Stardock has introduced AltTabby, a new Windows utility that expands the familiar Alt+Tab shortcut with extra navigation tools, search, pinning and customizable layouts.
The software is currently available in beta for $7.99, with a 20 percent discount applied during the beta period. Once that discount ends, the price is expected to rise to just under $10.
AltTabby is designed for people who regularly work with many open applications and browser windows and want more control over how they switch between them.
AltTabby adds more control to window switching
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main purpose | Replaces or expands Windows Alt+Tab |
| Window pinning | Yes |
| Search | Included |
| Custom layouts | Included |
| App grouping | Supported |
| Visual modes | Icons or window previews |
| Same app switching | Additional shortcut options |
| Beta price | $7.99 |
| Expected regular price | Just under $10 |
| Trial | Available |
Windows already provides a simple Alt+Tab interface for moving between open windows, but AltTabby adds tools intended to make that process easier when a desktop becomes crowded.
One of its most practical features is window pinning. You can pin an important application or window so that it remains easier to locate rather than repeatedly cycling through everything currently open.
Search can help with large numbers of windows
AltTabby also includes a search interface.
Instead of moving manually through a long list of applications, you can search for the window you need.
That could become useful for people who regularly keep many browser windows, documents, communication apps and development tools open at the same time.
The utility also offers different visual approaches to switching between windows.
You can use an icon based view or larger screenshots of the applications themselves.
One layout has a visual presentation similar to Apple’s older Cover Flow interface, placing applications in a more graphical arrangement rather than Windows’ standard flat row of previews.
Same app window switching gets additional options
AltTabby is not limited to switching between unrelated applications.
It also provides configuration options for moving between multiple windows belonging to the same program through additional keyboard shortcuts.
That can be useful when an application contains several separate windows.
For example, someone working with multiple browser windows, File Explorer instances or document windows could move between them without navigating through every other program currently open.
The utility contains a larger collection of configuration options for people willing to customize their workflow.
That flexibility appears to be one of its main advantages over the default Windows implementation.
Stardock continues modifying core Windows features
AltTabby joins several other Stardock utilities that modify or expand parts of the Windows interface.
Start11 provides alternative Start menu designs, while Fences organizes desktop icons and Groupy allows applications to be managed using tab style groups.
AltTabby follows the same general approach by taking a familiar Windows feature and adding more customization rather than replacing the entire desktop experience.
It is also separate from another project called Alt Tabby that is available through GitHub. Despite the similar names, the two projects are unrelated.
Standard Alt+Tab may still be enough for many people
The biggest question is whether the additional functionality is worth paying for.
Windows Alt+Tab is intentionally simple and already works well for quickly moving between a small number of applications.
If you usually have only a few programs open, AltTabby may add more complexity than you need.
Its value becomes clearer for heavier multitasking.
Pinning, search, same app window switching and configurable layouts can reduce the amount of cycling required when dozens of windows are open.
The software also has a trial option, so you can test whether those additions make a meaningful difference before buying it.
At $7.99 during beta, AltTabby is relatively inexpensive, but it is competing against a Windows shortcut that already comes free with the operating system.
For people who frequently lose track of windows or want more control over Alt+Tab behavior, however, Stardock’s latest utility provides a more configurable alternative to Microsoft’s default switcher.
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