Create a “Switch Between Windows” Shortcut in Windows 7
Posted on February 28, 2010 at 5:40 am
The Aero Desktop introduced in Windows Vista and now part of Windows 7 made amazing visual enhancements to an otherwise static desktop found in previous versions of the operating system. One useful feature is the ability to cycle through open windows and programs using a three-dimensional interface.
Unfortunately, Microsoft made access to this feature a bit complicated for some people. By holding down the Windows key on the keyboard and continually tapping the Tab key, you can cycle through your open windows in three dimensions.
Given that this feature is difficult to access, most people resort to the taskbar to switch between windows. However, there is a way to create a shortcut to this feature so you are just one click away from using the Aero Desktop 3-D windows switching method. Read on to learn how.
Create a Switch Between Windows Icon
To create your Switch Between Windows shortcut, begin by right clicking on the desktop and selecting New and then Shortcut.
Windows will then ask you for the location of the item. Type the following line into the input box:
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe DwmApi #105
Notice that there is a space between exe and DwmApi and another space between DwmApi and #105. Also, if your copy of Windows is on another driver other than C, change C to the drive where Windows is installed.
Click on the Next button and Windows will ask you to name your shortcut. Type in the name Switch Between Windows and click the Finish button. Truthfully, you could name this shortcut anything you want but it makes sense to use the name above so you can identify it easily later.
You should now have the Switch Between Windows shortcut on your desktop. However, you can give it the appropriate icon so it is easier to identify.
Right click on the Switch Between Windows shortcut and choose Properties.
On the Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button.
Click the Browse button and locate the file at:
C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll
Be careful because there are several files in that folder with similar names. Again, if your copy of Windows is installed on a driver other than C, change the driver letter to wherever you have Windows installed. Choose the icon in the upper left hand corner that looks like a bunch of stacked windows.
Click the OK button and then click the OK Button on the window underneath. The icon of your Switch Between Windows shortcut should change to the one you chose.
Using the Switch Between Windows Shortcut
Now that you have the new shortcut, click on it and notice that you don’t have to hold down any keys to make it work. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to flip between open windows and use the Enter key to choose the window you want.
However, storing the Switch Between Windows key on the desktop would mean that you need to minimize all windows currently open to get to it. To make your new shortcut more convenient to use, drag the shortcut to the taskbar to pin it. Now your Switch Between Windows shortcut will always be visible and ready to use.
Using the Windows key plus Tab combination is an awkward method of switching between windows using the Aero desktop. By creating a shortcut and pinning it to the taskbar, you always have the ability to use this feature in a much easier way.
» Filed Under Windows 7
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This is useful, but I think the shortcut works way better if you can assign a keyboard shortcut to it. Though I’m not sure why you think pressing ALT + TAB is really that difficult! I do it all the time and it’s pretty normal for most people.
It’s WIN+TAB (Windows key), not ALT+TAB to see the 3D view for switching between windows (BTW holding SHIFT down in both “views” does it backwards, while quickly depressing ALT key instead of holding it down switches between current and last selected window back and forth)
BTW Vista does have this icon at the quick launch toolbar, but it’s nice to know how to make your own for Win7 if you don’t have quick launch icons shown (I suppose that is the default in Win7). Also nice to know the path to that extra icons DLL
(btw, try adding a sharethis or a tweetmeme or similar widget to your posts for easier sharing)
I still can’t do it! Win + Tab doesnt work, the shortcut doesnt work. Is it because I have Windows 7 32bit?
I am using windows 7 32 bit and it works fine for me
Probably you have the very low end version of Windows 7 that may not include Aero Desktop (if I’m correct, cause that was the case with Vista Home Basic)
Else it’s an issue with either your keyboard or the keyboard layout you’ve told the system you’re using, although that has low probability
Or could be that you don’t have latest graphics card drivers installed (e.g. if you have NVIDIA card can get them via autodetection [using IE] from http://www.nvidia.com, else try the free speccy from piriform.com or Everest or SiSoftware’s Sandra, or run dxdiag.exe to find out what graphics card you have).
Should also install latest DirectX (try http://www.microsoft.com/directx)
i have the latest directx, but i have a radeon 4200 which is integratedi believe
i dont know if that is causing the problem