You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Eugene7A Author

Level 1

8 points

Command + Tab does not work consistently on MacOS

Hello there. I am trying to do the simplest thing with my Mac Mini, stitch between 2 apps (Safari and another one) with Command + Tab shortcut. It doesn't work.

At the top of the screen it shows as the app is switched (the black panel changes as it's switched), but the app is actually not switched on the main screen, so I have to open it manually every time.

After the reboot it usually works again, but then, when I use my Mac for an hour or so, for some reason, it stop working.

People have raised this issue multiple times and suggested to "killall Dock" with a command, but I am as a customer don't want to do anything with the command, I just want to use the simple function.

Does anyone knows how to fix it, or how I can write to the Apple technical department about this issue? I honestly can't believe that I am having such a trivial issue

Screenshots attached

Mac mini, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jun 30, 2021 5:51 AM

Top-ranking reply

D.I. Johnson

Level 7

24,149 points

Posted on Jun 30, 2021 7:08 AM

Hello, Eugene7A.

From your images it does appear that the Command-Tab shortcut is working. The app name in the menu bar changes and the "stoplights" in Safari have dimmed. This is normal and appropriate.

Can you explain more clearly what part is not working?

When App switcher changes the active application it also puts the focus on the last active window of the app and brings that window to the foreground. If you have no open Finder window (a folder or hdd window for example) then the focus goes to the desktop. Being the desktop, it does not rise to the foreground, and neither do the windows of your previous app disappear out of the way or "hide".

If, when working in Finder, you leave a window open and switch to another app, then when you shortcut back to Finder you should be returned to that previously active window. I say "should" because in my experience Finder usually becomes active but with the focus on the desktop. The keyboard shortcut ⌘` (that's command+the key above tab) puts the focus back on the open Finder windows.

View in context

Command + Tab does not work consistently on MacOS

Similar questions