Alt-Tab does not switch

Yes, I noticed that too! I'm surprised they forgot something as important as that.

Install CompizConfig Settings Manager:

To open terminal hit Alt+Ctrl+T and run following commands:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Or search for compizconfig-settings-manager in Software Center and install from there.

Then go to System Tools > Preferences > CompizConfig, if you can't find System Tools, look for CompizConfig Settings Manager in Unity Dash.

Go at the very bottom where it says Windows Management

Put a check-mark in Application Switcher

That should fix it.

Go to System Tools > Preferences > CompizConfig or search forCompizConfig Settings Manager in Unity Dash. Then, Windows Manager-Application Switcher. click on Next window-alt-tab click it. click on ''Grab key Combination'', here actually use alt+tab, & it will grab it. OK


I have Ubuntu 12.04 with gnome-classic (without effects, so no Compiz) and the above doesn't work.

The fix, from here is actually easier than you'd expect:

  • Go to 'Applications','System Tools','System Settings'
  • Click 'Keyboard'
  • Click the 'Shortcuts Tab'
  • Click 'Navigation' on the left
  • In the right-hand pane click on 'Switch applications' and press Alt-Tab to assign that as the accelerator.