BetterWinTab is the window switcher that should have shipped with Windows. PressDocumentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/sgm1018/BetterWinTab/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Ctrl + Tab to open a compact overlay showing every open window, grouped into context-aware folders, searchable in real time — all without touching the mouse.
Installation
Download the installer or portable build and get BetterWinTab running on Windows 10/11 in minutes.
Quickstart
Open the overlay, navigate windows, and set up your first Smart Folder in under five minutes.
Smart Folders
Auto-group windows by process name, window class, or composite AND/OR rules.
Configuration
Customize hotkeys, live previews, clipboard history, startup behavior, and more.
Why BetterWinTab?
Modern power users run dozens of windows simultaneously — multiple VS Code instances, browser profiles, terminals, and dashboards — yet the built-inAlt + Tab still shows a flat, recency-ordered list with no context. BetterWinTab fixes this with three core ideas:
- Context — windows are organized into folders by app, project, or any custom rule you define.
- Search — type any part of a title, process name, or app name to instantly filter every open window.
- Speed — the overlay opens, filters, and closes without ever requiring the mouse.
Core Features
Window Navigation
Keyboard shortcuts for moving between folders and windows at full speed.
Fuzzy Search
Typo-tolerant real-time search across all open windows and installed apps.
App Launcher
Launch any installed application when no open window matches your search.
Clipboard History
Access and paste recent clipboard entries without leaving the keyboard.
Themes
Built-in presets or fully custom color tokens for every UI surface.
Virtual Desktops
Per-window desktop badges so you always know which desktop a window lives on.
Get Up and Running
Download BetterWinTab
Grab the latest installer from the GitHub Releases page. Run
BetterWinTab-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe and follow the wizard.Launch the overlay
After installation, BetterWinTab starts in the system tray. Press
Ctrl + Tab to open the window switcher overlay.Navigate and focus
Use
Arrow keys to browse windows, Tab / Shift + Tab to switch folders, and Enter to focus the selected window. Start typing at any time to search.BetterWinTab requires Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11. It is a native WinUI 3 application — no Electron, no web runtime, no admin rights required for the default per-user install.