How to get alt-tab on GNOME to cycle through applications like Windows?

Question

I am running GNOME desktop v2.16.0 on RedHat Enterprise Linux v5.3.

I would like to assign the Alt-Tab key to cycle through the currently running applications like Microsoft Windows does.

I believe I've seen this work on Linux before, how can I configure my system so that this works as desired?

xev reports on AltTab: KeyPress event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0x2c00001, root 0x1c3, subw 0x0, time 3295777458, (83,27), root:(93,115), state 0x8, keycode 23 (keysym 0xff09, Tab), same_screen YES, XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (09) " " XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (09) " " XFilterEvent returns: False KeyRelease event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0x2c00001, root 0x1c3, subw 0x0, time 3295777840, (83,27), root:(93,115), state 0x8, keycode 23 (keysym 0xff09, Tab), same_screen YES, XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (09) " " XFilterEvent returns: False

Rajesh Krishnamoorthy · Answer 1 · 2010-11-13 14:25:56Z

This worked for me in gnome 2.30.

System->keyboard shortcuts -> disable shortcuts for "move between windows using a popup" and "move between windows immediately" (select with mouse and press backspace)
Open terminal and type gconf-editor
navigate to apps-> metacity ->global keybindings

3a. for the entry : "switch_windows" type "<Alt>Tab" without quotes

3b. For the entry : "switch_windows_backwards" type "<Shift><Alt>Tab" without quotes
navigate to apps -> metacity -> general

4a. Disable compositing_manager (this gets rid of the super annoying delay before the popup displays when you press alt+tab)

hope this helps

Cheers/Raj K

David Collantes · Answer 2 · 2009-09-16 17:13:08Z

up vote 3 down vote

ALT-Tab is the default for cycling running applications in Gnome, like Windows XP does.

answered Sep 16 '09 at 17:13

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Linus Sjögren · Answer 3 · 2009-09-16 17:09:52Z

up vote 1 down vote

You can use software such as Compiz Fusion.

answered Sep 16 '09 at 17:09

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3 Answers