Switcher - Open in Windows 8

How to Use "Switcher" to Switch Between Opened Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1​

information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to open Switcher (Switch List) to be able to easily switch between opened modern apps, modern UI screens, and your desktop in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

App Switcher is basically the new version of Flip 3D (aka: Switch Between Windows) that was in Windows 7 and Vista.

Tip   Tip
You can also still use the Window Switcher (Flip 2D) shortcut keys to also switch between all opened desktop windows in Windows 8, and not just opened "Metro" apps and screens in the Switch List bar.

ALT+TAB
Press and hold the ALT key, press the TAB key, then either keep tapping the TSB key or roll mouse scroll wheel to scroll through all your open windows. Select the open window you want to view and releasing the ALT key to make it the active window again.

CTRL+ALT+TAB
Press the CTRL+ALT+TAB keys, then either keep tapping the TAB key or roll mouse scroll wheel to scroll through all your open windows. Select the open window you want to view and press Enter to make it the active window again.


EXAMPLE: Switch List in Windows 8 and 8.1

Start_example.jpgDesktop_Example.jpg


Here's How:

1. Do either step 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 below for how you would like to open the Switcher bar.
NOTE: The Switcher list bar will not open if you do not have at least two apps open or running in the background. For example Desktop and another app.

2. From a touchscreen, swipe from the left border inwards to the right to open the last recently opened app.

OR

3. From a touchscreen, swipe from the left border inwards to the right until the last recently opened app snaps open a bit on the left side of the display, drag the app to the right until Switcher opens, then tap on the app in Switcher that you would like switch to (view).

OR

4. From a touchscreen, swipe from the left border inwards to the right to open Switcher, then tap on the app in Switcher that you would like switch to (view).

OR

5. Press and hold the Windows key, press the TAB key, then keep tapping the TAB key to cycle through the list of your opened apps. Select the open app you want to view and releasing the Windows key to switch to the app.

OR

6. Press the CTRL + Windows + TAB keys, then keep tapping the TAB key to cycle through the list of your opened apps. Select the open app you want to view and press the Enter: key to switch to the app.

OR

7. Press the CTRL + Windows + TAB keys, then click/tap on a opened app you want to view to switch to the app.

OR

8. Move the pointer to the top left corner of the any connected display screen until you see the recent opened app thumbnail pop-up, then slide the pointer down with it still on the far left side to open Switcher. Click/tap on a listed opened app that you want to switch to.

OR

9. Move the pointer to the bottom left corner of any connected display screen until you see the recent opened app thumbnail pop-up, then slide the pointer up with it still on the far left side to open Switcher. Click/tap on a listed opened app that you want to switch to.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

 

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I have just upgraded my Laptop to Windows 8 Pro this week and I want to make sure I am fully understanding your fine tutorial.

It seems that in reading your tutorial and my own experience that there is no purely touch method of activating the Apps Switcher. I have been generally using my cursor on the top or bottom left corners of the Start screen to activate the Switcher. So when I connected my laptop to a touch screen I naturally tried taping (and even long pressing) these corners to get to the switcher, but that does not work. It seems I must either use a pointer (mouse, track pad etc.) or use one of the key combinations in your tutorial. Is this true or have I missed something? I have found that I can swipe from the left screen edge to the right to switch between recently used apps but that takes up time and is inefficient for the most part.

Thanks
 
Hello AuntieParticle, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Yeah, for touch screens, you would be able to swipe from the left border inwards to the right to open Switcher, then tap on the app in Switcher that you want to see. I'm not sure of any other method for touch. :(
 
Thanks for responding. This is not the behavior I am seeing. When I swipe in from the left side of the screen one of the most recently used apps opens. If I swipe quickly it open full screen. If I swipe slowly and pause it open in part of the screen with the other part still showing the previous app. I'm pretty sure this is the intended behavior when swiping from the left. I have even tried swiping in from the top and bottom left corners but the Switcher does not appear with any touch method I've tried. The Charms Bar opens just fine when I swipe in from the right side of the screen.
 
It sounds like it's selecting (tapping) on the app as soon as the Switcher opens when you swipe from left to right. You may try swiping from left to right from about mid screen or a little lower instead to help avoid selecting an app by mistake.
 
I am starting my swipe from just outside the bezel. But I have just discovered something very interesting. :-) I swiped from the left as I have been doing, starting from just outside the bezel, a recently opened app starts to appear. Then I swiped back toward the left edge of the screen very quickly and the Switcher appeared. It was sort of an accidental swipe back but This will work! Thanks
 
Help! Okay, so I've had my Windows 8 laptop since early Summer 2013. Everytime I put my mouse in the upper left or bottom left corners, it shows thumbnails for active apps, the Switcher, and Start screen. But for whatever reason, it has not done so the past two weeks. I cannot view thumbnails and only know if I have another app open by moving to the upper left and clicking and seeing what happens. It's annoying b/c I can't readily open the Switcher bar. And when I place my mouse over the Windows image on the bottom left (Start screen button), no thumbnail appears for that either. It's a pain b/c IDK what I'm opening when I click upper left corner, have no control of what I want to open or what I want to close.

Constant Google searching and forums have offered no assistance, as it appears I'm the only with a hiding Switcher bar. I want it back. What do I do to get it back?
 
@ Warhawk:
When you put your cursor in the corner are you swiping up or down the edge of the bezel?
 
Thanks for replying so quickly.
@ Edwin, I am scrolling up and down, every which way. If I have 3 or more apps, then I will see two small gray rectangles appear, like the right-hand side of a thumbnail but the rest of the thumbnail is hiding offscreen. And the Taskbar at the bottom, the Windows icon disappears like a gray rectangle has covered it.
@ Brink, I don't download really anything to my laptop as a precaution, nor do I mess with settings, so I did not actively (nor can I remember accidentally) change any of the settings. I will download your link and see what happens.
 
@ Brink, I downloaded your Switcher file. Is it supposed to do something? It sits in the Taskbar and when I click on it, nothing happens.
 
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