The Alt + Tab switcher (otherwise known every bit "Task Switcher") is a handy multitasking feature in Windows x. Pressing the Alt + Tab hotkey brings up Task Switcher that displays thumbnail previews of open windows you tin can switch between by pressing Tab.

However, did you know that you can customize that feature in a few ways with some congenital-in Windows settings and third-party software? Here'south how.

How to Change What Thumbnails Job Switcher Shows via Settings

The Alt + Tab switcher is a Windows feature Microsoft has integrated with its Edge browser. Therefore, y'all can customize whether Task Switcher shows Edge tabs or non with iv different options in Settings. This is how yous tin can change those options.

  1. Click Settings on the left of Windows 10's Beginning menu.
  2. Select the System category.
  3. Click Multitasking on the left side of Settings.
  4. Then click the Alt + Tab drib-downwardly menu in that location to view its options.
    The Alt + Tab drop-down menu
  5. To configure Job Switcher to evidence all Border tabs, select the Open windows and all tabs option.
  6. Alternatively, select one of 2 options for Task Switcher to display merely the five or three well-nigh recent Edge tabs.
  7. Select Open Windows simply to exclude the Edge tab from Chore Switcher.

How to Customize Transparency and Desktop Dimming for the Alt + Tab Switcher

Windows 10 doesn't incorporate any built-in settings to change the visual advent of its Alt + Tab switcher. However, yous can change Job Switcher's appearance with Winaero Tweaker. This is how you lot can alter transparency and desktop dimming to the Alt + Tab Switcher with that customization software.

  1. Open up the homepage for Winaero Tweaker in a browser.
  2. Click the Download Winaero Tweaker link that's on the homepage.
  3. Press the Win + Eastward keyboard keys both at the same time.
  4. Navigate to the folder y'all downloaded Winaero Tweaker's ZIP archive to.
  5. Right-click Winaero'southward ZIP file to select Extract all.
    The Extract all option
  6. Select the Show extracted files when complete option if that checkbox isn't already checked.
  7. Click Excerpt to decompress the Zippo archive.
    The Extract Compressed Folders window
  8. Double-click the WinaeroTweaker-1.33.0.0-setup file.
  9. Click Adjacent and select the I accept the understanding option.
  10. If you lot would prefer to install Winaero Tweaker to a folder of your choosing, select the Browse choice. Then cull a different directory in the Browse for Folder window and click OK.
    Winaero Tweaker's setup window
  11. There'due south no need to change any of Winaero Tweaker's default installation settings. And then, keep clicking Next to reach and select the Install pick.
  12. Afterward installing the software, select the Run Winaero Tweaker checkbox in the setup window. Then printing the Finish button.
  13. Double-click Appearance idue north Winaero Tweaker's left sidebar.
  14. Select the Alt + Tab Appearance choice shown directly below.
    The Alt + Tab Appearance option

By default, the Alt + Tab switcher's opaque level is prepare to 70 (percent). You lot can brand the Task Switcher more transparent by dragging the Alt + Tab groundwork transparency bar'south slider further to the left. Drag it to the right to reduce its transparency level. A fully transparent Task switcher will look like the 1 shown directly beneath.

A Transparent Task Switcher

The Tab Switcher doesn't dim the background at all. You tin add some groundwork dimming to it by dragging the Dim Background bar'south slider to the right. If you drag that bar's slider to the far right, Windows 10'south Alt + Tab switcher will take a fully dimmed background as in the snapshot beneath.

A dimmed Task Manager

When you lot've finished configuring those options to your liking, shut Winaero Tweaker. Open a few software windows. Then press the Alt + Tab hotkey to see what Chore Switcher looks similar later you've customized it.

Incidentally, you can also restore XP's Alt + Tab switcher in Windows 10. That's a dissimilar Task Switcher with icons instead of thumbnails. Check out our guide on how to restore the old XP Alt + Tab switcher for full details.

Customize Windows x's Task Switcher Co-ordinate to Your Preferences

There aren't many customization settings available for Task Switcher in Windows 10. Nevertheless, you tin can configure its transparency level, add together background dimming, and select whether it shows Border tabs co-ordinate to your preferences. There are too some third-party software packages available that add unlike Alt + Tab switchers to Windows 10.

How to Customize Windows 10: The Consummate Guide

Read Adjacent

About The Author

Jack Slater (120 Articles Published)

Jack has been a freelance tech journalist for more a decade. He has covered Windows Vista, seven, 10, and 11 topics inside a multitude of guides for Make Use Of and numerous other websites.

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