Most users find switching between tabs with a keyboard accessible as it saves time compared to using a mouse. Additionally, it offers numerous options you could choose from while switching tabs. In this article, we have mentioned the different shortcuts you can use to switch between tabs in both Windows and Mac, so keep reading!
How to Switch Tabs via Keyboard in Web Browser?
You can switch tabs through the combination of different shortcut keys on your keyboard. However, shifting through the tabs in your web browser is slightly different from switching tabs between your system apps. The following shortcut keys apply to most web browsers on Windows and Mac. You can shift to the next tab, move back to a previous tab or even jump to a specific tab opened in the web browser.
On Windows
Windows provides a variety of shortcut keys for different functions. The combination of keys to navigate through tabs is given below:
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + PgDn: This switches your tab to the right of the current tab. This loops after you’ve reached the end of the available tabs.Ctrl + Shift + Tab / Ctrl + PgUp: This switches tabs to the left of your current tab.Ctrl + 1, 2, 3…8: This will switch the tab to the corresponding numbered tab. You can only switch up to the eighth tab. Ctrl + 9: This will switch to the last tab on the browser. Ctrl + Shift + A: This will list all the available tabs. You can navigate through the list of tabs with the arrow keys. Press the Enter key on the tab you wish to switch. However, this shortcut key does not apply to Mozilla Firefox.
On Mac
Switching tabs on Mac differs from those on Windows as their keyboard layout is slightly different. Also, shortcut keys that you use to switch tabs in Safari do not apply to other web browsers. Follow the steps for the Safari browser:
Command + Tab: This switches your tab to the right of the current tab and will loop after reaching the last tab.Command + Shift + Tab: It switches tabs to the left of the current tab.Command + 1, 2, 3…8: It will switch the tab to the corresponding numbered tab. Command + 9: It switches to the last tab on the browser.
Follow these steps for other web browsers:
Command + Option + Right–arrow: This switches tabs to the right of the current tab.Command + Option + Left–arrow: It will switch tabs to the left of the current tab.
How to Switch Tabs via Keyboard For System Apps?
The shortcut keys to switch between tabs in a web browser differs from those switching between apps.
On Windows
Replacing the Ctrl key with the Alt key will switch between the system app instead of the browser tabs.
Windows + Tab: This will list all the available tabs.Alt + Tab: This key combination switches windows tabs to the right of the current tab. This loops after you’ve reached the end of the available tabs.Alt + Shift + Tab: This key will switch windows tabs to the left of the current tab.
Additionally, on a laptop, you can also switch tabs by dragging three fingers across the trackpad in the direction that you want to change the tab. You can also use the Windows + D shortcut key to minimize all the opened tabs.
On Mac
The process to switch between apps and browser tabs is very similar.
Command + Tab: This switches to the next system apps.Command + Shift + Tab: It will switch to the previous systems apps.Control + Tab: This will switch to the next tab within a system app.Control + Shift + Tab: This switches to the previous tab within a system app.
How to Manage Tabs With Keyboard?
Aside from switching tabs, you can also perform a variety of actions through the keyboard shortcut in a web browser. Some of them are listed as follows:
On Windows
Ctrl + T: This will open a new tab.Ctrl + N: It opens a new window.Ctrl + Shift + N: This opens the browser in incognito mode.Ctrl + W: This will close the currently open tab.Ctrl + Shift + T: This opens a recently closed tab.
On Mac
Command + T: This will open a new tab on the web browser.Command + W: This closes the current tab in the web browser.Command + ‘: This will open a new window on the web browser.Command + Shift + T: This opens a recently closed tab.
