OmniDock guides
How to switch between windows of the same app on Mac
Command-Tab gets you to an app. To move between that app's windows, try Command and the grave-accent key (`). Want to see the windows before choosing? Control–Down Arrow opens App Exposé for the current app. If those controls already feel right, you don't need another utility.
First, check whether you're looking for an app, a window, or a tab
Two Safari windows still share one Safari icon in Command-Tab. And several browser tabs inside one window are a different thing again: use the browser's own tab controls for those.
| What you want to do | Start here |
|---|---|
| Get back to another app | Command-Tab |
| Move between windows in the current app | Command + grave accent (`) |
| See the current app's windows together | Control–Down Arrow |
| Get an overview of the desktop's open windows | Control–Up Arrow, for Mission Control |
These are the standard shortcuts. The grave-accent key varies with your keyboard, and shortcuts can be reassigned or handled differently by an app. Apple's keyboard shortcut guide explains the defaults.
Prefer to choose by sight? Watch the Dock preview demo. Want a keyboard window picker? See the Option-Tab setup.
Try it with two Chrome or Safari windows
- Open two separate browser windows, not just two tabs. For this test, keep both visible on the same desktop and out of full screen.
- Click one window, then press Command with the grave-accent key (`) to switch to the other. Command-Tab selects the browser app, not a particular browser window.
- Can't tell which window you need? Press Control–Down Arrow to see the current app's windows, then select one.
Shortcut not working? Check the windows and the keys first
If the shortcut does nothing, check that you really have two separate windows and that your keyboard uses that key combination. Restore minimized windows and try again. If you're looking for a tab inside one window, use the browser's tab controls instead.
Prefer choosing from a thumbnail at the Dock? See the preview workflow below. You can compare it with the built-in method using those same two windows.
If you want to pick by sight, use a preview
Window titles are useful until three of them look almost the same. OmniDock can show live or static thumbnails when you hover over a running app's Dock icon. Click the preview of the window you want to bring it forward.
Want to try this with your own windows? Set up Dock previews and check the permissions. Previews represent separate windows, not every tab inside them.
Command-Tab selects an app. How do I choose a window?
Option-Tab selects individual windows
Option-Tab opens OmniDock's separate window picker. In Window Preview, turn on Show Dock Window Previews, then Alt-Tab Preview. Check that Accessibility, Input Monitoring, and Screen Recording are enabled. If another app uses Option-Tab, release that shortcut there before trying it in OmniDock.
Command-Tab still switches apps
OmniDock can add a static preview above the app selected in Command-Tab. It helps you recognize the app's windows without changing the system app switcher into a window-level picker.
See the permission setup if an option isn't working.
An app hotkey is different again: it launches or brings forward one assigned app. It doesn't ask you to choose one of that app's windows.
Does clicking a Dock icon open a new window?
Not necessarily. Opening an app, bringing back one of its existing windows, and creating a new window are different actions. What happens when you click its Dock icon depends on the app and whether it already has windows open.
For a new window, check the app's File menu for its new-window command and shortcut. In Finder, Command-N opens a new Finder window; other apps may use a different command or create a document instead. Apple's shortcut guide lists the Finder shortcut and explains why shortcuts can differ between apps.
OmniDock's previews help you choose an existing window. Its Dock click action can bring an app forward or hide it; it does not add a universal click-to-create-new-window action.
If a window is missing, check its state
Bring the app forward and restore the window before checking again. A hidden or minimized window may have only an earlier snapshot available. Full-screen windows, protected content, Spaces, and the app itself can affect what macOS makes available for preview. A missing thumbnail doesn't mean the document has closed.
Try it with two windows you actually use
Open two separate windows in a familiar app, keep them on the same desktop, and switch with the built-in shortcut. Then try App Exposé. If you still prefer choosing from the Dock, try the preview workflow with those same windows. Test any full-screen or multi-display setup you rely on before changing your everyday routine.
Want to see the window before you switch? Watch the Dock preview demo, then check the setup steps. If it looks useful, try OmniDock with two windows you use every day.
Sources and notes
Apple keyboard shortcuts; Apple Mission Control guide. OmniDock setup and limitations are linked to its feature and support pages above.
What would you like to do next?
- See the window before you switch with Dock hover previews.
- Click again to put the app away, without confusing hiding with minimizing.
- Want fewer utilities to manage? Compare setups around your everyday tasks.