How to Disable Multitasking Window Grouping in Alt-Tab on Windows 11

When you press Alt+Tab on Windows 11, the default behavior groups multiple windows of the same app under a single thumbnail. This can slow down switching between specific documents, browser tabs, or file explorer windows. The feature is part of the multitasking settings introduced in Windows 11. This article explains how to disable window grouping in Alt+Tab so each open window appears as a separate entry.

Why Windows 11 Groups Windows in Alt+Tab by Default

Windows 11 introduced a redesigned Alt+Tab interface that groups all open windows of the same application under one thumbnail. For example, if you have three Microsoft Edge windows open, Alt+Tab shows one Edge entry instead of three separate entries. Microsoft designed this to reduce visual clutter when many windows are open. The grouping behavior is controlled by a setting called “Alt+Tab” in the Multitasking section of Windows Settings. The default option is “Open windows only,” which means only windows on the current virtual desktop are shown, and they are grouped by app. The alternative option, “All windows,” shows every open window across all virtual desktops without grouping them by application. The grouping behavior is also affected by the registry value MultiTaskingAltTabFilter under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Setting this value to 1 enables filtering by app, while 0 disables it. Understanding these controls is essential before modifying the behavior.

Steps to Disable Window Grouping in Alt+Tab Using Settings

The quickest method is to change the Alt+Tab setting in the Windows 11 Settings app. This method works for most users and does not require editing the registry or group policy.

1. Open Windows Settings
   Press Windows + I on your keyboard. Alternatively, click the Start button and select the gear icon labeled Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Multitasking
   In the Settings window, click System in the left sidebar. Then click Multitasking in the main pane.
3. Locate the Alt+Tab dropdown
   Scroll down to the section labeled Alt+Tab. The dropdown menu is directly below the heading.
4. Change the dropdown to “All windows”
   Click the dropdown and select All windows. This option shows every open window individually, regardless of which app it belongs to and regardless of the virtual desktop.
5. Test the change
   Press Alt+Tab on your keyboard. You should now see each open window as a separate thumbnail instead of grouped by application.

Steps to Disable Window Grouping in Alt+Tab Using Registry Editor

If the Settings method does not work or you need to apply the change to a specific user account, you can edit the Windows Registry. The registry value MultiTaskingAltTabFilter directly controls the grouping behavior. A value of 0 disables grouping, while 1 enables it. Follow these steps carefully because incorrect registry edits can cause system instability.

1. Open Registry Editor
   Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes when the User Account Control prompt appears.
2. Navigate to the Advanced key
   In the Registry Editor, paste the following path into the address bar and press Enter:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Create or modify the MultiTaskingAltTabFilter DWORD
   In the right pane, look for a value named MultiTaskingAltTabFilter. If it exists, double-click it. If it does not exist, right-click an empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it MultiTaskingAltTabFilter.
4. Set the value to 0
   In the Edit DWORD dialog, set Value data to 0. Make sure Base is set to Hexadecimal. Click OK.
5. Restart File Explorer or sign out
   To apply the change without rebooting, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Escape), find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and select Restart. Alternatively, sign out of your account and sign back in.
6. Verify the change
   Press Alt+Tab and confirm that windows are no longer grouped by application.

Steps to Disable Window Grouping in Alt+Tab Using Group Policy Editor

For IT administrators or users on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions, the Group Policy Editor provides a centralized way to disable Alt+Tab grouping. This method applies the setting to all users on the computer.

1. Open Local Group Policy Editor
   Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the Alt+Tab policy
   In the left pane, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
3. Find the “Turn off window grouping in Alt+Tab” policy
   In the right pane, scroll down and double-click Turn off window grouping in Alt+Tab.
4. Enable the policy
   In the policy window, select Enabled. Click OK.
5. Apply the policy
   Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run gpupdate /force. Sign out and sign back in to apply the change.

Common Issues and Limitations After Disabling Grouping

Alt+Tab still groups windows after changing the setting

If you changed the Alt+Tab dropdown to “All windows” but windows remain grouped, check whether a third-party app like a window manager or virtual desktop tool is overriding the setting. Disable or uninstall such apps temporarily to test. Also verify that the registry value MultiTaskingAltTabFilter is set to 0. A value of 1 forces grouping even if the Settings dropdown shows “All windows.” Use the Registry Editor method to confirm the value.

Alt+Tab shows too many windows after disabling grouping

When grouping is disabled, every open window appears individually. This can make the Alt+Tab list long if you have many apps running. To reduce clutter, close windows you do not need. Alternatively, use virtual desktops (Windows + Ctrl + D) to separate tasks and keep each desktop focused on a specific project. The Alt+Tab setting can be set to “Open windows only” to limit the list to the current virtual desktop, but that will re-enable grouping. You cannot have ungrouped windows only on the current desktop without a third-party tool.

Group Policy setting does not apply on Windows 11 Home

The Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows 11 Home edition. If you use Windows 11 Home, use the Settings method or the Registry Editor method instead. Both work on all editions of Windows 11.

Alt+Tab Grouping Disabled vs Enabled: Behavior Comparison

Item	Grouping Disabled (All windows)	Grouping Enabled (Open windows only)
Window thumbnails	Each window shown separately	Windows grouped by app
Virtual desktop visibility	Windows from all desktops shown	Only current desktop windows shown
Switching speed	More thumbnails to scan	Fewer thumbnails, faster scanning
Best use case	Multiple documents in same app	Many different apps open
Configuration method	Settings or Registry or Group Policy	Settings dropdown default

Disabling grouping gives you direct access to each window but increases the number of thumbnails. Enabling grouping reduces clutter but forces you to hover over an app thumbnail to see its windows. Choose the option that matches your workflow.

You can now disable window grouping in Alt+Tab using Settings, Registry Editor, or Group Policy Editor. Start with the Settings method because it is the safest and fastest. If you need to apply the change to multiple users, use Group Policy. For a single user where Settings does not persist, use the Registry method. After making the change, test Alt+Tab to confirm each window appears individually. As an advanced tip, you can also adjust the Alt+Tab delay by creating a DWORD named AltTabDelay under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and setting its value to 0 for instant switching without animation.