# AltTab Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Windows-like alt-tab window switcher Category: System Utilities · Free · Open source · Replaces Witch ($14) · [Official website](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask alt-tab` ## Quick take AltTab remains the default Windows-style window switcher for Mac. The 2026 Pro tier is modestly priced and does not kill the free core. Pay once for search and styles if you need them; free AltTab already fixes macOS's app-centric Command-Tab pain. Best for: Windows-to-Mac converts who miss Alt+Tab window previews, Developers, designers, and researchers with many open windows, Anyone who finds macOS Mission Control too disorienting for targeted switching, Multi-monitor and multi-Space users who need precise window navigation ## What is AltTab? AltTab brings Windows-style Alt-Tab window switching to macOS with live thumbnails for every window, not merely app icons. It is an open-source project (GPL-3.0) by lwouis with millions of downloads and a long GitHub history. Through August 2026 it remains actively maintained in the 11.4.x release line. If you've ever used Windows and then switched to a Mac, you know the frustration: you press Command+Tab expecting to see all your open windows, but macOS only shows you application icons. You have six Chrome windows, three VS Code instances, and two Finder windows? Too bad, macOS shows you one Chrome icon, one VS Code icon, one Finder icon, and you have to figure out the rest yourself. AltTab is an open-source utility that replaces this behavior with a proper window switcher. Press Option+Tab and you see thumbnail previews of every open window across every application. Each window is its own entry, not hidden behind an application icon. You see the actual content of each window, pick the one you want, and switch directly to it. It's the window switching behavior that Windows has had since Vista and that macOS has stubbornly refused to implement for decades. Created by developer lwouis and available on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license, AltTab has become one of the most recommended Mac utilities in developer circles. It's free, it's lightweight (typically under 50MB RAM), and it fills a gap that Apple shows no interest in addressing. The app works alongside macOS Spaces, multiple monitors, and Stage Manager without conflicts. As of 2026, it supports macOS Sequoia with full Apple Silicon optimization. AltTab isn't just for Windows converts, though. Anyone who works with many windows, developers, designers, researchers, writers, benefits from seeing their actual windows instead of generic application icons. It's the kind of tool that makes you wonder why Apple hasn't copied it yet. Important 2026 update: AltTab introduced AltTab Pro while keeping core window switching free and open source. Pro is approximately a $9.99 one-time purchase with a 14-day trial. Pro adds App Icons & Window Titles styles, type-to-search, auto-sizing switcher layouts, and up to nine independent shortcuts with filters. Prebuilt downloads ship from alt-tab.app (for example 11.4.4). Community discussion emphasizes the source remains public even as notarized Pro builds fund maintenance. On Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe 26.x, grant Accessibility permissions and install only from official release channels. ## Features - **Window Thumbnail Previews.** The core feature: when you trigger AltTab, you see a grid of live thumbnail previews showing the actual content of every open window. If you have three VS Code windows open, you see three distinct thumbnails showing different code files, not one VS Code icon. The thumbnails update in real time, so you can distinguish between a browser tab showing documentation and one showing your email. You identify windows visually instead of guessing from application icons. This is the feature macOS doesn't have and the reason AltTab exists. - **Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts.** AltTab supports up to three separate keyboard shortcuts, each configurable to show different sets of windows. The default is Option+Tab to show all windows. You might set up a second shortcut (say, Control+Tab) that only shows windows from the current Space, and a third (Option+`) that only shows windows from the current application. Each shortcut can have its own behavior for which windows to include and how to display them. This lets you build a window-switching system that matches exactly how you work. - **Direct Window Actions.** While the AltTab switcher is open, you can do more than just switch. Hover over a window thumbnail and press Q to quit that app, W to close that specific window, M to minimize it, or H to hide the application. These shortcuts work without leaving the switcher. If you're cleaning up your desktop, you can close five unnecessary windows in quick succession by triggering AltTab once and pressing W on each one. It's faster than clicking through individual windows and finding their close buttons. - **Application Blacklisting.** Some apps create windows you never want to see in the switcher: menu bar utilities, background helpers, system tray apps, Finder desktop. AltTab lets you blacklist any application so its windows never appear in the switcher. You can also choose to show only windows that have visible UI (hiding background processes automatically). The blacklist is application-level, add Bartender, Dropbox, or any utility you never manually switch to, and your switcher stays clean. - **Appearance Themes and Customization.** AltTab ships with several appearance presets: a macOS-native style that matches your system theme, a Windows 10-style layout for familiarity, and minimal options for less visual distraction. Beyond presets, you can customize almost everything: thumbnail size, number of rows, window title visibility, app icon overlays, rounded corners, shadow effects, and whether to show the app name or window title. You can also adjust the animation speed when the switcher appears, set it to zero for instant display. - **Spaces and Multi-Monitor Support.** AltTab works correctly with macOS Spaces, multiple displays, and Stage Manager. You can configure it to show windows from all Spaces or only the current Space. For multi-monitor setups, you can choose to show all windows on whichever screen you triggered the shortcut from, or only show windows from the current display. This level of control matters when you have a coding monitor and a reference monitor, you might only want to switch between windows on the screen you're actively using. - **Minimized and Hidden Window Support.** macOS's native switcher ignores minimized windows, if you minimized a Finder window to the Dock, Command+Tab won't bring it back. AltTab can show minimized windows in the switcher with a visual indicator (a dimmed overlay) so you can bring them back without going to the Dock. Hidden applications can be included or excluded based on your preference. This means you never lose track of a window just because you minimized it earlier. - **AltTab Pro search, styles, and multi-shortcuts.** Optional Pro unlocks type-to-search windows, App Icons/Titles appearance styles, auto-sizing thumbnails, and up to nine independently configured shortcuts with filters. Core Option-Tab switching remains free. ## How to Install AltTab on Mac AltTab is free and installs via Homebrew in one command. 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask alt-tab` in Terminal. The download is small (under 10MB) and installation takes seconds. 2. **Grant Accessibility Permission.** On first launch, AltTab requests Accessibility permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. This is required for the app to capture window information and keyboard shortcuts. Grant it and restart AltTab. 3. **Optional: Grant Screen Recording Permission.** For live window thumbnail previews, AltTab needs Screen Recording permission. Without it, thumbnails may appear as generic placeholders. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording and enable AltTab. 4. **Configure Your Shortcut.** Open AltTab's preferences from its menu bar icon. Set your preferred trigger shortcut. Option+Tab is the default and matches the Windows Alt+Tab muscle memory. You can also override Command+Tab to completely replace the native macOS switcher. ## Pros - Shows actual window thumbnails instead of macOS's application-icon-only approach - Customizable shortcuts with up to three independent trigger bindings - Direct window actions (close, minimize, quit) from within the switcher - Application blacklisting keeps the switcher clean and focused - Shows minimized and hidden windows that macOS's native switcher ignores - Works correctly with Spaces, multiple monitors, and Stage Manager - Multiple appearance themes including macOS-native and Windows 10 styles - Free and open-source (GPL-3.0) with no ads or premium tiers - Lightweight, under 50MB RAM, negligible CPU usage - Active development with regular updates for new macOS versions - Core switcher remains free and open source - Pro is a cheap one-time purchase rather than a subscription - Active 11.4.x releases in 2026 ## Cons - Requires both Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions (macOS security prompts) - Occasionally shows brief blank thumbnails when a window hasn't rendered yet - No iOS/iPadOS companion. Mac only - Can conflict with other window management tools if keyboard shortcuts overlap - The settings panel has many options, which can be overwhelming for casual users - Some advanced styles/search features require Pro - Needs Accessibility permissions that corporate Macs may restrict ## Why macOS Window Switching Falls Short macOS has always treated applications as the primary unit of switching, not windows. Command+Tab switches between apps. Command+` switches between windows of the same app. Mission Control shows all windows in a spatial layout. None of these give you a simple, keyboard-driven list of all windows with previews, the thing Windows has done since Vista. ## FAQ ### Does AltTab replace Command+Tab? It can, but it doesn't by default. The default shortcut is Option+Tab, which leaves the native Command+Tab untouched. You can override Command+Tab in AltTab's preferences if you want a full replacement. ### Why are my window thumbnails blank? You haven't granted Screen Recording permission. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording, enable AltTab, and restart the app. Without this permission, macOS blocks apps from capturing window content. ### Does AltTab work with multiple monitors? Yes. You can configure it to show windows from all monitors or only from the current monitor. The switcher appears on whichever screen your cursor is on when you trigger the shortcut. ### Does AltTab work with Spaces? Yes. You can show windows from all Spaces or limit to the current Space. Setting up two shortcuts, one for all Spaces, one for the current Space, is the recommended configuration for heavy Space users. ### Can I close windows from the AltTab switcher? Yes. While AltTab is open, hover over a thumbnail and press W to close that window, Q to quit the app, M to minimize, or H to hide. These are configurable in preferences. ### Does AltTab conflict with other window managers? Generally no. AltTab coexists with Rectangle, Magnet, Yabai, and other window management tools. The only potential conflict is if another app uses the same keyboard shortcut, just change one of them. ### How much memory does AltTab use? Typically 30-50MB. The app is lightweight and uses minimal CPU when not actively showing the switcher. Generating window thumbnails causes brief CPU spikes, but these last milliseconds. ### Is AltTab available on the Mac App Store? No. AltTab is only available via Homebrew (`brew install --cask alt-tab`) or direct download from the GitHub releases page. The app requires Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions that would complicate App Store distribution. ### Can I show only windows from the current app? Yes. Set up one of the three available shortcuts to 'Show windows from: Current application'. This mimics Command+` (the native macOS shortcut for switching between windows of the same app) but with thumbnails. ### Does AltTab support Stage Manager? Yes. AltTab can show windows that are currently in Stage Manager groups and windows that are off-stage. It works alongside Stage Manager without conflicts, giving you keyboard-driven access to windows that Stage Manager has set aside. ### Is AltTab still free after Pro launched? Yes. Core window switching stays free and open source. Pro is optional for search, extra styles, auto-size, and more shortcuts. ### How much is AltTab Pro? About $9.99 one-time with a 14-day trial per product messaging around the 2026 Pro launch and site. ### What version should I install in August 2026? Use the latest 11.4.x prebuild from alt-tab.app or GitHub releases unless you have a specific regression reason to pin older builds. ## Sources - [AltTab Pro](https://alt-tab.app/) - [GitHub alt-tab-macos](https://github.com/lwouis/alt-tab-macos) - [HN Pro discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48283349) - [Reddit Pro announcement](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1tkdxh5/heads_up_alttab_is_introducing_a_pro_version/) - [MacUpdate AltTab](https://alttab.macupdate.com/) - [Version history](https://alttab.en.uptodown.com/mac/versions) - [SourceForge mirror](https://sourceforge.net/projects/alttab.mirror/) ## Related - [Maccy](https://bundl.run/apps/maccy) - [Stats](https://bundl.run/apps/stats) - [SuperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/superwhisper) - [MacWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/macwhisper) - [HyperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/hyperwhisper) - [Aqua Voice](https://bundl.run/apps/aqua-voice) - [AltTab vs Contexts](https://bundl.run/compare/alt-tab-vs-contexts) - [Free alternative to Witch](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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