Update this morning broke it even worse! Now I don't even get the pop up that shows all of my alt tab possibilities so now I have to look at all my monitors and hope I can tell which window is active when I hit alt tab.
Alt + tab no longer switches to last window in Windows 11
Hi all,
One of the most useful shortcuts I use all the time is not working for me on my new laptop with Windows 11. I used to use ALT + TAB to switch between the current window and the last window I used. Now if I use it it switches between the current window and the first open window (not the most recent). How can I get it so it switches between the two most recently used?
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings
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76 answers
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Anonymous
2025-05-16T20:25:42+00:00 -
Anonymous
2025-04-17T16:04:07+00:00 I was having this issue with only an external keyboard and found out that somehow(probably my baby playing with my keyboard) the switch for macOS or Windows on the back of my keyboard had been switched. So alt and the windows key had been swapped. Windows tab does the 'new' weird version of alt tab that a lot of you are describing.
If the multitasking settings stuff didn't work for you(like it didn't for me) make sure your keyboard is made for windows and/or if it has a switch that it is in the right position.
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Anonymous
2025-04-12T11:59:57+00:00 This worked! Thanks.
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Anonymous
2025-03-28T08:18:04+00:00 Thank you very much.
I have a programmable mechanical keyboard, so I swapped L and R ALT.
Now, not only can I use ALT-Tab, it functions like it does in browsers, so I can use SHIFT with it to reverse the direction.You've saved me mountains of hatred.
I still detest the **** at MS that did this, but at least now I can work around it. -
Anonymous
2025-03-19T00:05:45+00:00 I can't seem to find this in my registry :-( I'm on Windows 11 and tried to follow the instructions but it doesn't seem to work.