Why can't I switch between workbooks in Excel 2010 using ALT-TAB?

Question

When using Windows 7 and Excel 2010, I found that I was suddenly no longer able to switch between workbooks using the keyboard accelerator ALT-TAB, although I could use ALT-TAB to switch between multiple windows opened in the same workbook. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I found the answer on another site,

• In Excel Options -> Advanced -> Display -> Uncheck "Show all windows in the Taskbar",
• Click "OK" to close the menu.
• Then go back and select it again (check the option) and click "OK".

Now all windows are available for Alt+Tab again

Answer 2

On more modern versions of Excel, you use Ctrl + Tab rather than Alt + Tab to switch between workbooks.

Answer 3

I was searching for a solution to get back the old Alt-Tab functionality when working with Microsoft Excel under Windows 10. By default, if you wish to switch between two separate Excel files with Alt-Tab you need to press Alt and then twice Tab. This new feature was a pain for me.

The first solution is to use the Registry workaround as mentioned here: http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-get-the-old-alt-tab-dialog-in-windows-10/. That does the job.

However, I found a more elagant solution if you would like to keep the new look of Alt-Tab (i.e. visual previews of the open programs). Create the following easy Autohotkey script:

[SetTitleMatchMode, 2
#IfWinActive, Microsoft Excel
{
    LAlt & Tab::
    Send, {Alt Down}{Tab}{Tab}{Alt Up}
    Return
}
#IfWinActive][1]

Put it in the Windows autostart and it works like a charm!!

Answer 4

Just want to update this question with the following specifications.

• OS: Windows 10 Enterprise
• Office: Office Home and Business 2010

Backup your registry before making any changes.

In the computer registry (regedit.exe), go to:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\Command

Change the last values to include both /e and "%1". See below for example:

(Default) REG_SZ "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
command REG_MULTI_SZ "xb'BV5!!!!4!!!!MKKSkEXCELFiles>u2BeT,8X[=]9==,*)Nn] /e "%1"

Then rename ddexec to ddexec2, so it will not use the old folder. It will be like what is shown below:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddexec2

Then should be done on Excel.Sheet.8 too, exactly the same as above:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\Command --> replace the last part with /e "%1"
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec --> rename to ddeexec2

Then try to open two Excel files and use Alt+Tab to toggle between the two applications.

Answer 5

I struggled with this same issue, but have a work around:

View Ribbon --> Arrange All (alt, W, A)

Click the option that says "Windows of active workbook"

It doesn't seem to matter if you tile, cascade, etc when you have this box checked. Now Ctrl+tab works for me to toggle between my excel workbooks within the same instance. Alt+Tab still works for all windows, including each individual workbook.

Hope this helps! Love, Chicago Joe