The application switchers on macOS and iOS enable you to quickly switch to the apps you’ve used recently. Learn what applications show on each device and key shortcuts to interact with this often unknown or underutilized feature.

Mac App Switcher

On the Mac, hold the Command key and tap Tab. This reveals the application switcher, showing all apps that are currently open. These same apps also have a dot beside them on the Dock.

With Command held, continue to tap Tab to jump to the next app on the row. When you reach the application you want to use next, release Command and that app will become active.

The Mac application switcher arranges apps in order of recent usage, with the current app on the left and the most recently used app to the right of it.

Switching Shortcuts

While the Mac application switcher is visible, there are a number of actions you can take. Jump to the next app by pressing Tab or the right arrow, and to the previous by tapping backtick (next to 1) or Shift+Tab or the left arrow. You can also mouse over a desired app to select it.

Additionally, tap Q to immediately quit the selected application or tap H to hide it. Hiding an app is a great way to get all of its window clutter out of the way without closing or quitting.

The app switcher is controlled by the Dock and mirrors the icons of open applications. So, just as you can drag a file directly to an app on the Dock, you can do the same to an app in the switcher. And if you decide you don’t want to switch after all, just press Escape.

iOS App Switcher

The iOS app switcher is only available when the device is unlocked. On a device with a Home button, double-click the Home button. On an iPad or a device without a Home button, swipe up from the bottom and pause when you get toward the middle of the screen.

This application switcher shows apps as a series of tiles, each containing a picture of the state of the app the last time you were in it. Apps are arranged in order of recent usage from right to left. If an app stops responding or behaving correctly, swipe its tile up to quit it.

Additionally, apps that support Handoff will appear at the bottom of the screen. In the image above, Safari is offering to show the webpage currently open on my Mac named “Jamcycler.”

Common Myth

A lot of users follow a suggestion that if they quit apps from this switcher, their device will conserve battery. This is a myth! Apps in the switcher are held in a suspended state and only a limited number of them are stored in memory for quick reloading.

Quitting apps from the switcher can actually make your experience less efficient. Suppose you quit an app that would have been still in memory the next time you wanted to use it. Your device will use more energy reopening the app from scratch than had you left it open in the first place.

If you’re concerned about battery usage, consider changing app settings for Background App Refresh, which enables apps to check for updates when they’re not open.

Application switchers can be a boon to more efficient computing experiences. If you find the stock Mac app switcher not to your liking, there are plenty of alternatives. Just Google alternative to mac app switcher for a wealth of choices.

Find one you like? Please share.