Microsoft launches a new Alt + Tab makeover for Windows 11

Jan 8, 2022 09:21 GMT  ·  By

Windows 11 comes with a major UI overhaul that’s supposed to make the operating system overall feel fresh and modern.

The round corners, Mica, the centered taskbar, all are bringing the refresh that many users have been drooling over for many years already.

But Microsoft hasn’t completed the UI transformation, and Windows 11 is more of a work-in-progress that will continue to evolve with the debut of every new feature update.

Most recently, the company has introduced a new Alt + Tab experience that’s much more important than you’d be tempted to believe at first.

Currently available only for a limited number of Windows 11 testers in the Windows Insider program, the new Alt + Tab UI no longer uses the full screen but sticks with a windowed mode. As you can see in the screenshot shared by reddit user Unusual-Cap4971 a few hours ago, the Alt + Tab experience now looks more polished, with the blur effect making it feel a lot more modern in a way that makes more sense given the Windows 11 redesign in the first place.

The macOS resemblance

Without a doubt, this new visual update makes the Alt + Tab UI feel more like macOS, and while at some level this is true, it’s not by any means a problem.

The fierce competition between Windows and macOS is no longer a thing that divides their userbases and, in fact, many of those who use Microsoft’s operating system are also Apple users on a regular basis.

At the same time, no matter if it’s inspired by macOS or not, the new Alt + Tab UI just seems to make sense on Windows 11, and it substantially improves the usability going forward. As someone who relies on the app switcher all the time, this is an idea that’s making multi-tasking so much better, and although it doesn’t seem much at first, it’s a great way to improve productivity.

The new Alt + Tab UI isn’t yet ready for everybody, so most likely, it’ll be included in the first Windows 11 feature update expected to launch later this year.