Here is an interesting thing that I came across in Windows 7 very recently. I have been using the good old Alt + Tab feature in Windows Vista & Windows 7 as well. Last evening, when I was playing with some Windows 7 feature, I came to know that the classic Alt + tab can be viewed in Windows 7 with Aero theme enabled as well.
If you have used Windows 7 Alt + Tab feature, then you might know that how the alt + tab bar looks like with the Windows aero enabled. While Windows 7 Aero displays the default aero enabled Alt + tab bar, one can also view the Alt + Tab in classic style without disabling the Aero feature.
Here is how it works:
1. Open Windows explorer & a few applications so that you can start using Alt + Tab feature.
2. First, press Alt + Tab keys to view the Alt + Tab bar.
3. Next, to see the classic Alt + Tab bar, hold another Alt key (say the right-side one)& don’t release the first Alt key. Now you will not be able to see the Alt + Tab bar. That’s fine.
4. Again, hold the Alt + Tab bar to see the classic Alt + Tab bar.
5. That’s it.
I know, there is no use with this trick, but it’s good to know that Windows 7 Aero supports classic Alt + Tab!
Aero Bear says
And how do I change it back?
Nick says
Ramin: another thanks for your hint!
Cherok says
Ramin, thnx!!!! It works, instantly! And that with supermodern Win7 :) I’m no longer slave of a nanny OS. Wow.
I use a 64bit version of Win7, but here too, done as Ramin wrote and it works.
Gü Bosch says
Ramin, thanks a lot. Good work
Katja says
Ramin, thaaaaaaaaaaanks a lot. that really help to work much quicker as I have not to watch all the changes in the back.
Ramin says
To see Classic AlT+TAB like Windows XP to switch between running applications:
Hold ALT + press and release the other ALT key + TAB
To permanently change the view, you need to change Registry data.
To get the classic Alt Tab feature in Windows 7 from registry editor:
1. Go to start, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
3. In right-side pane, create a new DWORD value AltTabSettings and set its value to 1.
4. Now whenever you’ll press “Alt+Tab” keys together, it’ll show Windows XP styled classic “Alt+Tab” Switcher screen instead of the new screen.
5. To restore default Aero enabled “Alt+Tab” Switcher screen, simply delete the AltTabSettings DWORD value created in step 3. Log off and login again to take effect.
Andreas says
Nice tip!
But how can I restore it to Windows 7 default?
Greg says
Good find. You can also see the classic Alt+Tab menu immediately on launch by doing this:
ALT + (tap the other ALT key) + TAB
To make it default, see here: