The tutorial no longer works starting with at least Windows 11 build 22000.856 and higher.
You can press the Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Alt + Tab keys to switch between open windows in Windows 11.
Pressing Alt+Tab will show open windows as thumbnails by default.
You can also press and hold the right Alt key, press and release the left Alt key, and press Tab to have Alt+Tab show open windows as classic icons instead of thumbnails.
This tutorial will show you how to always show classic icons or thumbnails on Alt+Tab by default for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
EXAMPLE: ALT+TAB showing classic icons and thumbnails (default)
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (classic icons) or step 3 (thumbnails) below for what you want.
2 Use Classic Icons on Alt+Tab
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Use_classic_icons_on_Alt+Tab.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"AltTabSettings"=dword:000000013 Use Thumbnails on Alt+Tab
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Use_thumbnails_on_Alt+Tab.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"AltTabSettings"=dword:000000004 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
