Switching apps using cmd+tab doesn't work (reverses back) when using multiple spaces in Sierra

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Level 1

9 points

Switching apps using cmd+tab doesn't work (reverses back) when using multiple spaces in Sierra

I usually have many apps open in full screen mode across a number of different spaces. In El Capitan, when I used cmd+tab to switch apps, it would just go directly to the app in whatever space that app was open in. Now it attempts to switch to the app, but then IMMEDIATELY switches back to the space I was already in. It's like someone is sitting there playing this cruel prank on me where every time I try to switch to app, it shows it to me and then immediately sends me right back. Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this?

To recreate the problem, have some apps open in full screen in different spaces, and then try to switch to another app in another space using cmd+tab, or try to switch to an app that's just open on the main desktop space. It just immediately switches back to your original app! I'm ready to tear my hair out!

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 9:04 PM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,374 points

Sep 21, 2016 9:11 PM in response to atopiler

Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback/

With your same Apple ID you can sign up for a free Developers Account and start a conversation with Apple engineers

Bug Reporter https://bugreport.apple.com/

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Answer 2

gjlamb

Level 1

23 points

Sep 21, 2016 9:53 PM in response to atopiler

Had that happen a couple of times to me also with some apps. Haven't seen it since updating to GM.

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Answer 3

jandroes

Level 1

21 points

Sep 27, 2016 4:47 PM in response to atopiler

I am experiencing the same thing. For me it happens after typing/sending in Messages, then CMD+Tab back to Chrome which lives in a different space. It switches me to Chrome for 1 or 2 seconds and then whoosh, I'm back in Messages. It will keep doing this until I manually select Chrome from the Dock. So far I haven't had it do this in other apps.

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Answer 4

atopiler Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 13, 2016 10:50 PM in response to leroydouglas

I reported the bug way back in September as suggested, but nothing came of it and there was no response or acknowledgement whatsoever..

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Answer 5

atopiler Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 13, 2016 11:05 PM in response to atopiler

Figured out the fix for this! First, go to mission control and add a new desktop space by clicking on the "+" in to the top right (if you only have one desktop at the moment). This is just to allow you to temporarily update an option that only appears when you have 2 or more desktops. You can remove it afterwards.

After adding your new 2nd desktop space, for any apps you're trying to switch to using cmd+tab which then get put in the background or automatically force a switch back to the original app you were using, right click on their icon in the dock and go to options > assign to desktop > none. Any apps this is happening to probably have a default value of "all desktops" set. By switching that value to "none", it fixes the issue when trying to switch to that app using cmd+tab. Once you're done, you can then remove the extra desktop you added in the beginning.

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