The shortcut "ctrl + tab"" to switch tabs (opened documents) doesn't work in Illustrator.

[brumby0890]

The shortcuts "ctrl + tab" and "ctrl + shift + tab" to switch tabs (open documents) don't work in Illustrator. They work in Adobe Photoshop (and any browser or app with tabs), but not in Illustrator for some reason. Please, somebody, fix it.

[Doug A Roberts]

It works fine for me on Windows 11, AI 27.9

Which OS and Illustrator version are you using?

[brumby0890]

macOS 12.7.1

Illustrator 28.0

[Michael Ambroise]

@brumby0890  To switch tabs In Illustrator, the shortcut is: Cmd + ` or Cmd + ~

[brumby0890]

That's exactly what the problem is. It's not standard. It should switch tabs with CTRL + TAB like any other app with tabs does. Even Photoshop does it properly. But not Illustrator for some reason. The inconsistency of Adobe Apps is too significant. That definitely should be fixed.

[Monika Gause]

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@brumby0890  schrieb:

That's exactly what the problem is. It's not standard. 

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Illustrator has been using the mentioned shortcut for longer than Apple has been using what you call a standard. If Illustrator would change their shortcuts every moment when Apple changes their mind, then nobody would be able to build a workflow.

[brumby0890]

Illustrator has been using the mentioned shortcut for longer than Apple has been using what you call a standard. 

By @Monika Gause

1. How dow you know? Have you been using Illustrator since 1985?
2. That's not the Apple's standart. All OSs (Windows OS and Linux as well) and apps (except Illustrator from my experience) use it as a standart shortcut to switch tabs for a good and consistent user experience.

If Illustrator would change their shortcuts every moment when Apple changes their mind, then nobody would be able to build a workflow.

By @Monika Gause

That's exactly what's happening with new users. They can't develop a nice, consistent workflow when using Adobe's apps because the shortcuts are inconsistent and not standardised. They are different when working with Adobe's apps. It feels like Photoshop and Illustrator have been developed by completely different companies. And it doesn't even let users fix this problem themselves:

[Monika Gause]

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@brumby0890  schrieb:

Illustrator has been using the mentioned shortcut for longer than Apple has been using what you call a standard. 

By @Monika Gause

1. How dow you know? Have you been using Illustrator since 1985?

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As I already told you: On Mac OS 10.15 the shortcut you mentioned does not work for switching tabs. So it's not even necessary to be using Illustrator since the beginning of time.

But apart from that: I have been using Apple computer since 1991 and I can assure you that they change "standards" more frequently than some people change their underwear. You will get there in maybe a year.

[Hubertus von Alvensleben]

Maybe Adobe just … Anyway, giv me an easy short cut which works on a standard european keyboard. You can't and Adobe does nothing to make it switch. Anyway I pay Adobe 50+ Euros a month. Aplle I just buy once. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Hubertus von Alvensleben,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Could you share more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator installed, and if this happens when you have another application/window manager running when you encounter this problem, so we can better assist you?

Also, try running Illustrator after rebooting your computer in Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and let us know if it helps.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Craig329638414c1p]

Strange that's not working for me.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @Craig329638414c1p,

Apologies for the delayed response. I hope the issue has been resolved. If not, please feel free to DM me. I would be happy to assist.

Regards,

Srishti

[Okan5CA7]

Hello, can you help me? I'm using mac os too and CTRL + Tab doesn't work for me in illustrator. 

[Michael Ambroise]

You may need to explore the keyboard shortcuts settings in Illustrator.

[Doug A Roberts]

Ctrl + Tab is not accessible from Illustrator's keyboard shortcuts, as it's reserved for system functions. There are equivalent commands ('Navigate to Next Document', default Ctrl + F6), though.

[Michael Ambroise]

To see if there is anything that could have affected this shortcut.

[brumby0890]

Ctrl + TAB (Ctrl + Shift + TAB) is exactly a standard system shortcut to cycle through open tabs. It works everywhere except Illustrator: all web browsers, file managers (Finder), document editors (Pages), and even Photoshop! It should work in Illustrator as well.

It's a standard keyboard shortcut.

[Doug A Roberts]

Hi Brumby,

As I stated, the shortcut is working for me. Can you share you Illustrator version and OS?

[brumby0890]

macOS 12.7.1

Illustrator 28.0

Which shortcut is working for you? CTRL + TAB?

[Doug A Roberts]

Yes. Please see my first post.

[Monika Gause]

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@brumby0890  schrieb:

Ctrl + TAB (Ctrl + Shift + TAB) is exactly a standard system shortcut to cycle through open tabs.

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Is it?

It doesn't work for me in Safari on Mac OS 10.15. So that is not what I would call a standard. Once Apple makes something, it becomes a standard? Not in my book.

[brumby0890]

These shortcuts work fine on macOS 12.7 in Safari 17.1.

You need to update your system. It's obsolete.

This shortcuts (ctrl+tab, ctrl+shift+tab) is a standart for switching tabs in every app on Windows too. 

[Michael Ambroise]

@Doug A Roberts it is noted.

[adriawo]

My problem is in the Photoshop.

Here is woking like this:

- Illustrator:  Cmd + ` or  ~

- Photoshop: ctrl + tab

How can I change Photoshop to work with the shortcut Cmd + ` or  ~

?

[brumby0890]

Why would you want to change it? Photoshop has the standard shortcuts (Ctrl/Cmd + Tab, Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Tab) to cycle through open tabs/documents, so there is no problem with it. The issue lies with Illustrator, as the shortcuts 'Cmd/Ctrl + `' aren't standard and consistent. Open another app with tabs (a web browser of your choice, for instance) and check for yourself.