# Alt-Tab on a Mac: switching windows the Windows way
Source: https://ribbonformac.com/alt-tab-on-mac
Updated: 2026-10-29
The Mac version of Alt-Tab is ⌘Tab, but it switches between apps, not windows, and it doesn't show minimized windows. For the window you want inside an app, use ⌘`. If you want the Windows behaviour exactly, the free AltTab app adds a switcher with a thumbnail of every window.
## How the Mac switcher differs
| | Windows Alt-Tab | Mac Command-Tab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lists | Every window | Every running app (menu bar-only apps aren't listed) |
| Two Chrome windows | Two entries | One entry |
| Minimized windows | Included | The app is listed, but choosing it doesn't restore a minimized window |
| Thumbnails | Yes | App icons only |
| Modifier position | Alt, next to the space bar | Command, next to the space bar |
The modifier sits in the same place, so muscle memory transfers. The behaviour doesn't.
## The built-in pieces
- **⌘Tab:** switch app. Keep holding ⌘ and tap Tab to go further, ⇧ to go back.
- **⌘`:** next window of the current app. This is the half of Alt-Tab that ⌘Tab doesn't do. See [switch between windows of the same app](https://ribbonformac.com/switch-between-windows-same-app-mac).
- **⌘Tab then ↓:** shows the highlighted app's windows, including minimized ones. Pick one with the arrows and Return.
- **⌘Tab then Q or H:** while an app is highlighted, quit or hide it without switching to it.
## Get a real window switcher
**[AltTab](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/)** is free and open source, and it's the closest thing to Windows' Alt-Tab on a Mac: one row of window thumbnails, minimized and hidden windows included, windows from every desktop if you want them.
1. Install it: `brew install --cask alt-tab`, or download it from its site.
2. Give it the Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions it asks for (Screen Recording is for the thumbnails).
3. It uses ⌥Tab by default, which is physically where Alt-Tab is on a Windows keyboard. You can move it to ⌘Tab in its settings.
Plenty of long-time Mac users install it too.
## Switching less
Alt-Tab is how Windows users dig out a window that's hidden behind another. On a Mac you can avoid much of the digging. macOS 15 Sequoia and later snaps windows to halves with Fn⌃ plus an arrow, much like Windows' Win plus an arrow; see [Windows Snap on a Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/windows-snap-layouts-on-mac).
Or go further with a scrolling window manager, where windows never overlap at all. [Ribbon](https://ribbonformac.com/) lines up every window as a column on a horizontal strip. ⌃⌥← and → move to the neighbouring window whatever app it belongs to, ⌃⌥1–9 jumps to a window by position, and the strip indicator shows an icon for every window, in order. It's a window-level switcher that's always on screen. You can [try it in the live demo](https://ribbonformac.com/#demo); [pricing](https://ribbonformac.com/#pricing) is $9.99 once.
## FAQ
### What is Alt-Tab on a Mac?
⌘Tab. It switches between apps rather than windows. Use ⌘` to switch windows within an app.
### How do I make Command-Tab show all windows?
Install the free AltTab app and set its shortcut to ⌘Tab. macOS's own switcher always shows apps.
### Why doesn't Command-Tab restore a minimized window?
The Mac switcher brings the app forward, not a particular window. Press ↓ while the app is highlighted in the switcher to pick its minimized window, or click it in the Dock.
## Keep reading
- [Switch windows of the same app](https://ribbonformac.com/switch-between-windows-same-app-mac) — Command-backtick, App Exposé, the Dock menu, the Window menu and a window switcher.
- [Windows shortcuts on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/windows-shortcuts-on-mac) — Ctrl to Command, Alt-F4, Win+D, Win+arrows, Task Manager, screenshots and remapping.
- [Windows Snap on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/windows-snap-layouts-on-mac) — Win+arrow, Snap Layouts and Snap Assist mapped to macOS tiling and apps.
- [See all open windows](https://ribbonformac.com/see-all-open-windows-mac) — Mission Control, App Exposé, minimized windows, other desktops and a window switcher.
- [Window keyboard shortcuts](https://ribbonformac.com/mac-window-keyboard-shortcuts) — Switching, hiding, closing, full screen, desktops and tiling, in one table.