Windows 11 Alt-tab is a pain with multiple images open in Photoshop

[StevenDenenberg]

Hi, Having just upgraded to Windows 11 from XP (don't laugh!),  I'm finding it too difficult to use alt-tab to switch between open apps when I have lots of images open in Photoshop. Previously: let's say I'm in Photoshop. I had just been in notepad, and I want to pop back there. I click alt-tab, it takes 1/5 of a second, and there I am, back in notepad. In the window that pops up when you press alt-tab, there is *one* instance of Photoshop, *one* instance of each app that is open.

But now, the alt-tab popup shows an instance of Photoshop for *every* image that is currently open within Photoshop, so I can't just snap alt-tab and go back to notebook--rather, I have to click through all the Photoshops to get there, which takes so long as to make alt-tab useless for switching between aps. I've attached an image of what the alt-tab window looks like when Photoshop has many images open. 

So the question: is there a setting, or a registry thingie, that I'm missing, that can make it so alt-tab takes me *just back and forth from Photoshop*, and doesn't consider every image its own destination?

Sure hope I explained that well enough!

/SD

[Sameer K]

This upgrade must be a giant leap for you. I'll try to clarify this for you. This ALT+ Tab behavior has been Microsoft Explorer's way of interpreting Tab instances since Windows 10. I've seen discussions about this on other non-adobe forums too.

You can try Win + Tab instead of ALT + Tab or try this in Photoshop:

• Window > Arrange > Consolidate All to tabs
• Try ALT + Tab now & Windows Explorer should not count each open document as a separate task.

Let me know if this helps. Thanks!
Sameer K

[StevenDenenberg]

Hi, Sameer,

Totally works! However, I can't stand having images in tabs, I like them all floating in their windows, all the time. I don't use tabs at all. Is there *still* a way to fix this? Thanks!

[Scott28945005d3ag]

Yes.  I agree.  Please tell me how I can work with images not in tabs and not have them littering my alt-tab previews.

[StevenDenenberg]

Hi, Scott, This is exactly precisely the question I have, and no, I haven't found a solution yet. I'm surprised more people aren't asking it! -Steve

[Sameer K]

Hey @Scott28945005d3ag. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. This is related to how Microsoft treats tab instances. I have the same workflow.

Maybe creating a help request on Microsoft forums can provide deeper insight into customizing how Explorer works.

There are many experimental steps & tutorials, but, Adobe has not tested or verified these steps. Please try them at your own risk.

Thanks!
Sameer K

[Scott28945005d3ag]

I just upgraded from CS3 because I had to update my computer to Windows 11 and CS3 would not run anymore. 

I have to say that the tabs are driving me nuts!  Typically I drag and drop a bunch of files at once to work with.  I move lawyers around by dragging and dropping from the layers to on top of an other image.  I end up with 100 previews in alt-tab.  It is infuriating!

Also when I drag antoher image into PS, it opens it in a tab behind everything.  I'm like, where is it? 

Frankly, I was perfectly happy in CS3.  It's very frustrating.

[Scott28945005d3ag]

lol...  "layers", not "lawyers"....

[vlaTT]

Sadly, Windows does what it's told by Photoshop. PS specifically requests those image windows to be shown as separate on Alt+Tab. As you can see, this does not happen with Toolbar palettes, for example.
Obviously, someone at Adobe decided this is the best way...
I guess, you can fill a bug repot with Adobe, good luck with that.