Command-Tab app Switcher: Chnage icon layout/appearance?

Is there a way to change the appearance or layout of the icons when using the Command-Tab app switcher? I'm sure that previously it used to display multiple rows of larger icons but now it shows one long row of smaller icons?


Was this part of an update, have i accidentally changed a setting somewhere, or am i gaslighting myself and it's always been this way?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7

Posted on Feb 21, 2025 8:38 PM

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Posted on Feb 24, 2025 11:44 PM

Dr Getafix wrote:

Lol, yes, 26 is a lot! I thought that might have been the issue so went back and checked. But then i got the result in the screen shot below! I don't think i changed anything so now im just confused!

Keyboard Maestro is a third-party app. It is not the macOS app switcher.

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Feb 24, 2025 11:44 PM in response to Dr Getafix

Dr Getafix wrote:

Lol, yes, 26 is a lot! I thought that might have been the issue so went back and checked. But then i got the result in the screen shot below! I don't think i changed anything so now im just confused!

Keyboard Maestro is a third-party app. It is not the macOS app switcher.

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Feb 22, 2025 3:36 AM in response to Dr Getafix

AFAIK, the application switcher never presented itself in two rows. The size of the icons is automatically adjusted, in order to fit. If you have few applications, the icons are bigger. Since you have 26 (a lot, even for me :-)), the icons are necessarily smaller.

Maybe you don't need to have all those 26 applications running at the same time.

FWIW, I often have 10 or 12. It is not a big trouble to quit applications when they are not needed.

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Feb 24, 2025 10:10 PM in response to Dr Getafix

I find the Command-Tab app switcher complicated to use and not very intuitive. I think Apple can do better to address this need.


I struggle with Safari tabs that present themselves as a web app. They cannot be reached in the Command-Tab app switcher. So it gets messy and complicated to quickly move focus around between to tasks.

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Feb 25, 2025 2:41 AM in response to dialabrain

Ah! yes. I hadn't noticed that difference in the screenshots. I had no idea that Keyboard Maestro affects the task switcher, and it's still accessed by Command-Tab. And i'm not sure why it wasn't running in the original screen shot as i usually have it running all the time.

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Feb 25, 2025 6:09 AM in response to r4lf

r4lf wrote:

I find the Command-Tab app switcher complicated to use and not very intuitive. I think Apple can do better to address this need.

I struggle with Safari tabs that present themselves as a web app. They cannot be reached in the Command-Tab app switcher. So it gets messy and complicated to quickly move focus around between to tasks.


r4lf, look at AltTab

https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/

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Command-Tab app Switcher: Chnage icon layout/appearance?

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