Alt + Tab is one of the best and most used functions for Windows, enabling you to switch between programs effortlessly. When this feature isn’t functioning correctly, however, it can be very frustrating. That’s why I have listed 9 ways to fix a Windows computer stuck on Alt + Tab.
Before you read these tips, I would strongly recommend you restart your computer as this can often fix issues like this automatically.
1. Clean your keyboard
Since the alt + tab function is one of the most common button combinations most people use on their keyboard, this can cause some issues with the buttons themselves. Therefore, you should make sure that there isn’t any dirt or dust hindering your buttons from working as they should.
Disconnect your keyboard from the computer, turn the keyboard upside down, and gently tap the back of it to remove dirt and otherwise unwanted gunk from the inside of your keyboard. After this, use some compressed air to blow between the buttons to make sure you clean it properly.
If the alt + tab command gets Windows stuck because of mechanical button issues, this solution should fix the problem for you.
2. Update programs
Some Windows users have experienced their computer freezing or getting stuck when alt + tabbing at a time when they’re using a specific program. If this is the case for you, consider updating this program.
There is a chance that there is some bug in your current version of the program that causes the alt + tab to screw up. If this doesn’t work, consider uninstalling the program and downloading it again. There is some chance that a new installation of your program will fix the issue.
3. Update your GPU drivers
If you haven’t installed new graphics card drivers for some time, consider doing this. The graphics card drivers are what make your GPU run correctly, and having old versions can cause issues in various areas.
To install new graphics card drivers, either go here and enter your graphics card model into the search bar or follow the steps below.
- Go to Windows Start
- Type “device manager” in the search bar
- Click device manager
- Click on “Display adapters”
- Right-click your graphics card
- Select “Update drivers”
If this doesn’t work, try to go through the same process but instead select “uninstall drivers”, then install new ones after that.
4. Use the “Task View” Option
If you want an easy fix to this problem, you can use the “task view” instead of pressing alt + tab to switch through programs. This isn’t as convenient and Windows users that have been using Windows for a long time will want to use alt + tab as it is ingrained in their memory, but the task view is an option.
The task view is positioned to the right of your search bar in Windows, with a white logo picturing a box with a slider next to it. I would consider using this option for the time being if you can’t find a solution in this list.
5. Disable “News and Interests” In Windows
Microsoft rolls out updates once every month to add functionality, fix bugs, and so forth. Some of these updates bring unwanted bugs, however. A bug came with an update Windows released in July of 2021, making it so Windows users had problems with alt + tabbing.
There is a possibility that you still have this version of Windows, or that the bug is still present with your computer and as such you should either update Windows or disable the “news and interests” feed.
The news and interests feed is a feature that is meant to serve as a hub, easily connecting you to recent events in the world right from your Windows menu. As I said, however, this feature can cause your alt + tab to stop working and even freeze your computer.
To do this, simply right-click anywhere on your taskbar, find the news and interests option, and select “turn off”.
6. Rollback Windows To An Earlier Update
If you have recently installed a new update of Windows, you can roll back this version to the one you had before. As I mentioned, some Windows updates come with bugs that screw with functions on your computer.
To do this, follow the steps below.
- Go to “Settings” in Windows
- Click on “Updates & Security”
- Select “Windows Update”
- Click on “View update history”
- Select Uninstall updates”
If this does not fix your issue, I would recommend going back to the newest version of Windows. The old versions of Windows are not optimized for user experience and such.
7. Repair Corrupted Files
Corrupted files on your computer can sometimes cause functions such as alt + tab to not work correctly and even cause your computer to get stuck in this mode, or even freeze entirely. A fix for corrupted files messing with your computer is to repair them. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Type “cmd” in Windows Search
- Hit enter
- Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter
- Reboot your computer, your system will run a scan on startup
- If the scan shows any faults, follow the steps below
- Go into the command prompt again using the first steps
- Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth” and then hit Enter
- Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth” and then hit Enter
- Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and then hit Enter
8. Change Your Alt + Tab Settings
There are settings for the alt + tab command that can be altered in various ways using the registry editor. The registry editor is an executable that lets administrators change keys in various ways. To change your alt + tab settings, follow the steps below.
- Type “regedit” in your Windows search bar
- Hit Enter
- In the field at the top of the editor, paste this: “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer”
- Right-click the “Explorer” option and select “New”
- From the “New” option, select “D-WORD (32-bit) Value”
- Name this new setting “AltTabSettings”
- Go into the new setting by double-clicking it
- Change “value data” from 0 to 1
- Restart your computer
9. Restore Your Windows System
As a last resort, you can restore Windows to an earlier point in time. This will most likely fix your issue but is somewhat irksome because it can take a while to do and there aren’t any guarantees that you have a restore point that was created far enough back.
It’s an endeavor worth your time if the alt + tab function causes your computer to get stuck, however, so let’s go over how to do it below.
- Type “restore point” in your Windows search bar
- Hit Enter
- Click on “System Restore…”
- Use the recommended options, Windows will guide you through the process