Missing keyboard shortcut: Cycle through windows

Question

Missing keyboard shortcut: Cycle through windows

Once upon a time users had a nice keyboard shortcut for switching between windows in the same application. So if I had several Finder windows opened, with a neat two-key combination (in my case cmd + <), I was able to easily switch between those windows. Same worked for all other applications. Now, using Snow Leopard, this shortcut is working only in Finder. Yes, I am familiar with the new Exposé feature, but it's tiresome to pull the pointer all the way to the dock and hold the mouse button to see all the windows of the particular app when I already have my fingers on the keyboard, ready to strike the shortcut.

I honestly hope Apple decides to return this option as it is one of my most frequently used shortcuts. I really wonder how they test the operating system and get around multiple opened windows. It blows my mind how it is even possible for them to completely leave out such a useful thing. I searched around the forum and didn't find any similar topics, but I hope I'm not the only one who misses this.

Give a shout-out if you want the cycle through windows shortcut back or any other shortcut that Apple might have left out in Snow Leopard!

24" iMac, 3.06 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 8800 GS, Mac OS X (10.6), iPhone 8 GB

Posted on Sep 5, 2009 10:16 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Sep 5, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Community User

the shortcut to cycle through windows is alive and well in snow leopard. the default one is command+` but it can be changed in system preferences->keyboard->keyboard shortcuts. that would be why you didn't find any other topics mentioning the problem - because there isn't one.

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Answer 2

Sep 5, 2009 10:35 AM in response to V.K.

V.K.

Thank you very much. I must have missed it somehow. Newbie mistake, I admit it.

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Answer 3

Sep 5, 2009 11:28 AM in response to Community User

That's why it helps to ask before ranting, instead of asking and ranting. I'm still learning that one myself. 😉

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Answer 4

TimButt2

Level 1

0 points

Sep 8, 2009 9:40 PM in response to Community User

I have a question regarding this feature. Before in Tiger, and Leopard, when I entered ⌘` it would move the active window in my given application to the back and move focus to the window behind it. However in Snow Leopard it seems to move focus to the previous window and all those below it are the ones viewed before that. Is there any way for me to be able to return it to the way it was because I really preferred that method?

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Answer 5

Sep 9, 2009 5:29 AM in response to TimButt2

I only know that you can hold SHIFT while you press ⌘` and the focus will move in the reverse direction, to the newest window. Maybe someone else will be more insightful.

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Answer 6

Sep 9, 2009 6:45 AM in response to V.K.

Windows cycling works unless you happen to edit a document. It fails if you happen to edit any of the open documents. For example, just open 10 Pages documents. Use Command + ` to cycle from Document 10 to Document 5. Make a change in document 5. The see what happens when you use command + `. It will go in the reverse direction, back towards Document 10. Try Shift Command + ` and it starts anew from Document 1. So it loses correct cycle direction and/or focus if you cycle after editing (with or without saving) a document. This blows current work flows, and I'm sure any AppleScripts that take advantage of correct windows cycling.

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Answer 7

Sep 9, 2009 6:56 AM in response to siesta_mmm

The problem that siesta_mmm describes does not happen here in my mac. It maybe something specific to his mac, it certainly is not the right behavior but also it is not a problem that happens for everyone.
At least in my mac window cycling works back and forth as it should, regardless of editing or saving.

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Answer 8

enaz81

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2009 1:18 AM in response to Community User

i called apple regarding the change in the cycling. i hate this new feature. the support rep said he would get back to me, that was a week ago, but he did say that it seemed odd. i have been searching posts since snow leopard came out. if anybody has a solution to this awful new feature please help.

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Answer 9

Sep 15, 2009 11:50 PM in response to siesta_mmm

Yes, huge problem. This happens in Finder and Camino. I haven't tried others...

Let's say you have windows titled A, B, C, D.
Press cmd+` to cycle A>B>C>D.
Now minimize or close one of the windows, say D.
Press cmd+` and the cycle goes C>B>A

Every time a window goes into or out of the rotation, the direction reverses.

Too weird.

Message was edited by: ricktoons

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Answer 10

Sep 17, 2009 6:56 PM in response to V.K.

Actually, CMD+` does not cycle through windows at all. It cycles through applications in opposite direction from TAB key.

You still MUST use arrow keys to get to the window you want, which is regression from Leopard where you could use TAB key to cycle through windows.

If you have Windows A, B, C and D, the TAB or CMD+` will NOT cycle though windows at all, but cycle through applications that windows A,B, C or D belong to.

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Answer 11

Sep 17, 2009 8:34 PM in response to MarioGrgic

After you hit CMD+tab, then CMD+` (that's a back-tick) cycles backwards through the applications. This seems to work the same in Snow Leopard.

Otherwise, CMD+` cycles through the current applications windows. It just does it in an unfriendly order in Snow Leopard compared to Leopard and before.

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Answer 12

chef67

Level 1

0 points

Sep 19, 2009 7:44 AM in response to Community User

Just posted a question about his.

Safari does the same, you cycle in one direction and then you close one window, it cycles the other way. Very annoying and not understandable.

Hopefully I get an answer on how to fix this, or that Apple will change it back to how it was in Tiger and Leopard

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Answer 13

Sep 20, 2009 7:19 AM in response to ricktoons

True, I was wrongly thinking we are talking about Expose window cycling here.

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Answer 14

Sep 23, 2009 6:14 AM in response to Community User

In Leopard, I was able to switch through windows from the same application with "Cmd+key above tab".
However, now that I have installed Snow Leopard, I can't use this shortcut.
It doesn't work at all.

I can't find it in shortcut preferences neither.

Does someone have a solution to "restore" this shortcut?

Thank you

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Answer 15

Sep 23, 2009 7:02 AM in response to neoraptor

I manage to make it work.
I have to change the default shortcut.

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