9 Fixes for Alt+Tab Shortcut Not Working on Windows 11

Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 allows you to switch between the applications that are currently running on your PC. This comes in handy when you have to switch between applications while using your PC constantly. Though laptop users can use multi-finger gestures to switch to another application, Desktop users have to use this keyboard shortcut. 

You might face issues with the Alt+ Tab shortcut for many reasons. It can be outdated windows, corrupted drivers, faulty keys, or corrupted system files causing this issue. This article will guide you through the troubleshooting steps to help fix Alt + Tab Keyboard Shortcut not working on Windows 11. 

Fix Alt + Tab Keyboard Shortcut not Working on Windows 11

If you are not able to use Alt + Tab keyboard Shortcut on your Windows PC, then you can follow the steps given below to fix it-

1. Restart Windows Explorer

Try restarting your Windows Explorer if you have been facing this issue. This will clear all the temporary bugs within the system and should help fix the issue. To restart Windows Explorer, follow the steps given below-

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager. 
2. Under the Processes tab, search for Windows Explorer; click on it and then on Restart Task.

2. Ensure Alt and Tab Keys are Working Fine

Many times the issue might occur if the keys are not working on the computer. You can try other keyboard combinations that use Alt and Tab keys individually. If the keys work fine, the issue is caused due to some other reason.

However, if the keys do not work, then probably the keys are faulty. In this case, you can try using some other keyboard and then check if Alt + Tab shortcut works or not. 

3. Run SFC Scan

Often corrupted files can also cause such issues. If you are unable to use the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut, then you can try running the SFC scan to scan your PC for corrupted files and fix them. You can do so by following the steps given below-

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and search for CMD. From the search result, right-click on Command Prompt and then click on Run As Administrator. 
2. Here, type and execute the command given below-
   • sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the process to complete and then restart your PC. 

4. Update Your Windows

You might also face this issue if your Windows is outdated. You can try updating your Windows to the latest version of the Alt + Tab shortcut is not working. 

1. Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut and Settings will open up. 
2. Under the Windows Update tab on the left sidebar, click on the Check For Updates button.
3. Download and install all the updates listed here. 
4. After all the updates have been installed, restart your PC. 

5. Update Keyboard Drivers

If you are facing issues with Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut, you can try updating the keyboard drivers to the latest version. The steps for the same are as follows-

1. Open the Start Menu and from there open Device Manager.
2. Double-click on Keyboards to expand it. 
3. Now, right-click on your keyboard from here, and then click on Update Driver.
4. On the pop-up window that appears, click on Scan automatically for drivers.
5. This will download and install the latest drivers for your keyboard from the internet. 

6. Configure Alt + Tab Keyboard Shortcut

If the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut is not configured properly, this might also cause this issue. Try configuring the keyboard shortcut through the steps given below to fix the issue-

1. Open the Settings app on your PC. 
2. Under the System tab, click on Multitasking. 
3. Now expand the Desktops option by clicking on it. 
4. Click on the drop-down menu next to Show all open windows when I press Alt + Tab and then select On all desktops. 

7. Enable Peek

If the Peek feature is enabled on your system, the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut will work efficiently. You can enable this feature and see if that fixes the issue or not. 

1. Press the Windows key, search for View Advanced System Settings, and open it.
2. Here, under the Performance tab, click on the Settings button.
3. Now, check the checkbox for Enable Peek.
4. Click on Apply and then on OK to save the changes. 

8. Run Antivirus Scan

Viruses or malware on your system may also cause this issue. You can try running the antivirus scan on your PC to fix this issue.

If you have a third-party antivirus or antimalware software, you can run it to scan your PC for the virus, and if not, you can use Windows Security. To run an antivirus scan on Windows Security, follow the steps given below-

1. Press the Windows key, search for Windows Security and open it.
2. Click on Virus & threat protection option and then on Scan Options.
3. Now, select Full Scan and then on Scan Now to run a full system scan.

9. Allow Hotkeys

Ensure you have allowed hotkeys on your Windows PC; if this has been disabled, you can face issues with the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut.

You will have to use Group Policy Editor to do so. Do note that users on the Pro or Enterprise version of Windows can use Group Policy Editor, not users with the Home version. 

1. From the Start Menu, search for Group Policy Editor and open it. 
2. Here head to the following address-

   • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

3. Double-click on the Turn off Windows Key Hotkeys. 
4. Set it to Enabled if it is not. 
5. Now, click on the Apply button to save the changes. 

Final Words

If the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut is not working on your Windows 11, then the above methods should help you fix it. Before continuing with any troubleshooting step in this article, you should ensure that your keys are not faulty.

Generally, this error is caused due to faulty keys or outdated keyboard drivers. You can follow the steps we have mentioned above and that will help you troubleshoot the issue.