What's the Alt+Tab Equivalent on a Mac?
Quick answer: The Alt+Tab equivalent on a Mac is ⌘Tab (hold Command, tap Tab). One difference matters: ⌘Tab switches between applications, not individual windows. To cycle the windows of the app you are already in, use ⌘` (backtick).
Why ⌘Tab feels different
Windows treats every window as a separate entry in Alt+Tab. macOS groups windows by application. So if you have three Excel workbooks and a browser open, Windows Alt+Tab shows four thumbnails; Mac ⌘Tab shows two app icons — Excel and the browser.
That is by design, and once you know the second shortcut it is quick to work with.
| You want to | Mac shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch between apps | ⌘Tab | Hold ⌘, tap Tab to move forward |
| Move backward through apps | ⌘⇧Tab | While holding ⌘ |
| Switch windows of the current app | ⌘` (backtick) | Same key as ~, above Tab |
| See every window at once | ⌃↑ (Mission Control) | Or a three-finger swipe up |
| Quit an app from the switcher | Hold ⌘Tab, press Q | Releases and quits the highlighted app |
| Hide the current app | ⌘H | Faster than minimising |
Working with the ⌘Tab switcher
Hold ⌘ the whole time. Release it to jump to the highlighted app.
Tap Tab repeatedly to move forward, ⇧Tab to move back.
Point with the mouse while the switcher is open to pick an app directly.
Press Q (still holding ⌘) to quit the highlighted app, or H to hide it.
Switching between Excel workbooks
Inside Excel for Mac, ⌘` cycles open workbooks, and the Window menu lists them all. If you keep a source workbook and a working file side by side, this is the shortcut you will use most. A fuller set is in the Complete Mac Excel shortcut cheat sheet.
If you miss per-window switching
macOS does not offer a built-in one-shortcut window switcher across all apps. Mission Control (⌃↑) is the native answer. Some people add a third-party switcher; if your reason for wanting it is Excel and Windows muscle memory in general, it is worth reading Just want Windows shortcut keys to work on Mac in Excel? first, since a keyboard layer inside Excel often solves the real problem.
FAQs
What is Alt+Shift+Tab on a Mac?
⌘⇧Tab — it moves backward through the app switcher.
The ⌘` shortcut does nothing. Why?
It only cycles windows that are open and not minimised, and only for the current app. On some non-US keyboard layouts the key is different; check System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ Keyboard for "Move focus to next window".
How do I switch to a specific window with the keyboard?
Use the app’s Window menu, or Mission Control. Excel also numbers open workbooks in its Window menu.