How to Stop Alt+Tab from Switching Tabs in Microsoft Edge

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Keyboard shortcuts are essential for PC users, helping save time by carrying out tasks in fewer steps. There are many popular keyboard shortcuts like ctrl+c, ctrl+v, Alt+tab, ctrl+tab that are widely known and frequently used. However due to some app specific issues, shortcuts don’t work as expected, which creates inconvenience for users.

This is a common problem in the Edge browser where using Alt+Tab switches between tabs instead of switching between open apps or windows. Everyone I know who use Edge browser hates this about the browser because it is counter-productive.

Since, Alt+Tab in Edge browser doesn’t follow the expected behavior, it can be challenging if you want to continue using Microsoft Edge browser. The cause for this issue is that each tab in Edge serve as a different window and since Alt+tab is the shortcut to toggle between window, it also toggles between open tabs.

Luckily, there is a solution to prevent Alt+tab from switching tabs in Edge browser, instead it will switch between apps after following this guide.

Prevent Alt Tab from toggling Tabs in Edge Browser

Anyone even with some tech knowledge will look for settings inside the browser. However, it is not possible to fix this in browser settings, instead you have to change system settings. Here are the steps to fix the shortcut.

Step 1: Open Settings on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Navigate to System > Multitasking settings from the left side pane.

Stop Alt+Tab from Switching Tabs in Edge

Step 3: Under Multitasking, choose ‘Don’t show tabs’ for the option Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt+Tab.

Stop Alt+Tab from Switching Tabs in Edge

If you have not update your PC for a while and using old UI, then you will find Alt+Tab section. In the drop down select “Open Windows Only” option.

This five second process will fix the issue and prevent Edge browser from altering the Alt+tab keyboard shortcut.

There is another alternative that does the same thing, but the approach is different. Instead of using System Settings, in this method you need to use Registry Editor. Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Open Registry Editor. You can search for it on main Windows Search or you can open it through run window.

Step 2: In registry editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Or you can also directly paste this address in the editor and press enter.

Stop Alt+Tab from Switching Tabs in Edge

Step 3: In the location, look for MultiTaskingAltTabFilter and double click on it.

Step 4: A pop-up will appear, here enter 3 in the Value Data and hit OK.

Stop Alt+Tab from Switching Tabs in Edge

The process is simple, though I still think it should have been disabled by default as every user knows the Alt+tab shortcut to switch between apps. And we already have another shortcut to switch between tabs.

These are two simple methods to stop switching between Edge browser tabs with Alt+Tab shortcut. You can still use Ctrl+Tab shortcut to easily switch between open tabs.

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AUTHOR.

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Ashutosh singh

Computer Science graduate and tech enthusiast. Love testing new tech gadgets ever since my first windows phone from Samsung. Working as a technical writer for more than five years, and I believe I have also developed good SEO skills. In my spare time, I like watching movies, and playing games.

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