Modifying Windows ALT+TAB Behavior

⚓ Rust    📅 2025-07-11    👤 surdeus    👁️ 3      

surdeus

Hey everyone. I'm wondering what kind of nuances there would be in attempting to modify the default ALT+TAB behavior on Windows.

Context

Say for example you have 2 monitors. On the left, you have Spotify that you sometimes click to skip songs or something but otherwise have no reason tabbing to. On the right, you have all your other application you're using. After you've focused on Spotify, it becomes the next app in the tabbing cycle after you focus away. I know it's easy to just tab twice, however it'll stay in the upper hierarchy of tabs and also when you're doing it for a whole day, every day it starts to get annoying.

I want to program something that would remove an application from the ALT+TAB cycle. Bonus points if it can hide it from the Windows ALT+TAB GUI.

Expected Problems

  • With my limited knowledge on the Windows API, there are two ways I can imagine going about it. Either replacing Windows' ALT+TAB event altogether, or hooking into it somehow and managing it from within that.
  • Accessibility issues from modifying expected behavior
  • Probably requires admin permissions
  • Modifies Windows behavior, may be seen as malware in antivirus software.

Does this sort of thing already exist? Is it even feasible or a waste of time? I'd like to see what more experienced developers think about this.

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