Configure the inclusion of app tabs into Alt-Tab: registry value MultiTaskingAltTabFilterUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Policy ID: BrowserAltTabBlowout
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1909
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Multitasking

Registry

MultiTaskingAltTabFilter

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Pressing Alt + Tab shows

Options
Item	Stored value
Open windows and 20 most recent tabs in apps	1
Open windows and 5 most recent tabs in apps	2
Open windows and 3 most recent tabs in apps	3
Open windows only	4

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Open windows and 20 most recent tabs in apps
"MultiTaskingAltTabFilter"=dword:00000001
; Open windows and 5 most recent tabs in apps
"MultiTaskingAltTabFilter"=dword:00000002
; Open windows and 3 most recent tabs in apps
"MultiTaskingAltTabFilter"=dword:00000003
; Open windows only
"MultiTaskingAltTabFilter"=dword:00000004

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Open windows and 20 most recent tabs in apps
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "MultiTaskingAltTabFilter" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Open windows and 5 most recent tabs in apps
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "MultiTaskingAltTabFilter" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Open windows and 3 most recent tabs in apps
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "MultiTaskingAltTabFilter" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: Open windows only
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "MultiTaskingAltTabFilter" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Open windows and 20 most recent tabs in apps
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'MultiTaskingAltTabFilter' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Open windows and 5 most recent tabs in apps
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'MultiTaskingAltTabFilter' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Open windows and 3 most recent tabs in apps
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'MultiTaskingAltTabFilter' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# Open windows only
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'MultiTaskingAltTabFilter' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null