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Tip: Disabling the "Command-Tab" application switcher in Mac OS X

Tip: Disabling the "Command-Tab" application switcher in Mac OS X

CNET staff

The keyboard combination "Command-Tab" is used in Mac OS X to switch between currently running applications in a successive fashion. However, this keystroke is also utilized by some third-party applications like Adobe Illustrator and QuarkXpress (depending on your configuration) to switch between toolsets and perform other functions.

Fortunately, there is a two-punch shareware combination that will disable the "Command-Tab" function, allowing it to be freely used by other apps.

PullTab is an Application Enhancer module (APE) for Unsanity's APE system allows you to reclaim the Command-Tab and Command-Shift-Tab keystrokes from the MacOS X Dock. You must have Unsanity APE installed to use PullTab.

If you miss the ability to switch between applications with a keystroke, there are a number of shareware utilities that will allow you to do so without the "Command-Tab" function. Some of our favorites:

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Resources

  • PullTab
  • Unsanity APE
  • App Switcher 0.9.8
  • LiteSwitch X 2.0
  • PopApp 1.0
  • Yapasu 1.0b1
  • Late-breakers@macfixit.com
  • More from Late-Breakers