'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Switch Between Document Windows in Word and Excel for Mac
Question details
The user needs to know how to navigate between multiple open documents within Word or Excel on a Mac, as standard macOS shortcuts are failing or behaving unexpectedly.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Working with multiple open documents in the same application on a Mac and attempting to switch between them quickly.
- Observed behavior
- Using Command+Tab switches applications rather than document windows. The standard window-switching shortcut fails due to non-US keyboard layouts, full-screen modes, or missing menu commands.
Ensure your Mac keyboard layout matches your physical keyboard (e.g., US vs. German) and check that your document windows are not maximized in full-screen or Focus view.
Use Default macOS Keyboard Shortcuts
Use the built-in macOS key combinations to toggle between open windows of the currently active application.
macOS has a native shortcut for switching between windows of the same application. However, this shortcut behaves differently depending on your keyboard layout and will be disabled if the application is in full-screen mode.
Hover your mouse at the top left of the Word or Excel window and click the green button to exit full-screen mode, or press the Esc key to exit Focus view.
If you are using a standard US keyboard, press Command + ` (the backtick or tilde key located above the Tab key) to switch to the next open document.
If you are using a German or European keyboard layout, press Command + < to cycle between the open document windows.
Switch Files via the Window Menu
Manually select the specific document you want to view directly from the application's top menu bar.
Easily Manage Multiple Documents with WPS Office Tabs
Tired of managing scattered windows on your Mac? WPS Office solves the window-switching problem by opening Word, Excel, and PDF files in a single, unified tabbed interface, just like a web browser.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for Mac and complete the installation process.
- 2. Open Multiple Files: Open several documents or spreadsheets simultaneously. Notice that they open as individual tabs in a single software window.
- 3. Switch with Ease: Click any tab at the top of the screen to switch files, or use standard tab shortcuts like Ctrl + Tab to seamlessly navigate between your documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Command+Tab not switch between my Word documents?
On macOS, the Command+Tab shortcut is exclusively designed to switch between different applications. To switch between individual document windows within the same application, you must use Command+` (backtick).
Why does the window switching shortcut fail in Excel for Mac?
The shortcut will fail if your Excel windows are currently in full-screen mode or Focus view. Additionally, if you use a non-US keyboard layout (like German), the correct shortcut is Command+< instead of Command+`.
Can I set a custom macOS shortcut to switch Excel windows?
macOS only allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts for commands that are explicitly listed in an application's menu bar. Because Excel for Mac may not include a dedicated 'Switch Window' or 'Next Window' command in its menus, creating a custom App Shortcut in System Settings will not work.
