Add the Windows Switcher to the Taskbar in Windows 7

The Windows Switcher, added in Windows Vista, allows you to switch among different open windows. It is also known as Flip 3D, and it is similar to using Alt + Tab in Windows XP. The keyboard command to use the Windows Switcher is Win Key + Tab. Use the Ctrl + Win Key + Tab key combination to scroll through a list of open windows.

Windows Vista had a shortcut available in the Quick Launch area providing easy access to the Windows Switcher. However, the Quick Launch bar is not available by default in Windows 7, in favor of the new, improved Taskbar. The same keyboard shortcuts from Vista work in Windows 7; however, you can also create a Windows Switcher item on the Windows 7 Taskbar for easy access.

To add the Windows Switcher to the Taskbar, you must first create a shortcut. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select New | Shortcut from the popup menu.

Enter the following line in the Type the location of the item edit box and click Next.

C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe dwmapi #105

On the next screen, enter “Windows Switcher” (without the quotes) in the Type a name for this shortcut edit box and click Finish.

The shortcut is added to the desktop. To apply the Windows Switcher icon to the shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and select Properties from the popup menu.

On the Shortcut tab on the Properties dialog box, click the Change Icon button.

Enter the following path and filename in the Look for icons in this file edit box and press Enter.

%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\imageres.dll

The Windows Switcher icon is the one in the upper, left corner of the Select an icon from the list below box. Select it and click OK.

The icon on the Shortcut tab changes. Click OK.

To pin the shortcut to the Taskbar, right-click on the shortcut and select Pin to Taskbar from the popup menu.

The Windows Switcher is now available on the Taskbar.

To activate it, simply click the Taskbar button. Here is the Windows Switcher in action.

This shortcut on the Taskbar to the Windows Switcher is especially useful if you use the mouse more often than keyboard shortcuts. The site where we found this tip provides a ready-made shortcut you can download and pin to the Taskbar.