TIL: cmd + tab has a bunch of extras

On macOS cmd + tab brings up the application switcher. “Yes,” you say, “I have used a computer before.”

Screenshot of macOS application swicher showing several applications with the Finder icon selected

But there are a bunch of extras!

  • if you keep the cmd key depressed, you can use tab, shift + tab, ~, the left/right arrow keys, or even the mouse to select the application to activate.
  • press q when an application is selected to quit the program
  • press h when an application is selected to hide it
  • press up/down when an application is selected to show all its windows in an Exposé view
  • if you are dragging a file, you can drop it onto an icon in the switcher (I can’t say I’ve ever used this one. I typically drag-and-drop to the Dock but maybe there are cases where the application switcher is more convenient)
macOS