Alt-Tab Between Windows Only in GNOME
GNOME’s default Alt-Tab behavior switches between applications, grouping all windows from the same app together. If you work with multiple windows in a single application—multiple browser tabs, text editors, or terminals—this becomes frustrating. Here’s how to change it to window-based switching.
Using the Alternate Tab Extension
The simplest approach is enabling GNOME’s built-in Alternate Tab extension, which replaces application-based switching with window-focused switching.
GUI method:
- Open the Extensions application
- Search for “Alternate Tab”
- Toggle the switch to enable it
After activation, Alt-Tab cycles through individual windows instead of jumping between applications.
Command-line installation:
# Fedora/RHEL/CentOS
sudo dnf install gnome-shell-extension-alternate-tab
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-alternate-tab
# Arch
sudo pacman -S gnome-shell-extension-alternate-tabAfter installation, reload GNOME Shell or log out and back in. You can reload without logging out by pressing Alt+F2, typing r, and pressing Enter.
Direct dconf Configuration
If you prefer not to use extensions, modify GNOME’s switcher behavior directly:
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/window-switcher/current-workspace-only trueThis limits Alt-Tab to windows in your current workspace, making switching feel more window-centric. You can also adjust the switcher appearance:
# Use list view instead of grid (shows window titles more clearly)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/window-switcher/app-icon-mode 1Hybrid Approach: Super Key for Windows, Alt-Tab for Apps
If you want both behaviors available, configure separate keybindings:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-windows "['<Super>Tab']"
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-applications "['<Alt>Tab']"Now Super+Tab switches windows while Alt-Tab switches applications. This works well if you occasionally need application-level switching.
To reverse direction (Shift modifier), use:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-windows-backward "['<Super><Shift>Tab']"
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-applications-backward "['<Alt><Shift>Tab']"Troubleshooting
Alt-Tab still groups by application:
- Ensure GNOME Shell has reloaded. Run
killall -HUP gnome-shellor log out and back in - Check version compatibility:
gnome-shell --version - Disable conflicting extensions (check Extensions app for other switcher-related extensions)
Extension won’t install:
- Verify your GNOME version matches extension requirements at extensions.gnome.org
- For GNOME 45+, most extensions require manual compilation if not packaged for your distribution
Need to see what each window contains:
- Enable window previews by setting
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/window-switcher/show-thumbnails true - This shows small previews of each window’s content, useful when multiple windows share the same application
Resetting to Default
To restore GNOME’s default behavior:
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-windows
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-applications
dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/window-switcher/current-workspace-onlyThen disable the Alternate Tab extension if you enabled it.
Additional Tips and Best Practices
When implementing the techniques described in this article, consider these best practices for production environments. Always test changes in a non-production environment first. Document your configuration changes so team members can understand what was modified and why.
Keep your system updated regularly to benefit from security patches and bug fixes. Use package managers rather than manual installations when possible, as they handle dependencies and updates automatically. For critical systems, maintain backups before making any significant changes.
Quick Verification
After applying the changes described above, verify that everything works as expected. Run the relevant commands to confirm the new configuration is active. Check system logs for any errors or warnings that might indicate problems. If something does not work as expected, review the steps carefully and consult the official documentation for your specific version.