Why Cmd+Tab is Broken on Mac (and How to Fix It)
Every Mac user relies on Cmd+Tab dozens of times a day. It feels fast, familiar, and fundamental. But if you work with more than a few apps and windows, you've probably noticed something frustrating: Cmd+Tab doesn't actually switch windows. It switches apps.
That distinction creates real problems as soon as your workflow gets serious. Here's why macOS Cmd+Tab is broken for modern multitasking — and how DockMaster's Global Switcher fixes it.
The Three Problems with Cmd+Tab
1. It Switches Apps, Not Windows
When you press Cmd+Tab, macOS shows a row of application icons. Selecting an app brings its most recently focused window to the front — but if you have five Safari windows or three VS Code editors open, you have no way to choose which one. You land on whichever window macOS thinks was last active, and that's often wrong.
2. Ghost Windows
Cmd+Tab shows every running app, even if an app has no open windows. Close all Finder windows and Finder still appears in the switcher. This "ghost window" problem clutters the list and makes it harder to find what you need. You select Finder expecting a window, and nothing happens.
3. Minimized Windows Disappear
Minimize a window to the Dock and it vanishes from Cmd+Tab entirely. The app still shows in the switcher, but tabbing to it won't restore the minimized window. You have to click the Dock icon or use Cmd+Tab then Cmd+Option while releasing Tab — an obscure gesture most users never discover.
How DockMaster Fixes Window Switching
DockMaster adds a Global Switcher triggered by Option+Tab (fully customizable). Instead of showing app icons, it shows every open window across every app in a full-screen grid — with live thumbnails so you can see exactly what's in each window.
- Window-level switching — every window gets its own thumbnail. No more guessing which Safari window is which.
- Type-to-search — start typing to filter windows by app name or window title. Typing "figma design" instantly narrows the grid to matching windows.
- Cross-Space teleportation — select a window on any macOS Space and DockMaster brings it to your current Space silently, without the jarring space-switching animation.
- Minimized windows included — minimized and hidden windows appear in the grid with a subtle indicator, so nothing is lost.
- No ghost entries — apps without windows are excluded from the switcher entirely.
Under the Hood
DockMaster uses macOS Accessibility APIs (AXUIElement) and CGWindowListCopyWindowInfo to build a real-time map of every window on the system. AXUIElement provides window titles, roles, and positions, while CGWindowList supplies the window IDs and layer info needed to generate live thumbnails via ScreenCaptureKit.
This dual-API approach is necessary because neither API alone gives the full picture. AXUIElement doesn't provide window images, and CGWindowList doesn't provide semantic info like titles for all window types. DockMaster merges both into a unified window model that updates in real time.
Customization
The Global Switcher is fully configurable. You can change the trigger shortcut, adjust grid density, choose between light and dark appearance, and set whether activating a window teleports it to the current Space or switches you to the window's Space. Every option is accessible from DockMaster's preferences panel.
Get Started
Download DockMaster, grant Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions, and press Option+Tab to open the Global Switcher. The free version includes basic window switching — upgrade to Pro (£14.99) to unlock type-to-search, cross-Space teleportation, and unlimited window grid.