Mac Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch Apps, Windows & Spaces (2026 Cheat Sheet)
August 30, 2026
5 min read
By Switchi Team
Guide
Switching apps
The Mac's built-in "task switcher" is Cmd-Tab. These are the shortcuts worth memorizing:
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cmd-Tab | Cycle forward through open apps |
| Cmd-Shift-Tab | Cycle backward through open apps |
| Cmd-Tab, then Q | Quit the highlighted app (without leaving the switcher) |
| Cmd-Tab, then H | Hide the highlighted app |
| Cmd-Tab, release on Option | Bring back a minimized window of that app |
New to switching apps on Mac? Start with how to switch between apps on Mac.
Switching windows
Cmd-Tab lands you on an app; these move you between windows:
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cmd-` (backtick) | Cycle windows of the current app |
| Cmd-M | Minimize the front window |
| Cmd-W | Close the front window |
| Cmd-H | Hide the current app |
| Ctrl-Cmd-F | Toggle full screen |
For every method side by side, see how to switch between windows on Mac. Coming from Windows? Here's how to Alt-Tab on Mac.
Switching Spaces & desktops
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl-→ / Ctrl-← | Move one Space right / left |
| Ctrl-1 / 2 / 3 | Jump to a specific desktop (enable first) |
| Mission Control key / Ctrl-↑ | Open Mission Control |
| Ctrl-↓ | App Exposé — spread the current app's windows |
| F11 | Show the desktop |
Enable the numbered desktop shortcuts under System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control. Full walkthrough: how to switch between Spaces on Mac.
The fastest "shortcut": one hotkey to any window
Every shortcut above still makes you *cycle* or *reach for a gesture*. The fastest switch is to press one key and type where you want to go. That's what Switchi adds: a single global hotkey (⌘E, rebindable) opens a search box; type a few letters of any app or window title and press Enter to land on it — across every Space and display, including minimized windows. One shortcut in place of the whole table above.
Switchi is native to macOS, menu-bar only, private by default, and a one-time purchase ($9.99 lifetime license) with a free 7-day trial.
Type. Enter. You're there.
Frequently asked questions
Hold Cmd and press Tab to cycle through open apps; add Shift to go backwards. It's the Mac's built-in task switcher. To move between windows of the current app, press Cmd + ` (backtick).
Cmd + Tab is the closest built-in task switcher, but it switches apps rather than individual windows. For a true window-level switcher you add a dedicated tool — a command palette like Switchi lets you type any window's name and jump to it.
Cmd + ` (the backtick key above Tab) cycles through the open windows of the app you're currently in — the companion to Cmd + Tab, which switches between apps.
Press Ctrl + Right Arrow or Ctrl + Left Arrow to move between Spaces. You can also enable Ctrl + 1 / 2 / 3 to jump to a specific desktop under System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control.
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