Why do I have to hit tab twice to Alt+Tab away from Microsoft Excel?

In other apps, when I hit Alt+Tab it switches to the previous app. Before I actually release the Alt key I can see a list of windows as well and the previous windows is selected. But in Excel 2010 (Professional Plus, if that makes any difference) hitting Alt+Tab and not releasing Alt shows Excel still selected, and in any case I have to hit Tab an extra time to switch to the previous application. (Alt+Tab+Tab) Furthermore, the iconized view showing my spreadsheet only takes up about 1/3 of the height available.

Needless to say this throws off my workflow because switching between Excel and another application is inconsistent, requiring an extra keystroke to switch away but not to switch back. Is this a bug in Excel, or is there some option that I need to change to get the default behavior? What's going on here?

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

How many excelsheets do you have open? Maybe its switching to a previously viewed excelsheet?

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 17:47

@LPChip Just one open... I tried opening another and playing around with tabs, and while it has the same problem, they stay separate the way I would expect.

– Michael
Jun 13 '16 at 19:43

Ok, just to make sure. This is an odd behaviour though. I don't have excel with me right now to do some testing though.

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 21:02

Because Microsoft

– Salman A
Jan 19 '18 at 21:06

The accepted solution (as of Jan 2019, idk how to link to it), the 3rd step actually undoes the change - it should be edited. Also, you will no longer be able to Alt-Tab between Excel Documents - alt-tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc. Work-around: with Excel active, Ctrl-Tab will switch between documents. Another answer below purports a RegEdit method to essentially revert back to the WinXP way (alt-tab across all open docs. I haven't tested).

– spioter
Jan 11 at 15:18

add a comment |

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

How many excelsheets do you have open? Maybe its switching to a previously viewed excelsheet?

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 17:47

@LPChip Just one open... I tried opening another and playing around with tabs, and while it has the same problem, they stay separate the way I would expect.

– Michael
Jun 13 '16 at 19:43

Ok, just to make sure. This is an odd behaviour though. I don't have excel with me right now to do some testing though.

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 21:02

Because Microsoft

– Salman A
Jan 19 '18 at 21:06

The accepted solution (as of Jan 2019, idk how to link to it), the 3rd step actually undoes the change - it should be edited. Also, you will no longer be able to Alt-Tab between Excel Documents - alt-tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc. Work-around: with Excel active, Ctrl-Tab will switch between documents. Another answer below purports a RegEdit method to essentially revert back to the WinXP way (alt-tab across all open docs. I haven't tested).

– spioter
Jan 11 at 15:18

add a comment |

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

microsoft-excel windows-10 microsoft-excel-2010 hotkeys

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

asked Jun 13 '16 at 17:30

Michael

1,43351537

How many excelsheets do you have open? Maybe its switching to a previously viewed excelsheet?

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 17:47

@LPChip Just one open... I tried opening another and playing around with tabs, and while it has the same problem, they stay separate the way I would expect.

– Michael
Jun 13 '16 at 19:43

Ok, just to make sure. This is an odd behaviour though. I don't have excel with me right now to do some testing though.

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 21:02

Because Microsoft

– Salman A
Jan 19 '18 at 21:06

The accepted solution (as of Jan 2019, idk how to link to it), the 3rd step actually undoes the change - it should be edited. Also, you will no longer be able to Alt-Tab between Excel Documents - alt-tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc. Work-around: with Excel active, Ctrl-Tab will switch between documents. Another answer below purports a RegEdit method to essentially revert back to the WinXP way (alt-tab across all open docs. I haven't tested).

– spioter
Jan 11 at 15:18

add a comment |

How many excelsheets do you have open? Maybe its switching to a previously viewed excelsheet?

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 17:47

@LPChip Just one open... I tried opening another and playing around with tabs, and while it has the same problem, they stay separate the way I would expect.

– Michael
Jun 13 '16 at 19:43

Ok, just to make sure. This is an odd behaviour though. I don't have excel with me right now to do some testing though.

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 21:02

Because Microsoft

– Salman A
Jan 19 '18 at 21:06

The accepted solution (as of Jan 2019, idk how to link to it), the 3rd step actually undoes the change - it should be edited. Also, you will no longer be able to Alt-Tab between Excel Documents - alt-tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc. Work-around: with Excel active, Ctrl-Tab will switch between documents. Another answer below purports a RegEdit method to essentially revert back to the WinXP way (alt-tab across all open docs. I haven't tested).

– spioter
Jan 11 at 15:18

How many excelsheets do you have open? Maybe its switching to a previously viewed excelsheet?

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 17:47

@LPChip Just one open... I tried opening another and playing around with tabs, and while it has the same problem, they stay separate the way I would expect.

– Michael
Jun 13 '16 at 19:43

Ok, just to make sure. This is an odd behaviour though. I don't have excel with me right now to do some testing though.

– LPChip
Jun 13 '16 at 21:02

Because Microsoft

– Salman A
Jan 19 '18 at 21:06

The accepted solution (as of Jan 2019, idk how to link to it), the 3rd step actually undoes the change - it should be edited. Also, you will no longer be able to Alt-Tab between Excel Documents - alt-tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc. Work-around: with Excel active, Ctrl-Tab will switch between documents. Another answer below purports a RegEdit method to essentially revert back to the WinXP way (alt-tab across all open docs. I haven't tested).

– spioter
Jan 11 at 15:18

add a comment |

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

In Excel 2010 and below,

Go to "Excel Options" → "Advanced" → "Display",

Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",

Click "OK" to close the Options window.

Now Alt+Tab should work fine again.

spioter says

[With] the [above] solution …, you will no longer be able
to Alt+Tab between Excel documents [workbooks] –
Alt+Tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc.
Work-around: with Excel active,
Ctrl+Tab will switch between documents.

To revert this to the old behavior,
simply go back and check the option again.

This option does not exist in Excel 2013.
teylyn says

In the 2013 version, each Excel file shows in its own window.
This is one major change to previous versions.
Each window has its own ribbon
and it is no longer possible to show several Excel files in the same window.

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

4

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

5

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

1

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

1

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

|
show 2 more comments

This was also happening to me when switching between excel and Chrome - one of my Chrome extensions was a video downloader - disabling this in chrome://extensions/ fixed the Alt+Tab+Tab issue for me. Seems a bit random but might be worth a look.

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

add a comment |

My workaround for this problem is to use the old Windows XP Alt + Tab UI, following the steps described in the answer to this Microsoft support thread:

Open Registry Editor (Win+R followed by regedit)

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer

Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named AltTabSettings and set it to 1

Sign out and sign back in again (or restart)

Here is what the old Alt+Tab UI looks like. When Alt + Tabbing from the Excel window, the previous application is selected after the first Alt + Tab!

The old UI is a lot more limited, it doesn't show thumbnails for the open windows, and you can't click to select windows. But since I frequently Alt + Tab between different Excel windows, and also between Excel windows and other application windows, I'd prefer sticking with the older UI over having to deal with the Alt + Tab + Tab.

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

add a comment |

protected by Community♦ Apr 26 '17 at 17:32

Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

In Excel 2010 and below,

Go to "Excel Options" → "Advanced" → "Display",

Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",

Click "OK" to close the Options window.

Now Alt+Tab should work fine again.

spioter says

[With] the [above] solution …, you will no longer be able
to Alt+Tab between Excel documents [workbooks] –
Alt+Tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc.
Work-around: with Excel active,
Ctrl+Tab will switch between documents.

To revert this to the old behavior,
simply go back and check the option again.

This option does not exist in Excel 2013.
teylyn says

In the 2013 version, each Excel file shows in its own window.
This is one major change to previous versions.
Each window has its own ribbon
and it is no longer possible to show several Excel files in the same window.

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

4

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

5

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

1

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

1

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

|
show 2 more comments

In Excel 2010 and below,

Go to "Excel Options" → "Advanced" → "Display",

Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",

Click "OK" to close the Options window.

Now Alt+Tab should work fine again.

spioter says

[With] the [above] solution …, you will no longer be able
to Alt+Tab between Excel documents [workbooks] –
Alt+Tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc.
Work-around: with Excel active,
Ctrl+Tab will switch between documents.

To revert this to the old behavior,
simply go back and check the option again.

This option does not exist in Excel 2013.
teylyn says

In the 2013 version, each Excel file shows in its own window.
This is one major change to previous versions.
Each window has its own ribbon
and it is no longer possible to show several Excel files in the same window.

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

4

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

5

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

1

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

1

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

|
show 2 more comments

In Excel 2010 and below,

Go to "Excel Options" → "Advanced" → "Display",

Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",

Click "OK" to close the Options window.

Now Alt+Tab should work fine again.

spioter says

[With] the [above] solution …, you will no longer be able
to Alt+Tab between Excel documents [workbooks] –
Alt+Tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc.
Work-around: with Excel active,
Ctrl+Tab will switch between documents.

To revert this to the old behavior,
simply go back and check the option again.

This option does not exist in Excel 2013.
teylyn says

In the 2013 version, each Excel file shows in its own window.
This is one major change to previous versions.
Each window has its own ribbon
and it is no longer possible to show several Excel files in the same window.

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

In Excel 2010 and below,

Go to "Excel Options" → "Advanced" → "Display",

Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",

Click "OK" to close the Options window.

Now Alt+Tab should work fine again.

spioter says

[With] the [above] solution …, you will no longer be able
to Alt+Tab between Excel documents [workbooks] –
Alt+Tab will only "see" the last active Excel doc.
Work-around: with Excel active,
Ctrl+Tab will switch between documents.

To revert this to the old behavior,
simply go back and check the option again.

This option does not exist in Excel 2013.
teylyn says

In the 2013 version, each Excel file shows in its own window.
This is one major change to previous versions.
Each window has its own ribbon
and it is no longer possible to show several Excel files in the same window.

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

edited Jan 12 at 4:46

Scott

15.8k113990

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

answered Jul 22 '16 at 8:06

Pietie

17613

4

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

5

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

1

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

1

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

|
show 2 more comments

4

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

5

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

1

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

1

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

If I ignore the last step then it works, although I now have a bit more work to switch between excel windows. But if I do the last step, it reverts to the old behavior.

– Michael
Jul 27 '16 at 17:02

Doing the first two bullets fixes the issue. The last bullet creates the issue again.

– Sam Sepiol
Apr 5 '17 at 12:50

"Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK"." This is unnecessary. It re-introduces the problem that the first two steps solve.

– ADTC
Dec 5 '17 at 23:57

@spioter: I just voted to reject your edit, because (1) (Most important) I found the “Steps 2 of 2” heading totally incomprehensible. (2) You referred to “comments to the original question”, and I don’t know what you mean. If you’re referring to your comment on the original question, you should just state that concern in the answer (i.e., in your edit). (3) You broke the formatting. (Hint: you have to have a blank line before the “‑ In Excel Options” line.) P.S. Also, look into “kbd” formatting. … … … … … … … … … If you fix those problems and try again, it might be approved.

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

P.S. Welcome back to Super User! (It’s been three years since you last contributed, and I don’t want to scare you away again!)

– Scott
Jan 10 at 16:52

|
show 2 more comments

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

add a comment |

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

add a comment |

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

answered Nov 16 '16 at 13:32

user664527

111

add a comment |

My workaround for this problem is to use the old Windows XP Alt + Tab UI, following the steps described in the answer to this Microsoft support thread:

Open Registry Editor (Win+R followed by regedit)

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer

Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named AltTabSettings and set it to 1

Sign out and sign back in again (or restart)

Here is what the old Alt+Tab UI looks like. When Alt + Tabbing from the Excel window, the previous application is selected after the first Alt + Tab!

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

add a comment |

My workaround for this problem is to use the old Windows XP Alt + Tab UI, following the steps described in the answer to this Microsoft support thread:

Open Registry Editor (Win+R followed by regedit)

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer

Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named AltTabSettings and set it to 1

Sign out and sign back in again (or restart)

Here is what the old Alt+Tab UI looks like. When Alt + Tabbing from the Excel window, the previous application is selected after the first Alt + Tab!

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

add a comment |

My workaround for this problem is to use the old Windows XP Alt + Tab UI, following the steps described in the answer to this Microsoft support thread:

Open Registry Editor (Win+R followed by regedit)

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer

Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named AltTabSettings and set it to 1

Sign out and sign back in again (or restart)

Here is what the old Alt+Tab UI looks like. When Alt + Tabbing from the Excel window, the previous application is selected after the first Alt + Tab!

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

My workaround for this problem is to use the old Windows XP Alt + Tab UI, following the steps described in the answer to this Microsoft support thread:

Open Registry Editor (Win+R followed by regedit)

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer

Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named AltTabSettings and set it to 1

Sign out and sign back in again (or restart)

Here is what the old Alt+Tab UI looks like. When Alt + Tabbing from the Excel window, the previous application is selected after the first Alt + Tab!

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

edited Jul 18 '18 at 7:25

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

answered Jul 18 '18 at 7:12

ahiijny

1967

add a comment |

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