How to Use Windows Alt+Tab Feature to Handle Chrome Tabs as Separate Windows

• Use the Windows Alt+Tab feature to switch between Chrome tabs as if they were separate windows.
• Customize this feature with some Chrome extensions that can enhance your experience.
• Troubleshoot some common issues and answer some frequently asked questions.

If you are a Windows user, you probably know that you can use the Alt+Tab keyboard shortcut to switch between open windows on your desktop. But did you know that you can also use it to switch between Chrome tabs as if they were separate windows?

This can be useful if you have many tabs open in Chrome and you want to quickly access a specific one without having to click on the Chrome icon on the taskbar and then scroll through the tabs. It can also help you organize your tabs into different groups or categories, such as work, personal, entertainment, etc.

In this article, we will show you how to enable this feature, how to customize it, and how to troubleshoot some common issues.

How to Enable Alt+Tab for Chrome Tabs

To enable the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs, you need to change a setting in Windows 10. Here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings > System > Multitasking.
2. Under the Alt+Tab section, click on the drop-down menu and select the option that suits your preference. You can choose from:
   • Open windows and all tabs in Edge: This will show all your open windows and all your tabs in Microsoft Edge (the default browser in Windows 10) in the Alt+Tab switcher.
   • Open windows and 5 most recent tabs in Edge: This will show all your open windows and the five most recent tabs in Microsoft Edge in the Alt+Tab switcher.
   • Open windows and 3 most recent tabs in Edge: This will show all your open windows and the three most recent tabs in Microsoft Edge in the Alt+Tab switcher.
   • Open windows only: This will show only your open windows in the Alt+Tab switcher, and no tabs from any browser.
3. If you want to use the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs instead of Edge tabs, you need to change your default browser to Chrome. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, and click on the Web browser section. Then, select Chrome from the list of available browsers.

How to Customize Alt+Tab for Chrome Tabs

If you want to customize the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs, you can use some Chrome extensions that can enhance your experience. Here are some examples:

• OneTab: This extension lets you save up to 95% of memory by converting all your tabs into a list. You can then restore them individually or all at once. This can help you reduce clutter and improve performance.
• Tabli: This extension lets you manage your tabs and windows with a pop-up interface. You can search, switch, close, save, and restore tabs and windows with ease. You can also group tabs by window or domain, and sync them across devices.
• Tab Outliner: This extension lets you create a tree-like structure of your tabs and windows. You can drag and drop, collapse, expand, annotate, and organize your tabs and windows in a hierarchical way. You can also save and restore sessions, and export and import your outline.

How to Troubleshoot Alt+Tab for Chrome Tabs

If you encounter any problems with the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs, here are some possible solutions:

• Make sure you have the latest version of Windows 10 and Chrome. To check for updates, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click on Check for updates. To update Chrome, go to Chrome menu > Help > About Google Chrome, and click on Relaunch if there is an update available.
• Make sure you have enabled the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs in Windows 10 settings, as explained above.
• Make sure you have set Chrome as your default browser, as explained above.
• Try disabling or removing any Chrome extensions that might interfere with the Alt+Tab feature, such as those that modify the tab behavior or appearance. To do this, go to Chrome menu > More tools > Extensions, and toggle off or remove the extensions you don’t need.
• Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, which might cause some glitches or slowdowns. To do this, go to Chrome menu > Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, and select the time range and the data types you want to clear.
• Try restarting your computer, which might resolve some temporary issues or conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Can I use the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs on other operating systems, such as Mac or Linux?

Answer: No, the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs is a Windows 10 specific feature. However, you can use some alternative keyboard shortcuts to switch between Chrome tabs on other operating systems, such as:

• Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+Page Down to switch to the next tab.
• Ctrl+Shift+Tab or Ctrl+Page Up to switch to the previous tab.
• Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+8 to switch to the tab at the specified position.
• Ctrl+9 to switch to the last tab.
• Cmd+Option+Right Arrow or Cmd+Option+Left Arrow on Mac to switch to the next or previous tab.

Question: Can I use the Alt+Tab feature for tabs from other browsers, such as Firefox or Safari?

Answer: No, the Alt+Tab feature for tabs only works for the default browser in Windows 10, which is Microsoft Edge by default. If you want to use it for tabs from other browsers, you need to change your default browser to the one you prefer, as explained above.

Question: How can I disable the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs if I don’t like it?

Answer: If you want to disable the Alt+Tab feature for Chrome tabs, you can change the setting in Windows 10 to show only open windows in the Alt+Tab switcher, as explained above. Alternatively, you can change your default browser to a different one than Chrome, which will also disable the feature.

Summary

In this article, we have shown you how to use the Windows Alt+Tab feature to switch between Chrome tabs as if they were separate windows, and how to customize this setting. We have also provided some tips on how to troubleshoot some common issues, and answered some frequently asked questions.

We hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the products or services mentioned in this article. We recommend that you do your own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the information provided here.