When you press Alt+Tab, it will show you all your open applications and allow you to switch between applications seamlessly. This is a big help to users, making their workflow faster and more efficient. They can do their tasks more quickly and switch between windows without any difficulty.
In Windows 11, starting from build 22526, you can change the display mode of Alt+Tab to windowed mode or to fullscreen mode. Different users have different preferences. Some people may prefer windowed mode since it’s more familiar, or they may prefer the feel of the fullscreen mode because of its more comprehensive display.
💡 Note: In devices using Windows 11 build 22554 and later, pressing Alt+Tab will show as windowed by default. The full-screen Alt+Tab option has been removed in these builds.
Different ways to change the Alt+Tab display mode in Windows 11
Users can change the Alt+Tab display mode by making edits to the Windows Registry using the Registry Editor or by running a .reg file.
📌 Prerequisites;
- This guide applies to Windows 11 operating systems.
- You’re going to need administrator privileges to perform all methods. To check if you have the necessary permissions, go to the Start Menu > Settings > Accounts. The word “Administrator” should be printed under the username.
- It’s ideal if you’re already familiar with registry and command-line tools.
📌 Recommended deployment strategies:
| Click to Choose a Method | 💻 Best for Individual Users | 💻💻💻 Best for Enterprises |
| Method 1: Using the Registry Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Method 2: Create a .reg file | ✓ |
Method 1: Using the Registry Editor
📌 Use Case: This method can be used by advanced users or IT administrators working in enterprise environments.
- Open the Start Menu and search for the Registry Editor to open the program.
- Navigate to this address: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4\702590604. If you can’t find 702590604, follow these steps to create the key:
- Right-click 4 > New > Key.
- Name it 702590604.
- To show Alt+Tab as windowed, follow these steps:
Create the following values by right-clicking 702590604 > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value:
- EnabledState
- EnabledStateOptions
- Variant
- VariantPayload
- VariantPayloadKind
- Double-click each value and change the value accordingly:
- EnabledState – 2
- EnabledStateOptions – 1
- Variant – 0
- VariantPayload – 0
- VariantPayloadKind – 0
- To display Alt+Tab as full screen, delete all the values in 702590604.
Method 2: Create a .reg file
📌 Use Case: This method is ideal for enterprise environments. You can use your preferred endpoint management tool to run the .reg file.
- Open the Start Menu and search for Notepad to open the program.
- To change the Alt+Tab display mode to windowed, type the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4\702590604]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000002
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000001
"Variant"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000
To change the Alt+Tab display mode to fullscreen, type the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4\702590604]
- Click File > Save as.
- Name the file AltTab_DisplayMode.reg.
- Click the dropdown menu next to Save as type > All files.
- You can now close Notepad.
- Go to where you saved the .reg file and double-click it. This will run the .reg file and make changes to the Windows Registry automatically.
- Restart the computer to apply the changes.
⚠️ Things to look out for
| Risks | Potential Consequences | Reversals |
| A user may make incorrect changes to the Windows Registry. | Incorrect changes to the Windows Registry can lead to incorrect settings or system instability. | Create a backup of the Windows Registry before editing it. You can use it to restore the Registry if any unintended changes are made. |
Additional considerations when changing Alt+Tab display mode to windowed or full-screen
- Showing Alt+Tab as windowed is the default function of Windows computers in build 22554 and later.
- Always make sure you’ve backed up your data before making system-wide changes.
Streamline workflows by changing Alt+Tab display mode in Windows 11
The Alt+Tab display mode will boil down to user preferences. Some people may prefer windowed mode since it’s less intrusive, while others may like fullscreen mode better because of its more comprehensive display. However, in enterprise settings, IT administrators may wish to regulate this behavior across all their managed devices to ensure that every computer is complying with organization policies.
Users have many options to change this setting. They make edits to the Windows Registry using the Registry Editor or by running a .reg file.
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