Microsoft could cut one of Windows 11’s most useful features to save your PC

An early edition of what is probable to conclusion up remaining a key Home windows 11 update has been rolling out to people today signed up to check it out, and it appears to be like Microsoft is generating a fairly large improve to a person of the most practical attributes: Alt + Tab.

As Neowin reviews (opens in new tab), it appears to be like Microsoft will restrict the quantity of current windows that you can scroll via when pressing the Alt + Tab keys on the keyboard.

A twitter user recognized as Xeno has been digging into the latest version, and discovered that in the ‘Multitasking’ options of Windows 11, the restrict of tabs you can rapidly switch to (with each ‘tab’ representing an open application) has been lessened from an unrestricted most to 20.

Whilst I’m not a large supporter of Microsoft removing capabilities and performance from Home windows 11, in this case, it may well be a fantastic move.

RAMifications

Alt + Tab is one particular of the oldest characteristics of Home windows, and one of its most helpful. By holding down the Alt key, and then tapping the Tab essential, you can swiftly swap between open applications. This can be a whole lot speedier than seeking to uncover the open app on your desktop or taskbar, especially when working with gadgets with smaller sized screens, these types of as laptops.

Alt + Tab allows you swap between whole display apps as effectively, these as game titles, somewhat than having to close them down, and it has been a lifestyle-saver for numerous people today when an app or activity gets unresponsive, as you can Alt + Tab out of it and close it, rather than acquiring to restart your total Pc and likely reduce any unsaved work.

Restricting the usefulness of this aspect would absolutely be stressing, but as Xeno factors out in one more tweet, 20 is nevertheless a significant quantity of open up applications. If you have enormous quantities of apps all operating in the history, your Computer system will commence performing slowly but surely – and seeking to obtain the app or window you need rapidly can also turn into a nightmare.

Due to the fact Alt + Tab will allow you to quickly change to applications and begin working with them, Windows 11 desires to maintain them jogging in your PC’s memory (RAM), so owning 20 or much more will be a critical drain on sources, slowing down your laptop and even possibly generating it crash.

It appears to lessen the likelihood of these crashes, Microsoft has carried out the restrict, and in this circumstance, it’s possibly the proper thing to do. I’m terrible for closing applications once I’ve made use of them, but even I have never ever experienced additional than 20 open up at once to wade by means of. For extraordinary electricity users who normally have a lot of applications likely at as soon as, and have the best RAM to cope with it, Home windows 11 will at the very least permit you promptly Alt + Tab among the 20 most lately-used applications. Bad news for the 21st app, but it is probably you weren’t making use of it considerably anyway.