cmd+tab

Question

cmd+tab

After upgrading to Sierra, cmd+tab for app switching is not working as it used to in El Capitan & previous OS versions. When I select an app using cmd-tab, it will just show that app name in the menu bar, but the window itself will not open/come up front. I use spaces and have checked mission control prefs and nothing there I can see to get this corrected. In addition, in previous version, if I switched from one space to another, then Finder would go to the background (since it is assigned to all desktops) and the other app in that specific desktop would be in the forefront. That is no longer the case after Sierra. (example in the screenshot, I cmd-tabbed to itunes, which shows in the menu bar but didn't switch to itunes)

Has anyone else been facing this and/or suggest

Thanks in advance

MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011), macOS Sierra (10.12), with Time Capsule 1 TB

Posted on Sep 24, 2016 7:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 24, 2016 7:12 AM in response to liquidmetalin

Go to System Preferences->Mission Control and see if

"When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application"

is CHECKED. If it not, then you need to check it.

If it is, try unchecking and rechecking to see if sticks.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 24, 2016 12:50 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis thanks for your suggestion; it seems to have worked. I say 'seems' because am having another glitch which I'm not sure if it is related to mission control settings. So cmd-tab takes now takes to the app selected and the open window.

However when in any space/desktop and there are multiple app windows open then when I use mission control to switch between apps in the same desktop that doesn't seem to work as expected. Example: I have Finder, Sys Pref and Disk Utility all open in one desktop, where Finder is 'assigned' to 'all desktops', while the other two are 'assigned' to 'none' (right click Dock icon for each app and then Options). If I 'mission control' to bring a Finder window to the front, then the last app which had been in front earlier (from the other two apps) come to the forefront instead.

Is this something that others are facing too? Is it a bug or some setting that become corrupted by the upgrade?

Thanks

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2016 1:08 PM in response to liquidmetalin

Just to clarify: when you say "use Mission Control" to bring a Finder window to the front, you mean actually entering Mission Control and clicking on the window? And then instead of Finder the other application comes to the front?

I have never seen this. No idea why it is happening.

I do not, however, use Mission Control all that much. I switch applications using Command-tab all the time, though; this never caused the wrong application coming to the front either.

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Answer 4

Sep 24, 2016 11:45 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Just to clarify: when you say "use Mission Control" to bring a Finder window to the front, you mean actually entering Mission Control and clicking on the window? And then instead of Finder the other application comes to the front?

I use the 4 finger up swipe or FN-F9 and click on the window. Yes, instead of Finder the other app used to come to the front. I now assigned all such apps as Dock App icon>Options>Assign to>All Desktops and it has mitigated the situation somewhat, though not entirely to my satisfaction, since,

It still shows erratic behaviour when other apps with different assignments are open (e.g. if Safari is assigned to open only in Desktop 2, then the whole thing goes for a toss)
Is not how it was BEFORE upgrade to Sierra.

Is there some plist or something that I could delete and restart? Though I really don't want to go down that rabbit hole.

Thanks

Reply

Answer 5

tygb

Level 9

65,016 points

Sep 25, 2016 12:33 AM in response to liquidmetalin

Please follow the settings as in screen shot . make sure of the setting ( show desktop - ) , keep it as dash .

Thanks !

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 25, 2016 8:21 AM in response to liquidmetalin

I cannot reproduce this. Every time I clicked on a window in Mission Control, that window has come to the front.

You may try restarting in Safe Mode and see if the problem also occurs;

then restart normally again and see if it makes a difference.

If everything works in Safe Mode but not when booted normally then it is a safe bet that some third party software is causing this. You may want to run Etrecheck and post its report here; it often suggests possible causes for unexpected behavior. (Etrecheck is a utilitu by a respected member of this community to help troubleshoot problems).

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Answer 7

Sep 27, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

here is the Etrecheck report with 'other problem' selected from the options

EtreCheck version: 3.0.5 (309)

Report generated 2016-09-27 23:50:59

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 3:57

Performance: Good

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Other problem

Hardware Information: ⓘ

MacBook Pro Intel Core i7, 17" (Early 2011)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,3

1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 12

Video Information: ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 3000

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB

Color LCD 1920 x 1200

System Software: ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: about 7 hours

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE HDD HTS541075A9E662 disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

MAC HDD (disk1) / : 748.93 GB (101.18 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 749.30 GB Online

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898 ()

USB Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Research In Motion, Ltd. BlackBerry Mass Storage Device

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Western Digital My Passport 0730

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/sudoers, File size 2299 but expected 1563

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Unknown Files: ⓘ

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Extensions/Adblock Plus-4.safariextension

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Extensions/Adblock Plus.safariextension

2 unknown files found. [Check files]

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (3.7 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.BlackBerry.driver.USBCDCNCM (1.0.14 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (2.2.16 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryVirtualPrivateNetwork (1.0.18 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.97 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.taoeffect.ispy.kext (1.0.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.11 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 9 Apple tasks

[loaded] 160 Apple tasks

[running] 102 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-26) [Support]

[not loaded] 34 Apple tasks

[loaded] 161 Apple tasks

[running] 109 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist (2016-09-18) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a 23d420d.plist (2016-07-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-07-27) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.BBAlbumArtCacher.plist (2013-06-25) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.BBLaunchAgent.plist (2015-03-11) [Support]

[running] com.rim.PeerManager.plist (2015-05-27) [Support]

[running] com.rim.blackberrylink.BlackBerry-Link-Helper-Agent.plist (2015-05-20) [Support]

[running] com.srs.EssentialsAgent.plist (2011-12-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (2016-08-06) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (2016-08-06) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist (2016-09-18) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-30) [Support]

[loaded] com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist (2016-09-14)

[loaded] com.bresink.system.privilegedhelper-tts.plist (2015-11-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.bresink.system.securityagent3a.plist (2014-01-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2011-03-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-07-27) [Support]

[running] com.rim.BBDaemon.plist (2015-03-11) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.nkehelper.plist (2013-09-18)

[running] com.rim.tunmgr.plist (2015-05-27) [Support]

[running] com.syniumsoftware.CleanAppDaemon.plist (2016-02-17) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (2016-08-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.transcend.RxRecoveryHelper.plist (2016-05-07) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelper.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelperUpdater.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2012-07-14) [Support]

[not loaded] com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.ABExchangeSource.3F28EBE5-D153-4B83-959A-1D F7387404F9.plist (2012-03-18)

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2016-04-13) [Support]

[loaded] de.metaquark.appfresh.plist (2016-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.clamxav.UninstallWatcher.plist (2016-08-27)

[running] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist (2014-10-22) [Support]

User Login Items: ⓘ

Box Sync Application (/Applications/Box Sync.app)

Quicksilver Application (/Applications/Quicksilver.app)

SpeechSynthesisServer Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)

witchdaemon Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Witch.prefPane/Contents/Helpers/witchdaemon.app)

ClipMenu Application (/Applications/ClipMenu.app)

SizzlingKeys Application (/Applications/SizzlingKeys.app)

Xmarks for Safari Application (/Applications/Xmarks for Safari.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

MeetingJoinPlugin: Unknown - SDK 10.2 (2016-07-17) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-17) [Support]

DirectorShockwave: 12.1.1r151 - SDK 10.6 (2014-04-16) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 (2014-01-25) [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-06) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-23) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-26) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)

Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-23) [Support]

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2014-07-21)

AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.03 - SDK 10.6 (2013-05-31) [Support]

PepperFlashPlayer: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-24) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.8 - SDK 10.6 (2016-09-23) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-07-21) Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-13) [Support]

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-26) [Support]

Picasa: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-13) [Support]

iGetter Plugin: 2.9.4 (2016-01-08) [Support]

iGetterScriptablePlugin: 2.9.4 (2016-01-08) [Support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown (2014-08-23) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

TinEye - TinEye - https://tineye.com (2016-01-08)

Ghostery - GHOSTERY, Inc. - https://www.ghostery.com/ (2016-05-28)

RecoverTabs - Antriksh Yadav (2015-04-04)

AdBlock - Michael Gundlach - http://safariadblock.com (2011-09-15)

Blur - Abine, the online privacy company. - https://www.abine.com (2016-05-04)

Direct Currency Converter - Per Johansson - http://www.joint.ax (2015-09-04)

Folx Safari Extension - Eltima Software - http://mac.eltima.com (2011-10-07)

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2011-10-16)

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-09-24)

Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (2015-11-21)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

CleanApp Logging Service (2015-11-14) [Support]

Diablotin (2006-05-24) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-08-30) [Support]

Java (2016-07-21) [Support]

Perian (2011-07-24) [Support]

Witch (2016-08-09) [Support]

Xmarks for Safari (2015-04-17) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

MAC HDD: Disk size: 748.93 GB Disk used: 647.76 GB

Destinations:

bhdtm [Local]

Total size: 900.00 GB

Total number of backups: 52

Oldest backup: 22/08/15, 13:33

Last backup: 24/09/16, 00:39

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 900.00 GB < (Disk used 647.76 GB X 3)

Data [Network]

Total size: 997.71 GB

Total number of backups: 93

Oldest backup: 20/06/15, 00:05

Last backup: 21/09/16, 18:00

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 997.71 GB < (Disk used 647.76 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

18% firefox

7% kernel_task

6% mdworker(13)

6% WindowServer

6% backupd

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.11 GB Google Chrome Helper(13)

854 MB kernel_task

786 MB firefox

385 MB mdworker(13)

246 MB OmniDiskSweeper

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

53 MB Free RAM

7.94 GB Used RAM (1.56 GB Cached)

66 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Sep 27, 2016, 07:50:39 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/suggestd_2016-09-27-195039_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Details]

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreSuggestions.framework/Versions/A/Support/ suggestd

Sep 27, 2016, 07:09:10 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/backupd_2016-09-27-190910_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Details]

/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd

Sep 27, 2016, 04:29:19 PM Self test - passed

Sep 25, 2016, 04:34:42 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DesktopUtility_2016-09-25-163442_[redacted].cr ash

/Applications/DesktopUtility.app/Contents/MacOS/DesktopUtility

Sep 25, 2016, 02:36:17 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-09-25-143617_[redacted].crash

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadat a.framework/Versions/A/Support/mds_stores

Sep 25, 2016, 01:26:34 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.SpeechRecognitionCore.speechrecogniti ond_2016-09-25-132634_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SpeechRecognitionCore.framework/Versions/A/XP CServices/com.apple.SpeechRecognitionCore.brokerd.xpc/Contents/XPCServices/com.a pple.SpeechRecognitionCore.speechrecognitiond.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.Speec hRecognitionCore.speechrecognitiond

Sep 25, 2016, 05:10:36 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/suggestd_2016-09-25-051036_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Details]

Reply

Answer 8

Sep 29, 2016 7:43 AM in response to liquidmetalin

similar issue here w/ sierra. when i mouse to a corner to bring up mission control, and then click on my apple mail window, the window jumps behind the last open app window. so annoying. tried the sys prefs checkbox you mentioned and no fix. i don't have the issue when cmd+tab - only when clicking the mail window from mission control.

Reply

Answer 9

Liz M

Level 1

26 points

Oct 11, 2016 4:24 AM in response to skernroom

I'm getting a similar problem for App Exposé or Application Windows (as it's called on the Mission Control preferences). Lets say I click on an app that is in all windows then I go to my hot corner to show all its windows. If I click on one of the windows I expect the desktop to go back to normal and for that window to be in the front.

Instead, the desktop goes back to normal and the window looks like it'll be in the front for a moment but then something else gets put on top of it. This is usually the last thing I used but sometimes not.

If I change the app's option so it is not assigned to any desktop, it behaves as expected; the window stays on top. It also works correctly if it is assigned to "this desktop".

I am also noticing that I sometimes change desktops when I don't expect to, often right after using Mission Control or App Exposé; I haven't been able to figure out any pattern for this, though. Both of these odd things are new with Sierra, though.

Reply

Answer 10

migiel

Level 1

9 points

Oct 24, 2016 10:38 AM in response to liquidmetalin

Hi,

in my MBP with two displays, I have annoying feature getting intro really frustrating. When I use cmd-tab to switch app, I will get some other app completely. So, for instance, I am hopping between pycharm and chrome web browser. Sooner or later, when switching to the browser, mail opens. Or terminal, or some other app, but never the app, I wanted. I tried to move apps to different desktops in mission control, but now I cannot find Chrome any more. CMD-tab is kind of basic feature on any desktop system, but this behavious is really annoying. I got this little bit with el capitan, but with Sierra, this has got really bad. Any real help? Except not installing whole system from the scratch

Reply

Answer 11

Oct 24, 2016 12:07 PM in response to migiel

To Liz M and Migiel and skernroom

I'm not sure what the cause is in each of your individual cases, but I was able to resolve my cmd-tab and mission control (MC) problems by maintaining the settings as shown. Mind that the same may not work for you. Also I checked the box(es), restarted, unchecked, restarted to the final settings here. Also cmd-tab problem is completely resolved but MC not so much... I still face situations where the window I had clicked on in MC view goes to the back and the last opened window still stubbornly stays front. Well...!

Reply

Answer 12

Liz M

Level 1

26 points

Oct 25, 2016 12:23 AM in response to liquidmetalin

Thanks for the suggestion, but my Mission Control is already set the way yours is except I just have F3 mapped to Mission Control and F4 to Show Dashboard. The other two are not mapped. I mostly use Hot Corners to bring things up.

I have noticed one additional behavior: If I use my bottom right corner to bring up Mission Control and then click in empty space, I often change desktops.

- Liz

Reply

Answer 13

Nov 16, 2016 8:04 PM in response to liquidmetalin

I have a somewhat similar issue. cmd+tab works with most applications, and switches between desktops. However, it doesn't change over to third-party apps (for example, I use this Best Notes for work).

I've read all the forums and tried everything, but with this one program, it's not recognizing it... any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Running on the brand new MacBook Pro November 2016. Sierra 10.12.1

Reply

Answer 14

Liz M

Level 1

26 points

Nov 16, 2016 8:13 PM in response to roggen357

I just tried using command-tab to change apps on my Mac, including to 3rd party apps and it worked just fine. This included one app that hasn't been updated in a very long time.

I looked up Best Notes and see that it is domain specific and probably originally developed for Windows. It's possible that the developers weren't careful enough in their port to Mac or that they bypassed something that keeps this from working. For example, spell correcting works almost everywhere on Mac, but it doesn't in Yahoo Messenger; they must block it somehow. You might want to contact the Best Notes tech support.

Hope you can figure it out!

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Answer 15

Nov 16, 2016 9:36 PM in response to Liz M

Thanks, Liz- hopefully I'll be able to get to work...

I appreciate you help! If anyone else has any suggestions, I'm always open to them!

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