Choose which window comes forward
Two General settings shape most window behavior. App switching applies when you arrive from another app. Window switching applies when the destination app is already focused and you press its shortcut again.
Choose how you arrive and cycle
Section titled “Choose how you arrive and cycle”| Setting | Behavior |
|---|---|
| App switching → Follow pointer | Starts with a suitable window on the current desktop of the display under the pointer. |
| App switching → Last used | Prefers the app’s front or most recently focused window, regardless of pointer location. |
| Window switching → Follow pointer | Cycles reachable windows on the pointer display. |
| Window switching → Cycle all windows | Cycles selectable windows without using pointer location as a filter. |
Use Follow pointer when the display under the pointer should matter. Use Last used to resume the most recent window, and Cycle all windows when display location should not limit repeat presses. The Window switching setting also controls the optional Cycle app windows shortcut.
Decide how minimized windows join the cycle
Section titled “Decide how minimized windows join the cycle”Each assigned app has its own minimized-window setting in Settings → Apps:
- Ignore when cycling prefers visible windows and leaves minimized windows out while a visible choice remains.
- Include when cycling allows repeat presses and Cycle app windows to include minimized windows.
If every selectable window is minimized, HyperSwitcher restores one either way. A temporary shortcut pinned to a window always restores its target.
Handle an app with no normal window
Section titled “Handle an app with no normal window”When a running app has no normal window, HyperSwitcher asks it to reopen one. Turn on General → Move reopened windows to pointer display to move that window before focusing it. If no window appears, the app remains active.
Work across displays
Section titled “Work across displays”With Follow pointer, the first press looks for a window on the pointer display and repeat presses stay with reachable windows there. Layout controls use a similar rule:
- Quick Layout starts on the focused window’s display.
- Tab moves a Quick Layout preview to the next display. In the Workspace editor, it moves the Workspace and its windows to the next display without a Workspace.
- Tidy Up changes the display under the pointer.
Understand Spaces and full-screen limits
Section titled “Understand Spaces and full-screen limits”macOS does not expose every window on another Space. If one is missing from a cycle, visit that Space, focus the window once, and try again. Full-screen windows have the same best-effort limitation. Apps can also omit or misclassify windows in their Accessibility data.
When the right window appears but focus feels wrong
Section titled “When the right window appears but focus feels wrong”HyperSwitcher normally uses Advanced → Precise window focusing to bring forward one selected window without raising all of its siblings. Managed or restricted Macs can block that path. Turn the setting off and try again; the simpler macOS method may raise more windows, but can work better under those restrictions.
If a window is still missing or typing remains in the wrong app, work through Troubleshooting before collecting diagnostic logs.