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Alt Tab Not Working on Windows 11: How to Quickly Fix it

Give a try to these quick methods now

7 min. read

Updated onMarch 29, 2024

updated onMarch 29, 2024

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Key notes

Hitting theAlt+Tabkey is a quick way to navigate through the open applications in Windows and quickly open the desired one. It’s a keyboard shortcut we all love. But many users, after upgrading to Windows 11, have found the Alt + Tab to not be working.

In this case, you can still manually open the desired apps, but those with their hands set on the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut often find that a problem. For others, too, the shortcut is a much more convenient option.

So, ifAlt+Tabis not working in Windows 11, try the methods listed in the following section to eliminate the issue.

What do I do if Alt + Tab is not working in Windows 11?

1. Restart the Windows Explorer process

More often than not, it’s a trivial bug in the Windows Explorer process that’s causing theAlt+Tabnot working issue in Windows 11 here. In this case, restarting the process should fix the error.

2. Try another keyboard

If you have been using the keyboard for long enough, and notice other issues with it, the problem may just as well be with the keyboard. Check if the other shortcuts involving theAltorTabkey work.

You can also try using another keyboard, and if it works, your earlier keyboard was probably malfunctioning. If the new one doesn’t work, it’s a software issue. In this case, one of the methods listed below should work.

3. Update Windows 11

Sometimes, a bug in Windows Update too might lead toAlt+Tabnot working in Windows 11. And, if any such bug is found, a patch for it is released in the subsequent updates. So, updating the OS should fix the issue for you.

4. Run DISM and SFC scan

Returning your computer to a functional state as fast as possible is essential, which is why usingdedicated repair softwarenot only will simplify this whole process but is also recommended in most cases.

5. Uninstall conflicting third-party apps

If theAlt+Tabnot working in Windows 11 after installing a third-party app, it’s time you remove it. Many third-party applications are found to conflict with the functioning of the OS and can lead to an error.

Other than that, various third-party Alt + Tab switchers are meant to improve the functionality but start conflicting, and cause a bunch of issues. So, make sure to remove these as well.

6. Update the keyboard and graphics driver

If you are running an outdated version of the driver or haven’t updated it in a long while, it’s time you do so since this too can lead toAlt+Tabnot working in Windows 11. Though the OS takes care of the updates, there’s no harm in manually checking for them.

Also, if the above methods don’t work, you can try otherways to update the driver in Windows 11. In many cases, the keyboard manufacturer may not have submitted the driver to Microsoft and directly installed it on their official website, so check there as well.

7. Switch to the old Alt + Tab version

If nothing else works, you always have the option to revert to the oldAlt+Tabviewer since it’s less prone to errors. Here, you will also see the app icons, not preview thumbnails.

Though this is not the best solution, it should keep you going for the time being until Microsoft releases a fix for theAlt+Tabnot working issue in Windows 11.

What are some useful keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11?

There are a bunch of useful keyboard shortcuts that would help you perform various actions and open applets quickly rather than going the conventional way.

You can useWindows+Ito launch theSettingsapp,Windows+Xwill open thePower User/Quick Accessmenu,Windows+Awill give you access to theAction Center, andWindows+Zwill help open theSnap Layouts.

Other than these, you can also quickly launchFile Explorerby clickingWindows+E, theRuncommand using theWindows+R, and theWidgetsusingWindows+W. Also,check out the other useful keyboard shortcutsto make your Windows 11 experience simpler.

By now, theAlt+Tabnot working issue should be fixed in Windows 11. In case it persists, you are left with no other option but toperform a system restoreorreset Windows 11 to its factory settings.

Also, find out how tofix the Alt + Tab not working in Windows 10, in case you have another PC running the previous iteration but you can also decide todisable Alt-Tabaltogether.

This isn’t the only shortcut that is having trouble, and many reported thatAlt F4 is not working, but we have a dedicated guide that addresses that.

Tell us which fix worked or if you know any that are not listed here, in the comments section below.

Alt Tab Not Working on Windows 11: How to Quickly Fix it#

1. Restart the Windows Explorer process#

2. Try another keyboard#

3. Update Windows 11#

4. Run DISM and SFC scan#

5. Uninstall conflicting third-party apps#

6. Update the keyboard and graphics driver#

7. Switch to the old Alt + Tab version#

What are some useful keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11?#