Mac OS X has a very limited application switcher built-in, so limited in fact that it's been driving me crazy. You cannot use Command+Tab to switch between multiple windows of the same application; you must use another keyboard shortcut: Command+`. Another huge limitation is the inability to switch between minimized applications. Once an application is minimized, I have no way of restoring it with the keyboard; that's actually not true: you can hold the Option key after highlighting the minimized application to restore it.
A very nice replacement application switcher is a program called Witch, developed by Peter Maurer. The only problem is that OS X prevents you from replacing the keyboard sequence Command+Tab. I could learn another keyboard shortcut, but why? I've been using Alt+Tab (the Windows version of the same shortcut) for years and I don't want to be relearning things unless absolutely necessary.
The solution is to use two other programs, PullTab and Unsanity Application Enhancer, to disable Command+Tab. Then you can bind Command+Tab to launch Witch. Although this sounds complicated, its really not. There is a nice video tutorial that explains how to do all this, however I'd rather read directions than watch them.
Step 1: Download and install Unsanity Application Enhancer. It's very straightforward. After downloading, mount the image, and double click on the installation program.
Step 2: Download and install PullTab. This is a little less straightforward. After downloading and mounting the image, you need to copy the PullTab.ape file to one of two places:
To install for all users on your Mac, copy the file here:
LibraryApplication Enhancers
To install for only yourself, copy the file here (if the directory doesn't exist, create it):
Users
Step 3: Logout and then back in. Command+Tab should now be disabled.
Step 4: Download and install Witch. After mounting the image, simply double click on the Witch.prefPane file. This will install a new panel in your System Preferences. Now that Command+Tab is disabled, you can bind it from within the Witch preferences panel to activate Witch!
Witch is really cool…when it works. I find that sometimes it can take up to *ten seconds* for Witch to respond to me pressing Command-Tab. It seems that this time is related to the length of time since my last reboot. Anyone else have this problem, or know a solution?
Hey Stan,
Sorry, but I’ve never had the problem you’re describing. It sounds like something specific to your system. Are you running the latest version of Witch?
I’m also having this problem, and it REALLY sucks..defeats the purpose of CMD-tab..thinking of rolling back
I’m running Witch 2.0.2, which seems to be the latest.
I notice that http://manytricks.com is up and running again, so I will try to contact the author.
I’m new to Mac, so not sure what I could have on my system that is slowing it down. Mozy, Time Machine, Clyppan…nothing too fancy.
Is it possible that some settings are left behind even after I delete the Witch pref panel? I’m still confused that Witch has worked without this god-awful delay in the past.
Thank you very much! this was very useful for me! =)
You’re welcome, Lucas! Glad I could help! 🙂
Hi
You say that “Once an application is minimized, I have no way of restoring it with the keyboard!”
This is not true, when an application is minimized if you press cmd+tab, highlight the application you want and press and hold option as you release command it will bring the application from the dock back onto the screen.
Hope someone finds this useful.
Neal
You’re right! I actually recall learning that a few years back, but I never came back to update this post — thank you for point it out. I do however find it annoying that there’s no easy way to tell which applications are minimized when pressing Cmd+Tab (how can I know when to hold down Option to restore it if I don’t know which apps are minimized?).
I’ve updated the post fixing what I mentioned about not being able to restore apps from the keyboard.
PullTab does not work with Mountain Lion (10.8).
Thanks for the update, Brent. I actually haven’t been using Witch or PullTab for the past few years. I find that using
Cmd+Taband thenCmd+`works just fine for me.