A window switcher for Mac that you type into
On a Mac, ⌘Tab switches between apps, not windows. With five Finder windows, three browser windows and a dozen documents open, getting to one particular window means cycling, squinting at Mission Control, or reaching for the mouse.
WindowHopper is a window switcher that works like Spotlight: press a hotkey, type a few letters of what you're looking for, and press Enter. The window comes to the front.
How switching works
- Press the hotkey (⌥Space by default, you can change it) from any app.
- Type a few letters. WindowHopper matches them against every open window's title, document name and app, and against the title and address of every browser tab. The letters don't have to be next to each other.
- Press Enter. The window comes to the front, or the tab is selected. A minimized window is brought back.
What makes it different from ⌘Tab and Mission Control
- Windows, not apps. Every window is its own entry, so the third Finder window is as easy to reach as the first.
- Tabs too. Tabs in Chrome, Safari, Arc, Brave, Edge, Firefox, Terminal and Finder are listed next to windows. See searching browser tabs on a Mac.
- You name it, you don't hunt for it. Mission Control shows everything and leaves the finding to your eyes. Here you type what you remember: a word from the title, a file name, a site.
- It learns. The windows you switch to most rise to the top, so after a few days one or two letters are usually enough.
More than switching
- Favorites and tags: pin the windows you live in and group related work.
- Filters: narrow the list to Favorites, Recent or Stale windows with one keystroke.
- Close from the list: ⌘⌫ closes the selected window or tab, several at once if you like.
- See what's heavy: rows can show each app's CPU and memory use, and a Heavy filter lists the apps that are working your Mac hardest.
Private and native
WindowHopper is a native Mac app. It runs entirely on your Mac: no account, no telemetry, and window titles never leave the device. It needs the Accessibility permission to read window titles and bring windows to the front.
Questions
What is the best way to switch between windows on a Mac?
macOS itself offers Command-Tab for apps, Command-` for the windows of one app, and Mission Control for an overview. A window switcher such as WindowHopper adds a search: press a hotkey, type a few letters of the window's title and press Enter to jump straight to it.
Can I switch between windows of the same app on a Mac?
Yes. macOS cycles through one app's windows with Command-`. WindowHopper lists every window of every app separately, so you can type part of a window's title and go to exactly that one.
Does WindowHopper find windows on other Spaces?
It lists the windows on the Space you are on, including minimized ones, which it brings back when you choose them. Browser tabs in Chrome, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi and Opera are found on every Space. Other windows on other Spaces are not listed, because macOS does not show them to apps.
How much does WindowHopper cost?
It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and it can be refunded within 14 days. It is also available on Setapp.