Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: How to efficiently switch between several terminal windows using the keyboard?

Switch between multiple terminal windows using keyboard shortcuts.

Quick Answer: Use the Windows key + number (e.g. Windows key + 1, Windows key + 2) to cycle through open terminal windows.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The issue of switching between multiple terminal windows using only the keyboard can be frustrating, especially when dealing with multiple applications that share similar names or icons. This problem affects users who rely on keyboard shortcuts to navigate their workstations efficiently.

This guide aims to provide a solution for switching between multiple terminals and instances of the same application using only the keyboard, making it easier to manage multiple windows without relying on the mouse.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary cause of this issue is that the Alt+Tab shortcut only allows switching between windows belonging to different applications. This limitation can be frustrating when dealing with multiple instances of the same application.
  • Another possible reason for this issue is that some terminal emulators or applications may not support keyboard-only navigation or may have specific settings that limit this functionality.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Using Keyboard-Only Navigation with Terminal Emulators

  1. Step 1: First, open the terminal emulator and navigate to the directory where all your instances of the same application are located. This can be done using the 'cd' command followed by the path to the directory.
  2. Step 2: Next, use the Ctrl+Shift+T shortcut to cycle through the open windows of the same application. This will allow you to switch between different instances without leaving the current window.
  3. Step 3: Alternatively, use the Alt+1, Alt+2, etc. shortcuts to switch between specific windows of the same application.

Using Keyboard-Only Navigation with Application-Specific Shortcuts

  1. Step 1: First, find out if there are any application-specific shortcuts that allow switching between instances of the same application. For example, in some applications like IPython or VIM, you can use the 'Ctrl+Shift+P' shortcut to switch between different windows.
  2. Step 2: Next, configure your terminal emulator to recognize these application-specific shortcuts. This may involve adding custom keyboard mappings or using a configuration file.

🎯 Final Words

By following either of the two methods outlined in this guide, you should be able to efficiently switch between multiple terminal windows using only the keyboard. Remember to always refer to your terminal emulator's documentation for specific instructions on how to configure keyboard shortcuts and navigate different applications.

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