Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab is a Windows 11 preference that chooses whether the Alt+Tab task switcher includes windows from the active virtual desktop only or from every desktop. The supported route is Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops, and the change applies to the current Windows profile without an administrator prompt.
This guide uses the exact control visible on the tested Windows 11 25H2 build. The evidence session began at Only on the desktop I’m using, changed only the target to On all desktops, and restored Only on the desktop I’m using before Settings and ShareX were closed.
What does Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab change?
Chooses whether the alt+tab task switcher includes windows from the active virtual desktop only or from every desktop. This virtual-desktop filter is separate from the nearby menu that adds recent app tabs to Alt+Tab. One controls which desktops contribute windows; the other controls supported app tabs.
Use current-desktop mode to keep each workspace focused. Use all desktops when you want Alt+Tab to reach any open window without opening Task View first.
Microsoft Support documents the current Windows feature and its supported Settings path. The official description and the locally reproduced labels agree, so the procedure below does not rely on an old Registry tweak, a third-party utility, or an assumed control name.
Table of contents
What should you record before changing it?
Write down the displayed value before selecting anything. For this test, it was Only on the desktop I’m using. Windows applies the preference immediately, and there is no separate Apply button, so the recorded baseline is the rollback reference.
Close confidential windows or move them out of the test workspace before checking a task switcher, taskbar preview, Snap suggestion, or keyboard behavior. The setting itself is low risk, but a verification surface can reveal titles or thumbnails from apps that were already open.
Change only the named control. The surrounding Multitasking or Accessibility page contains related choices that can alter a different part of the experience. Keeping every sibling unchanged makes the observed result attributable to one preference.
How do you change Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab?
Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Follow Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops. Use the breadcrumb and section label to confirm that you are on the intended page.
Expand Desktops and choose whether Alt+Tab should use only the current desktop or all desktops.
Confirm that the current value matches the one you recorded. In the reproduced session, it was Only on the desktop I’m using.
For the controlled comparison, select On all desktops from the menu. If you are configuring your own PC, choose the value that matches the behavior you want.
Microsoft Support explains the broader Windows workflow around this control. It helps distinguish the setting from adjacent features and confirms that a normal Settings change is the supported approach.
Microsoft Support confirms the related keyboard, taskbar, shortcut, or virtual-desktop boundary used in this guide. It is included because it supports a distinct claim rather than repeating the same route.
How can you verify the result safely?
Create a temporary second desktop, open a harmless app on it, return to the first desktop, and press Alt+Tab. Compare the list without selecting a private window, then restore the original menu choice.
First re-read the exact Settings control and confirm that it displays On all desktops. Then perform one narrow, disposable behavior check. Do not change another Snap, Alt+Tab, desktop, taskbar, or keyboard setting simply because the first app does not demonstrate the result.
Full-screen apps, secure surfaces, policy, or apps without normal switcher windows can affect the list. The menu does not duplicate or move windows between desktops.
What did the reproduced comparison show?
The target moved from Only on the desktop I’m using to On all desktops while every recorded sibling stayed at its original value. The transition required no elevation, sign-out, restart, service change, or Registry edit. The focused control in the next image is the temporary comparison state.
This proves the current Windows control can be changed and read back on the tested build. It does not claim that every app, keyboard, display arrangement, remote session, or third-party window manager presents the surrounding experience identically.
How do you restore the original value?
Return to Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops, find Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab, and choose Only on the desktop I’m using. Re-read the same control, then close the disposable apps or desktops used for verification.
The fresh post-rollback frame confirms the original value. A system reset, Explorer restart, Registry import, or administrator command is unnecessary for this supported per-user preference.
How is this different from nearby options?
This virtual-desktop filter is separate from the nearby menu that adds recent app tabs to Alt+Tab. One controls which desktops contribute windows; the other controls supported app tabs.
Use the label as the scope boundary. If the problem concerns a different trigger, switching surface, desktop, app tab, or key-acceptance rule, return to the parent page and review that specific control instead of changing several options together.
Common problems and careful checks
Why does Alt+Tab still show recent tabs?
The separate Show tabs from apps menu controls supported app tabs. Set that menu independently if you want a windows-only switcher.
Does On all desktops merge the desktops?
No. The workspaces stay separate; only the set of windows available in Alt+Tab broadens.
Why does choosing a window take me to another desktop?
That window remains assigned to its original desktop, so Windows switches workspaces when you activate it.
Can this expose private window thumbnails?
Yes, the broader switcher can show eligible windows from other desktops. Use current-desktop mode before presenting if that separation matters.
Does this require administrator rights or a restart?
No administrator rights or restart were required in the reproduced session. A work or school policy can make a control unavailable; in that case, contact the administrator rather than attempting to bypass management with an unsupported script.
If an app or switching surface was already open, close and reopen that surface before troubleshooting further. That small refresh is safer than resetting Windows settings or changing system-wide policy.
Related Windows options
The live guide to Task View provides useful context for this workflow. You can also use opening apps from the taskbar when that neighboring task better matches what you are trying to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab in Windows 11?
Open Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops and use the exact control shown in the screenshots.
Can you restore the original value after testing?
Yes. Return to the same control and choose Only on the desktop I’m using. The reproduced session captured a fresh frame after that rollback.
Why might one app or device behave differently?
Apps can use custom windows or controls, while displays, keyboards, remote sessions, policy, and third-party utilities can affect the surrounding experience. Compare a standard disposable example.
Do you need a Registry edit for this setting?
No. The supported Settings control changed immediately and rolled back without Registry Editor, elevation, or a restart.
Conclusion
Use Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops, record the starting value, and change only Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab. Verify the narrow behavior with disposable content, then restore Only on the desktop I’m using whenever the change was only a test.
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