How to Get Windows XP Styled Classic “Alt+Tab” Switcher Screen in Windows Vista and 7?

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Whenever you press "Alt+Tab" key combination in Windows Vista or 7, it shows a new improved screen which shows running application names along with their live thumbnails so that you can see the window content before switching to them.

The "Alt+Tab" switcher screen also shows "Desktop" in the list so that you can directly access Desktop icons without minimizing all running applications manually.

Its good and very handy but some people might find it annoying as it takes some time to show the switcher screen and selecting the running application. If you also find it annoying or boring and want to bring back the good old Windows XP styled Classic "Alt+Tab" Switcher screen in Windows Vista and 7, this tutorial will help you.

Please follow these simple steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

3. In right-side pane, create a new DWORD value AltTabSettings and set its value to 1

4. That's it. Now whenever you'll press "Alt+Tab" keys together, it'll show Windows XP styled classic "Alt+Tab" Switcher screen instead of the new screen.

5. To restore default Aero enabled "Alt+Tab" Switcher screen, simply delete the AltTabSettings DWORD value created in step 3. Log off and login again to take effect.

NOTE. If you want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file:

Download Registry Script

BONUS TIP: If you don't want to set the Classic "Alt+Tab" Switcher screen permanent but want to enjoy it temporarily, then you can follow these simple steps:

Press and hold Left or Right Alt key.

Now press and release the other Alt key on your keyboard but keep pressing the first Alt key.

Now press Tab key and you'll get the Windows XP styled Classic "Alt+Tab" Switcher screen.

Its a bug in Windows Vista and 7. Actually this bug can also be reproduced in Windows Vista Beta versions...

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista.

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Jusil164

Thanks. is it compatible with vista? sorry typo error..
Jusil164

VG!... not working in vista... is there another way??
master

What the......

hey that bug is no fixed in SP2!!! Very Happy!!!

:-)
Nico

Very good info!

I read, that most people see no point in using the XP Style Alt+Tab. OK, than they don't need it.

For me it's a big benefit to have it back. It's faster and much clearer to me. I always had a hard time to distinguish between the apps by looking at the thumbnails. A big screen compressed into a tiny picture looks pretty much the same for everything. The icons are more expressive IMO.

And people who know about WIN+D don't need the desktop in the ALT+TAB bar either.
Someone

For some reason the old alt + tab window shows up. I didn't change the registry!
Justus

It's not a downgrade for everybody. I would consider myself a poweruser and switch very often betwen applications in a haste. Seeing just the program icons is much, much more convenient than seening thumbnails, which in the haste of the workflow appear all the same, whereas the icons are very distinctive.
rcmero

The bonus tip does not work in Windows 7 SP1, update post please Vishal.
VG

^^ Its working here in Windows 7 SP1.
David

"Another downgrade :) for those that are still arrested to XP and like nostalgia.
Somebody will still create a transformation pack to change the appearance of Vista/7 to XP or Windows 3.1.

@SC....NOT SO BRIGHT

You must like doing extra work. When switching between apps that are open pushing an extra button for absolutely NO REASON at all makes not sense at all but you must like doing more work than necessary.

If i want to see teh desktop i can windows key + D but why put a totally useless, most times, icon that almost never gets used and has to be pressed EVERY TIME IF IT IS IN TEH WAY IS BEYOND ME.

More crap from MS.

Windows 7 IS THE LAST version i will buy.