Command-tab pop-up list of apps switches monitors

The command-tab pop-up list of apps switches monitors sometimes on my two-monitor system. Why? Why doesn't it always appear on the monitor with menubar specified in Displays preference panel? How do I switch it back when it moves to the wrong monitor? Very annoying because I can't figure out why it moves to the other monitor in the first place! (actually running OS X 10.9.4 -- not Mavericks -- but you don't seem to have a community for OS X 10.9)

That unfortunately doesn't work. I just tried it. For the last couple minutes, the command-tab app list has been appearing on my "main" monitor (the one I selected in Display prefs to have the menu bar). When I click in my "secondary" monitor to highlight its menu bar and then type command-tab, the app list still appears on the main monitor. Doesn't make a difference whether I click on the desktop background or a Finder window or an app window on the secondary monitor, when I hit command-tab the app list still appears on the main monitor. And all of that is OK. I'd like to have the command-tab app list ALWAYS appear on the main window.
The problem is that sometimes the app list switches to the secondary monitor and I don't know why. And after that happens, I can click all I want on the main monitor -- desktop, Finder window, application window -- and the app list still appears on the secondary window when I type command-tab. I'll give up trying to make it switch to the main window and then, at some point, I'll notice that it has switched back to the main window. I can't figure out why it has this behavior, which seems to be random. Or at least I can't figure out what to do to make the pop-up app list return to the main window.

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Command-tab does not show open apps after sleep.

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Command-Tab switcher missing apps

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This really cramps my productivity. Happens to anyone else? Any fix?
Also, I thought the app icons in the switcher were supposed to be in decending order of last use. At least that seems to be the normal pattern. But very often recent apps appear in the middle or the end of the list.
This has occurred on several Macs, from 10.4.3 to 10.4.5. Is the app switcher just not working right?
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I have noticed a pattern to the missing icons bug when doing a Command-Tab to bring up the Application Switcher (usually the missing icon annoyingly is the previous app one was in, precisely the app to which one wants to go):
If one does a Command-Tab twice in succession, the second time the missing icon returns.
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App switcher (command-tab) disappears

At random intervals my app switcher will misbehave. Sometimes it reuses to show at all when I press command-tab, although the app switch still takes place. Sometimes it will show on screen but there will only be one or two apps in the list even though I may have 10 open.
Anyone experiencing this?
10.6.1. Been doing it since my initial install of 10.6.

How random? Can you work in Safe Mode for a while to test? (It will take more time to startup in Safe Mode because it runs a directory check.)
-mjfor a while to test?

Command-Tab App Switcher doesn't work (related to corrupt .plist file error?)

Hi folks,
The other day, Drive Genius 4 reported on a file corruption: ~/Library/Preferences/System Mac.plist file. I tried to find the file but it didn't appear to exist.
Today, a strange phenomenon occurred which I think may be related. Strangest thing. I was using Safari, had several tabs open when, suddenly, I lost all input to any links in Safari and system wide as well, other than the cursor being able to move around the display. This dysfunction also included the Command-Tab App Switcher, though they keyboard text function still worked. I could enter text in fields.
I tried Force Quit Apps but I had to shutdown and reboot using the Power button. The reboot seemed to remedy the situation and most controls and keyboard functions returned except for the Command-Tab App Switcher.
In Safari, I used History/Restore Last Open Page, and when the searched for pages came up, they were blank - I was informed that there was no internet connection. Wi-Fi showed still on but grayed out, which could be logical. Also, this is when I noticed that the key repeat function wasn’t working. In System Prefs, I did manage to change the key repeat rate, which accelerates the backspace erase function but there is no key repeat, itself.
All of this, of course, might be pointing to that system file error. Whether it is that hidden Mac.plist file corruption I don’t know.
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Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any suggestions? Thanks a whole lot in advance for your time and consideration in this!
All best,
David

First, get rid of the worthless, time-wasting "Drive Genius" according to its developer's instructions. Never install any so-called "utility" again.
Don't waste time repairing permissions again, either, unless you have an indication of a permission error involving system files, which you don't and probably never will.
Never delete any file in the shell (Terminal) for any reason.
There is no built-in application called "App Switcher." There is no built-in file named "System Mac.plist" either.
If command-tab application switching still doesn't work after you get rid of "Drive Genius," see below.
Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.

Pressing Command+Tab no longer 'switches' among open apps

i press the Command+ Tab keys and I can see all open apps. but when I switch among these open apps....nothing happens. In other words, the window of the app I select does not show. I used to be able to 'switch' among them. Why no longer works?

Thanks for your suggestion.
I'm a fairly seasoned Mac user (going back to Mac Plus in 1987) and have tried my usual 'bag of tricks' to resolve this issue. However, nothing works including comments from CNET on deleting some prefs. What did work is my starting up from a week old clone of my internal hard drive stored on an external disk. The external worked flawlessly using the app switcher. So, something happened in the past week. It could be the newest update to iTunes or a Mac 'security' update. I just don't know. What I'm going to do is sit on the fence like a bird and watch the community. Others are having this issue and eventually Apple will figure out what is going on and resolve it with yet another update.
Or....worst case scenario, since the problem is not that serious, I'll wait a month or two for Lion and solve it with an install of a totally new system.

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Thanks,
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I was going to post my experience about application switcher as well, but i have the opposite problem: in SL it never worked, but now in Lion it does. Since I upgraded by installing over Lion, I'm assuming there must be a setting somewhere for this behavior. There is a place for setting keyboard keystrokes, looking there may help.

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Sorry there is no way to accomplish this.
The heads-up screen has no modifiable behavior other than it basic default for quick switching between apps.
Tab forward
Tilda backwards
mouse on any app

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I used to be able to speed through my apps, but now for some reason when I switch to another application, I have to click on the window in order to make it active (i.e. if I copy something from safari and command+tab to word to paste it, I can't just immediately follow it with the paste key combo). I don't know when this started up, but I think it may have been with the latest mountain lion update. Anyone else having this issue? Is there some setting I don't have setup right?

bump

Switching application shortcut problem (COMMAND+TAB) and (COMMAND+`)

Hello everyone
Since the upgrade Leopard i had a problem with the switching apps shortcut.
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Some applications allow you to set hotkeys (Quicksilver, a 3rd party app, is the example I used -- this is not included with OSX). I was thinking that perhaps some other application you have was using the hotkey cmd-tab and stealing it from the finder.
You can also change the 'meta' keys in the system 'Keyboard and Mouse' prefereneces (click on keyboard -> modifier keys) -- this maybe is confusing things if its not set to defaults.
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Command-TAB - How does this build the application list???

I have a need to enumerate the applications that have "windows", "icons", whether if they are minimized to the dock or not. I need basically the list of applications that Command-TAB brings you. How do you do this programmatically?
Everything I tried gave me everything, or just the applications that are NOT minimized. Drives me nuts. Tried CGWindowListCopyWindowInfo, NSArray *runningApps = [workspace launchedApplications], but I can't get to the filtering of the list I need - whatever Cmd-TAB brings you.
Help?

Hello,
I cannot reproduce what you say using launchedApplication.
NSArray *launchedApps = [[NSWorkspace sharedWorkspace] launchedApplications];
for (NSDictionary *app in launchedApps)
printf("%s is launched
",[[app valueForKey:@"NSApplicationName"]UTF8String]);
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I minimized all windows of two apps: Preview and MacSoup as one is Cocoa and the other is not (well I think Preview is Cocoa): they where listed as well
{quote}
Finder is launched
Terminal is launched
WebKit is launched
Xcode is launched
Property List Editor is launched
Mail is launched
Trousseau d’accès is launched
Aperçu is launched
MacSOUP is launched
iTunes is launched
ResKnife is launched
MacVim is launched
TextMate is launched
Préférences Système is launched
Interface Builder is launched
AppList is launched
{quote}
That is the exact list I can see using comd-tab at the moment ..

Mac OS X 10.5 Finder issues - Application switching via Command-Tab

I have been having problems recently, when I would switch apps using command-tab, some applications don't show up. I haven't noticed this before, while using the integrated graphics card, but have noticed it since using the discreet card, related?

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Safari problem: when I switch back into safari from another application, the menu bar comes up but no tabs or windows. What's going on? Just started yesterday. I have found a workaround: when I Command Tab back to safari, I hit command T to open a new

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I have tried shutting down, closing tabs, with no success. What's going on and how can I fix it?
Thanks,
Cindi B
PS: I'm not sure of the actual OS level, but I have not allowed it to upgrade to Maverick yet; concerned about it because of a few things I've read...

A Safari extension or third party plugin may be causing the menu bar issue.
From the Safari menu bar click Safari > Preferences then select the Extensions tab. Turn that OFF, quit and relaunch Safari to test. If that helped, turn one extension on then quit and relaunch Safari to test until you find the incompatible extension then click uninstall.
If it's not an extensions issue, try troubleshooting third party plug-ins.
Back to Safari > Preferences. This time select the Security tab. Deselect: Allow plug-ins. Quit and relaunch Safari to test.
If that made a difference, instructions for troubleshooting plugins here.
As for which OS X is installed.
Click the Apple () menu top left in your screen. From the drop down menu click About This Mac.
The version is noted there.
v10.6 Snow Leopard v10.7 Lion v10.8 Mountain Lion
It's your choice whether or not to upgrade to Mavericks. If you decide to do this, make sure your Mac meets the requirements noted here.

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The command tab function for switching between programs stopped working also.
The individual programs work, but I have to go to recent items to switch programs.
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A whole lot of bizarre things that may be connected? I would appreciate any help.

You could try removing the .plist file again, but this time, try also removing the com.apple.dock.db file. Then log out and log in again.
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So, does the problem persist with another user account?
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HT1343 how do I switch between windows in the same programme? I know that I can use Command tab, however this takes you through all of the programmes that I'm using. What I need to do is have a shortcut to switch between windows in the same programme.

how do I switch between windows in the same programme? I know that I can use Command tab, however this takes you through all of the programmes that I'm using. What I need to do is have a shortcut to switch between windows in the same programme. For example if I'm in Excel and have 5 windows open I want to be able to scroll between each window of Excel only with a shortcut.
Please help!

Command and ~ keys to tab between open windows.
Technically it is the Grave Accent ` (aka reverse quote) under the tilda ~ key. Tilda ~ is shifted, and Grave Accent ` is not.
Command-Grave Accent

Command-tab pop-up list of apps switches monitors

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