New, erratic command-tab behaviour

Question

New, erratic command-tab behaviour

I can hit command-tab and step through open apps on my MacBook. It's something I've been doing now for years. What's changed is that when I reach the app I want to switch to, it only opens some of the time. The behaviour seems erratic and inconsistent, but that could be deceptive, if there's a pattern of behaviour it is hard to spot.

To be clear, most apps are open in full windows. Right now I have Safari, Word, iA Writer, Mail, Terminal and the Micro.blog app open. Finder also shows up on the command-tab carousel. All the apps except Terminal and Micro.blog are full screen. I have three open desktops.

This is recent, it maybe started a week ago, perhaps a few more days but no longer.

I've tried rebooting, that hasn't fixed it. The problem isn't a deal breaker, but it is hurting my productivity.

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 22, 2019 6:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

245,327 points

May 23, 2019 7:55 AM in response to billbennettnz

Yes, safe mode should eliminate 3rd party extension or Login Item, the fact that it was OK in a New User almost assuredly means the problem is with some user file, pref, cache, etc., trouble is there are thousands.

Do you have a Time Machine backup from before the problem that you could restore from?

Reply

Answer 2

May 22, 2019 8:44 PM in response to billbennettnz

If you can not track down the culprit causing you issues in your admin account

I would verify your macOS Mojave software is up to date— install the 10.14.5

If it is already 10.14.5 reinstall the combo update on top of your existing macOS 10.14.5

Download macOS Mojave 10.14.5 Combo Update - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2001

this has been known to sort one-off anomalies like yours.

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

245,327 points

May 22, 2019 6:18 PM in response to billbennettnz

As diagnostics...

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode?

To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

Does it work in the new account?

Reply

Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,327 points

May 22, 2019 8:04 PM in response to billbennettnz

OK, good info, now to figure out which Sys Pref is messed up.

Delete this file & restart...

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

Apple hid the Users' Library folders...

Method 1:

1 From the Finder, select the Go menu at top of the screen, and choose Go to Folder.

2 In the window that opens, enter ~/Library, and click Go.

Method 2:

1 Go to the Finder (or desktop).

2 Hold the Option key on your keyboard, and click the Go menu at the top of the screen.

3 With the Go menu open, you'll notice that pressing and releasing Option will display or hide the Library choice in this menu.

4 Select Library from the Go menu (while holding down Option) to access the hidden folder.

Reply

Answer 5

May 22, 2019 6:56 PM in response to BDAqua

It doesn’t work in Safe Mode, but when I created a new account in Safe Mode it seemed to work fine.

Reply

Answer 6

May 22, 2019 10:54 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks. Sadly deleting the preference file didn't fix matters. I was thinking it could be an extension causing the problem, but if that was the case would Safe Mode had worked?

Am downloading now.

Reply