To be able to attach two or more windows showing side by side for easier Alt-Tab Switching

[raghavk92]

Hi, 1) So today i was having two windows side by side (vscode and outlook) . Then when i tried to switch to chrome with alt tab . After i was finished with chrome i pressed alt tab was hoping that the split view i created (vscode & outlook) should come back with 1 click of alt tab but i had to find both of the apps with alt tab to bring them back into the required position. If we could somehow attach or pin the two apps together with a shortcut that would be great.This could be extended to four side by side attached windows or custom positioned windows to be attached together for alt-tab. This can also happen in another way where an extra key with alt tab can smartly detect all the windows placed on screen and can be locked for easier alt+tab+(an appropriate key) switching

2) And also while typing the above i had another idea for having alt-tab having two different modes. Where a user can add in a personalized alt-tab section all the applications the person frequently switches . And the user can switch between these modes with a keyboard shortcut.

So what this will do is person can switch to non frequent mode when the user wants to with a keyboard shortcut . and switch to frequent application mode the user wants to so that the user doesnt have to keep searching for the frequently needed apps because some non frequent apps came in front of the alt tab switcher. And both the non frequent and frequent modes can be seen on the alt tab overlay easily.

Dont know if the 2) one would be possible with power toys but please implement the first one.

Thanks PS: Dont know if all the above is currently possible.

[jaimecbernardo]

Thank you for the suggestions, which would be approppriate or a Window Manager features. Regarding having set views that you could switch between, wouldn't Virtual Desktops serve this purpose?

[raghavk92]

Like using virtual desktop in my work flow was kind of cumbersome and was not feeling efficient. I ll explain.

So i work on three different things simultaneously.I have 3 workflows. So i have android studio work on one virtual desktop,VScode native development on one desktop and vscode-insider remote development on another desktop.

So i have lets say 6 windows which i can split half and half making 3 set of 6 windows(This is for 1 workflow). If two windows of a set could be attached together. then its easier 3 set switching with alt tab. If i try to achieve this with virtual desktop i would need to first create 3 virtual desktop for 1 work flow and with 3 work flows it makes (9 desktops) . Then switching between work flows would be excess work if i switch between work flows often. And also some other apps i use support only one instance in only 1 desktop. So if i click on that 1 instance app icon (currently open in 1st virtual desktop) and i am on the 9th virtual desktop the switch to 1st virtual desktop happens and then to switch back to the 9th virtual desktop is 9 cumbersome swipes.

So if we have attachable split windows or attachable custom window positioning available the number of virtual desktops could be reduced for me . So the power of alt-tab and virtual desktops could be used in unison.

Thanks

[guibirow]

I also feel the need of linking two or more windows together.

Many times, I have to open multiple windows side-by-side and switch between them. A simple example is when I switch via outlook, slack and explorer, if for example I am reading an email and on chat with someone on slack, then have to look for a doc to attach to emails and then go back to slack. Other scenarios is using VS and Terminal or a browser open at same time side-by-side.

Having the option to link the windows would be amazing.

Virtual Desktops is an alternative but takes much longer to find and switch to other windows

[Jay-o-Way]

In Windows 11, this is partially adressed. Well, not for Alt+Tab, but in the task bar. Snap one window to the left and another to the right, and hover the icon for either one of them on the task bar.

[tombohub]

Moving our hands to arrow keys while coding is tiring. I'd rather have alt + tab option or if there is another shcortcut for changing desktops?f