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Change the Number of Rows and Columns in Windows ALT+TAB
Tags: The keyboard shortcut ALT+TAB is well known and often used. In case you didn’t know, the shortcut allows you to quickly switch between all your currently running applications visually. In XP, applications were shown by their icons; more recently in Vista the applications are depicted by small thumbnails of the actual process. Task switching is just something I do instinctively with ALT+TAB. If you are the same, and you are a heavy multi-tasker you are probably aware that the ALT+TAB dialog is limited to a certain number of columns and rows – 7 columns and 3 rows in Vista for example. What this means is that I am constrained to 21 running applications if I want to continue to use the task switch feature. Annoying, but also something I realize only affects a select few. If you are one such user you may be interested in knowing that it is possible to adjust this restriction.
- Click Start and in the Start Search box type regedit.exe.
- Traverse the Registry Editor navigation tree on the left hand side down to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- You will notice two keys in the right-hand panel: CoolSwitchColumns and CoolSwitchRows. As you’ve probably realized by now, these two keys control the number of columns and rows for Windows ALT+TAB task switch aka CoolSwitch. Change the values by double-clicking on the key. I’ve set mine to columns 12 and left the rows to the default of 3.
- Lastly, this registry change requires you to restart your desktop session either by a Log Off or Restart.
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I have had absolutely no luck with this and I have tried it on several computers with the following OS’s
Windows Vista Business 64 bit SP2
Windows Vista Business 32 bit SP1
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
I have followed the directions exactly, so the only thing I can think of is that maybe you did not have the service packs installed when you made the post and they changed something that affected this. So my question is, does this still work for you? If so, what OS exactly are you using.
By the way, your screenshot does not match your description. You wrote:
“I’ve set mine to rows to 12 and left the columns to the default of 3″
But the screenshot shows columns 12 and 3 is the default for rows.
I just tested this again on an XP Pro SP3 with success. You are making the change and rebooting correct? I don’t have access to Vista Business but I’ll give it a try on Win 7 RC.
I’ve updated the text description of the screenshot as well, thanks!