Oct252012

What keyboard shortcut do I use to switch between windows on a Mac?

newrum asks:

I really need to find a way to switch between windows within the same program from the keyboard. For example I have two or more documents open in Word and have to copy-paste from one to another numerous times. So switching from one window to the other is really pain.

In Windows Alt+Tab does that but on a Mac, this combination only switches between programs, not windows. Do you know a keyboard shortcut for this? Thank you!


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13 Answers -

0 votes

Tim Brookes

October 25, 2012

I had this exact issue when I first switched over, and to tell you the truth I almost kicked myself when I realised what the shortcut was.

It’s Command+` (the tilde “~” key above Tab). It makes a lot of sense once you’ve used it a few times. Enjoy!

Tim

Newrüm

Tim thanks, I appreciate your answer:)
But the problem is I don’t have that symbol on my keyboard. I bought my Mac from Turkey, so the buttons are different and don’t have a ` button (and “~” either).
Do you know any more combinations?

October 25, 2012
0 votes

Douglas Mutay

October 25, 2012

Command + `

Newrüm

Thank you Douglas but that key doesn’t have a place on my keyboard (it looks like this: http://image.cdn.sahibinden.com/photos/73/69/40/big_71736940ph9.jpg )

October 26, 2012
Carmen Qing

Seen from your picture, it’s the left key besides the number “1″. And it’s the “~” key on Windows keyboard.

November 23, 2012
0 votes

Christoph

October 25, 2012

I’ve always just used Control+Tab (and Control+Shift+Tab to go backwards). It’s worked in every app I use on a regular basis. I’m tried Command+Tilde, but that doesn’t work for me. Perhaps I don’t have something configured correctly? Or configured oddly?

Newrüm

But did that control+tab combination work for Word? I don’t think so.

October 26, 2012
0 votes

Aditya Roy

October 25, 2012

⌘ + ~
Command-` (the Grave accent key)

Newrüm

Thanks for your comment but my keyboard looks like this http://image.cdn.sahibinden.com/photos/73/69/40/big_71736940ph9.jpg

So I don’t have that key sadly :(

October 26, 2012
0 votes

Bilal

October 25, 2012

alt+tab

0 votes

dawnthetech

October 29, 2012

The command and tab key allows you to switch between windows on a Mac

0 votes

Samarth Hegde

October 30, 2012

Though we can use command + , or there is another option called parallel desktop which helps u to work on both the os together! :)
Google it for further info!! cause i don’t use mac!

0 votes

Adam Campbell

November 3, 2012

cmd+tab

1 votes

Gillian Villeneuve

November 9, 2012

With an experienced Apple tech, you might be able to change the response of the keys to the English language.
In response to your question about changing windows within one program, I find that Cmd-tab brings up program options only. On the menu bar, under Window, you will see a list of the windows you have open. You might see numbers although I doubt it. If the numbers are there, you use Cmd-1 etc. Otherwise you can choose your window from the list. It’s not the best work-around, but I would tend to have the windows open and overlapping so that I can simply choose a border with a touch/click. The cmd+ tilde is also an excellent answer and perhaps the simplest so have you tried the equivalent key on your keyboard bearing another symbol, or the tilde which appears to be next to the Z.

Newrüm

Thanks for this idea Gillian! I changed keyboard shortcut and ta-daa it’s done :)
Thank you again.

December 25, 2012
0 votes

Ramón García

December 5, 2012

Command + Tab

0 votes

Vivek Kumar Yadav

December 16, 2012

I had this exact issue when I first switched over, and to tell you the truth I almost kicked myself when I realised what the shortcut was.
It’s Command+` (the tilde “~” key above Tab)

0 votes

Newrüm

December 25, 2012

You should go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts. On the left there is “Keyboard & Text Input”. When you click that, you’ll see “move focus to next window” line on the right. Click on the symbols and then change it as you wish :)

0 votes

Anish Parameshwaran

February 9, 2013

Switching between windows of the same app: Cmd+ ` (right above the Tab key)
Switching between tabs in safari, chrome and other browsers: Ctrl+Tab