Virtualization Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab for Current or All Desktops in Windows 11

Brink · Aug 23, 2021

This tutorial will show you how to show all open windows on Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab for the current or all desktops for your account in Windows 11.

Task View (Win+Tab) is a virtual desktop manager that allows you to quickly switch between all of your open apps on multiple desktops. This makes multitasking and organizing your opened apps much easier.

You can add virtual desktops to group apps for productivity, entertainment, or whatever you choose. Multiple desktops are also great for keeping unrelated, ongoing projects organized, or for quickly switching desktops before a meeting.

By default, Windows will show all the open windows on Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab only on the desktop you are currently using.

If you like, you can select to show all all the open windows on Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab on all desktops.

On All desktops = All windows that are open on all desktops will show on Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab. You will be able to quickly switch between any windows that are open on any desktop. If the window is open on a desktop other than the desktop you are using, you will be switched to the desktop the window is open on.

Only on the desktop I'm using = Windows that are open on other virtual desktops than the desktop you are using will not show on Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab You will need to use Task View to switch between windows that are open on the other desktops.

Contents

Option One: Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab for Current or All Desktops in Settings
Option Two: Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab for Current or All Desktops using BAT file

EXAMPLE: Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Tab

Option One

Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab for Current or All Desktops in Settings

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Mulitasking on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Open Mulitasking Settings

3 Click/tap on Desktops on the right side to expand it open. (see screenshot below)

4 Select On all desktops or Only on the desktop I'm using (default) for what you want in the Show all the open windows when I press Alt+Tab drop menu. (see screenshot below)

5 You can now close Settings if you like.

Option Two

Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab for Current or All Desktops using BAT file

1 Do step 2 (all desktops) or step 3 (current desktop) below for what you want.

2 Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab "On all desktops"

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Show_all_open_windows_on_Alt+Tab_for_all_desktops.bat

Download

(Contents of BAT file for reference)

Code:

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V VirtualDesktopAltTabFilter /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

3 Show All Open Windows on Alt+Tab "Only on the desktop I'm using"

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Show_all_open_windows_on_Alt+Tab_for_only_desktop_using.bat

Download

(Contents of BAT file for reference)

Code:

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V VirtualDesktopAltTabFilter /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

4 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

5 Unblock the .bat file.

6 Run the .bat file.

7 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as the explorer process is restarted to apply the registry changes.

8 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink