Switch Windows · Option + Tab
A Mac window switcher that shows every window
Hold Option and press Tab to preview every open window — including each Finder window and minimized windows — then release to switch. Free and open source for macOS 14+.
Download for Mac — free
- 1Hold Option, press Tab
- 2Press Tab to move on
- 3Release Option to switch
Illustration: choose between two Finder windows and Notes, then release Option to switch to Downloads.
How it works
Command + Tab on a Mac switches between apps, not windows. With three Finder windows or two browser windows open, you still have to hunt for the right one. Switch Windows works like Alt + Tab on Windows: every window gets its own preview, so you jump straight to the one you want.
- Hold Option, press Tab
- Press Tab to move on
- Release Option to switch
Details
By default, hold Option and press Tab to open window previews. Press Tab again to move to the next window, then release Option to switch. The first selection is the frontmost window on your desktop, and every window of the same app appears on its own.
Click any preview to switch right away, or press Esc or click outside to cancel. Minimized windows are restored first. In row preview, swipe left or right or scroll the mouse wheel.
In Settings → Windows from the menu bar, choose row preview or grid preview and customize the shortcut. Grid preview scrolls vertically.
Good for
- Moving between several windows of the same app, such as multiple Finder, Chrome, or code editor windows
- Coming from Windows and wanting Alt + Tab behavior on a Mac
- Bringing back minimized windows without reaching for the Dock
Questions
Read the guideHow is this different from Command + Tab?
Command + Tab switches apps and brings forward all of an app’s windows. Option + Tab in Tidest lists individual windows, so each window of the same app can be chosen on its own, and minimized windows are restored when you pick them.
Can I change the shortcut or the preview style?
Yes. In Settings → Windows from the menu bar, choose row preview or grid preview and set your own shortcut.
Do I have to allow Screen Recording?
No. Screen Recording is only used for window previews. If you choose “Not now”, Tidest shows app icons and window titles instead. Accessibility is required to switch windows.
Mac window management guides
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