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💻Mac⚡Productivity

Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch Apps Instantly

Stop clicking around - Cmd+Tab (Mac) or Alt+Tab (Windows) lets you fly between apps in milliseconds.

The Basics

Every time you reach for the mouse to switch apps, you lose precious seconds. Master these shortcuts instead:

Mac

  • Cmd + Tab - Switch to next app
  • Cmd + Shift + Tab - Switch to previous app
  • Cmd + Tab, then hold Cmd and press Q - Quit the highlighted app

Windows

  • Alt + Tab - Switch between apps
  • Win + Tab - Open Task View (visual switcher)
  • Alt + Esc - Cycle through windows in order

Pro Tips

  1. Hold the modifier key to see all open apps
  2. Use arrow keys while holding to navigate precisely
  3. Press ` (backtick) while in Cmd+Tab to cycle through windows of the same app (Mac)

Why This Matters

If you switch apps 100 times a day and save just 2 seconds each time, that is over 3 minutes saved daily - nearly 20 hours per year!