press|Alt|Tab}} keystrokes to the remote desktop when the VNC window is active.

Under [[Windows XP]], the Tweak UI PowerToy,<ref name="ms_powertoy">
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx 
 |title=Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP 
 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] 
 |date=2005-11-01 
 |access-date=2006-09-24 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006000535/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx 
 |archive-date=6 October 2006 
 |url-status=dead 
}}
</ref> can adjust the number of rows and columns in the task list window, or it can be adjusted via a registry edit.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Change the Alt+Tab Layout to Show More Icons
|url=http://malektips.com/xp-alt-tab-change-layout-rows-columns.html
|first=Andrew
|last=Malek
|publisher=[[MalekTips]]
}}
</ref> This is helpful if there are so many windows that the list would spill over into multiple pages.

Another Microsoft PowerToy, '''{{key press|Alt|Tab}} Replacement''',<ref name="ms_powertoy" /> is available for Windows XP that displays a [[screenshot]] of each application in the task list rather than just its icon, and allows the user to use the mouse to select the desired application. A more advanced version of this functionality, named Windows Flip, is built into [[Windows Vista]].

A number of third-party tools, similar to {{key press|Alt|Tab}} Replacement, are also available that add additional functionality to {{key press|Alt|Tab}}.

Additionally, [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]] allow the user to navigate through the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} menu using mouse or arrow keys.

When the Aero Glass theme is enabled, Windows Vista also offers a 3D view of the windows themselves that animates as the user cycles through it. The behaviour is very similar to {{key press|Alt|Tab}} and is accessed by holding down the [[Windows key|{{key press|Win}} key]] instead of {{key press|Alt}} while pressing {{key press|Tab}}. While this view is visible, windows can be selected and made active by clicking on them with the mouse, and the list can be scrolled forward or backward using the mouse scroll wheel.

If there is only one window on the system, Windows does not show a selector dialog at all when {{key press|Alt|Tab}} is pressed; the key sequence will simply restore or give focus to that window in case it is minimized or not focused. This means that under Windows 10, {{key press|Alt|Tab}} no longer functions as a way to switch out of a full-screen application, since the desktop is no longer a window.

If the user prefers the smaller XP icons over the larger Vista "thumbnail" icons, they can change the functionality by:
* Start → Computer
* Hit the "System Properties" button (on the Toolbar under the File | Edit toolbar)
* Select "Advanced System Settings" (under Tasks grouping in the left-hand column); this brings up the "System Properties" dialog box,  which should show the "Advanced Tab".
* Hit the Settings Button under Performance.  Uncheck the "Enable Desktop Composition" checkbox (the 3rd checkbox from the top in the Custom list box).
* Hit OK
The user may also stop the [[Dwm.exe]] process via Windows' [[Task Manager]].

In [[Windows 7]] {{key press|Alt|Tab}}, after a one-second delay, displays the full-sized application window immediately each time the cursor position changes, hiding all other windows. This is a part of Aero Peek feature, new in Windows 7. This behavior can be disabled along with Aero Peek: Control Panel - Performance Information and Tools - Adjust visual effects - uncheck Enable Aero Peek.

Delay is adjustable by setting the LivePreview_ms value in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AltTab registry key.

Some users report that the switcher dialog does not stay on top<ref>[http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/81916-alt-tab-icon-list-does-not-stay-top.html Windows 7 - Alt-Tab icon list does not stay on top]</ref><ref>[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/alt-tab-window-wont-stay-on-top-of-other-windows/9795ed00-3e9f-4751-8e6b-da9a25e820e0 Alt-tab window won't stay on top of other windows in Windows 7]</ref> while it is displayed, but one can navigate through this dialog using mouse even if it is completely overlapped by some window. This bug is reported to be user profile specific. Some user profiles on the same machine may encounter this bug, some not. As discovered, the problem is sometimes caused by desktop gadgets system. After killing sidebar.exe process (which hosts the gadgets), the problem disappears. After restarting sidebar the problem appears again. This bug also happens when ipoint.exe, the Microsoft Intellipoint mouse driver, is running. Other programs causing this behaviour were reported as well.<ref>[http://superuser.com/a/400728 Windows 7 alt-tab window disappears to back when aero peek is enabled]</ref>

The actual reason this problem occurs is because [zero-sized always-on-top windows at (0,0)] cause Windows Explorer to set the alt-tab properties incorrectly. The solution is to download and run a program which will remove these flags.<ref name="alttabfixer">{{cite web
 | url =https://randomascii.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/alttab-bug-worsened-by-ie-10-but-fix-found/
 | title =Alt+Tab Bug Worsened by IE 10, But Fix Found
 | last =Dawson
 | first =Bruce
 | date =2013-05-28
 | website =Random ASCII
 | access-date =2015-12-13}}</ref> [ftp://ftp.cygnus-software.com/pub/AltTabFixer.zip download]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

To show the XP icons in Windows 7 advanced users can add a new DWORD value ''AltTabSettings'' in the registry key
''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\''
and set its value to 1.

Using [[Windows 7]] the additional key combination {{key press|Ctrl|Alt|Tab}} brings up the switcher dialog and it remains on screen after all the keys have been released. A user can move through the dialog in any direction using the arrow keys, or {{key press|Tab}} through in a linear manner, wrapping at the end of the list back to the beginning. In this mode, the {{key press|Enter}} key or a mouse click selects the desired window which gains the focus and the dialog is dismissed; {{key press|Esc}} dismisses with no change of focus.

In [[Windows 7]], to use a switcher dialog similar to that in XP, one can keep Left-{{key press|Alt}} pressed, tap on Right-{{key press|Alt}} and then press {{key press|Tab}}.

There is a common<ref>[http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/80806-keyboard-keeps-changing-language-help.html Windows 7 - Keyboard keeps changing language]</ref><ref>[http://superuser.com/questions/66561/how-to-avoid-keyboard-layout-automatically-changing-on-windows How to avoid keyboard layout automatically changing on windows]</ref> problem associated with the use of {{key press|Alt|Tab}}. It is very easy for the user to mistakenly use {{key press|Alt|Shift}} instead, changing the system language through the use of a default keybind. To solve this issue, go into Control Panel/Regional Settings/Languages/Details and there is a button that allows the user to configure the shortcuts to switch languages - he/she can disable it or change it to something harder to press by mistake. This problem is reported on Windows XP and Windows 7.

== Non-Windows functionality ==
[[File:MacOS Big Sur Task Switcher.png|thumb|Command Tab switcher on Mac OS Big Sur.]]

=== macOS ===
Similar functionality exists on [[macOS]] using {{key press|[[Command key|Command]]}} instead of {{key press|Alt}}, and switching between applications rather than windows. The Mac's switcher has the additional capabilities of pointing at the desired icon with the mouse (also present in Windows Vista and above), and dropping files on applications' icons. Selected application can be hidden or closed using {{key press|H}} or {{key press|Q}} keys without closing the menu. {{key press|Command|`}} works similarly to switch between windows within the same application. Once {{keypress|Command|Tab}} has been invoked, {{key press|Command|`}} changes behavior to mimic {{key press|Command|Shift|Tab}} (i.e. it cycles backwards). Using {{key press|up}} or {{key press|down}} allows the user to select the window to focus on. The {{key press|left}} and {{key press|right}} arrow keys may also be used to navigate the application switcher.

This functionality does not automatically restore windows from an application in which all windows been minimized. To restore a window, one needs to press {{key press|Command|Tab}} as many times as necessary to choose the desired application, and hold the [[Option key]] just prior to releasing the Command button. This will restore the most relevant{{Citation needed|reason=How does macOS choose the window to unminimize? I played around with # of interactions, most tabs, recent interactions, but I don't get consistent results. Maybe it's per application?|date=December 2020}} window in the application.

There was no default [[key binding]] for application switching in [[Classic Mac OS]]. Third party [[Control panel (Mac OS)|control panels]] (such as ''ApplWindows'' and ''LiteSwitch'') provided this behavior.
[[File:IPadOS Command+Tab.png|thumb|Command Tab switcher in iOS.]]

=== iOS ===
iOS adds comparable functionality using  {{key press|[[Command key|Command]]}} instead of {{key press|Alt}}, as with macOS. The iOS switcher allows the user to move between recently used applications (nine in landscape, six in portrait), as opposed to "open" applications, since the concept of an open application is considerably less clear on iOS than other desktop operating systems.  {{key press|Command|Shift|Tab}} cycles backwards, as in OS X.

=== Unix ===
Unix-like desktop systems such as [[fvwm]], [[KDE]], [[Xfce]], and [[GNOME]] have added a compatible function.  On some systems including Sun's [[Common Desktop Environment|CDE]] and old versions of [[fvwm]], the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} key combination is mapped to less sophisticated functionality such as only alternating between two windows, cycling forward or backward in a list of all windows in a fixed order, or opening a task applet in which one has to use arrow keys or the mouse to select a task and then click or push Enter. Some window managers such as [[WindowLab]] forego the onscreen window list and simply bring each window to the front in turn as {{key press|Alt|Tab}} is pressed.

Not all window managers provide this functionality as a core feature.  For example, [[Blackbox]] does not; users desiring this behavior can add it by running a helper application such as ''bbkeys''.
[[File:Compiz-fusion-switcher-flip.jpg|thumb|Flip Switcher in Compiz Fusion.]]

=== Compiz Fusion ===
[[Compiz Fusion]] (aka [[Beryl (window manager)|Beryl]], [[Compiz]]) has similar functionality, but displays a preview of the window as well as its icon (Present in Windows Vista and above, with DWM enabled). It also makes use of Alt-Shift-Tab by moving backwards through the displayed programs, and it is possible to activate a Windows [[Flip 3D]] alternative using the [[Windows key]] and Tab.

=== GNOME ===
The [[Metacity]] window manager has similar functionality to versions of Windows released before Vista, but it only displays the outline of the currently selected window on the screen. Windows, on the other hand shows the whole selected window, which helps the user to pick the correct window from multiple windows with a similar title or icon.

== History ==
The {{key press|Alt|Tab}} key combination to switch between windows has been present in all versions of Windows since [[Windows 1.0]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/technet-magazine/dd424927(v=msdn.10) | title=Raymond Chen Discusses the Alt+Tab and Alt+Esc Hotkeys | date=8 September 2016 }}</ref> However, there was no visual indication of the list of windows available when switching between windows until [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]], when this feature was introduced as the 'Fast "Alt+TAB" Switching' checkbox in the Display control panel applet, internally known as "CoolSwitch".<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/83433 Windows 3.1 Resource Kit WIN.INI Section Settings<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Before CoolSwitch, the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} combination was similar to the {{key press|Alt|Esc}} combination (which also switched windows), but {{key press|Alt|Esc}} redrew each window immediately on each stroke, while {{key press|Alt|Tab}} brought the windows to the top but did not redraw them until the Alt key was released.

== Inconsistency ==
An example of a program that violates the expectation that pressing {{key press|Alt|Tab}} one time will switch to the previous application is [[Adobe Reader]] 7.0.x.  Like newer versions of [[Microsoft Word]] it attempts to give a separate icon in the {{key press|Alt|Tab}} task menu to each [[Multiple document interface|MDI]] document.  However, unlike Word, it brings two items to the front of the list whenever a document is selected using {{key press|Alt|Tab}}: first an icon representing the main Reader window and then an icon for the individual document.  While in Adobe Reader, pressing {{key press|Alt|Tab}} one time selects the second item in the list, which is the icon for the PDF document.  Adobe Reader remains the current task when {{key press|Alt|Tab}} is released.  Thus it is demonstrated that the correct operation of {{key press|Alt|Tab}}, like some other aspects of the Windows environment such as the [[Clipboard (software)|Clipboard]] chain, depends on individual applications being written correctly.

== See also ==
*[[Table of keyboard shortcuts]]
*[[Windows Alt keycodes]]
*[[Task manager]]
*[[MultiFinder]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20031020-00/?p=42093 Raymond Chen, The Old New Thing: What is the Alt+Tab order?]

[[Category:User interface techniques]]
[[Category:Windows administration]]
[[Category:MacOS user interface]]