How to Switch Tabs with Your Keyboard on PC or Mac

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1 Switching Tabs on Windows (All Browsers)

2 Switching Tabs on macOS (Safari)

3 Switching Tabs on macOS (Chrome and Firefox)

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Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: February 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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This wikiHow teaches you how to switch between browser tabs using the keys on your keyboard.

Things You Should Know

• If you're using Windows, press "Ctrl + 1-9" to view your open browser tabs. Press "Ctrl + Tab" to switch between open programs.
• If you're browsing Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on Mac, press "Cmd + 1-9" to view your open browser tabs.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Switching Tabs on Windows (All Browsers)

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   1
   Open multiple tabs in your web browser. To open a tab with your keyboard, press Ctrl+t.
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   2
   Press Ctrl+Tab ↹ to go to the next open tab.
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   3
   Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Tab ↹ to go to the previous open tab.
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   4
   Press Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+9 to go to a tab by number. For example, pressing Ctrl+3 will bring you to the 3rd open tab.
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   5
   Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+t to re-open the last closed tab.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Switching Tabs on macOS (Safari)

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   1
   Open multiple tabs in your web browser. To open a tab with your keyboard, press ⌘ Command+t.
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   2
   Press Control+Tab ↹ to go to the next open tab.
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   3
   Press Control+⇧ Shift+Tab ↹ to go to the previous open tab.
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   4
   Press ⌘ Command+1 through ⌘ Command+9 to go to a tab by number. For example, pressing ⌘ Command+3 will bring you to the 3rd open tab.
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   5
   Press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+t to re-open the last closed tab.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Switching Tabs on macOS (Chrome and Firefox)

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   1
   Open multiple tabs in your web browser. To open a tab with your keyboard, press ⌘ Command+t.
2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Switch-Tabs-with-Your-Keyboard-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Switch-Tabs-with-Your-Keyboard-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Switch-Tabs-with-Your-Keyboard-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-12.jpg\/aid9708204-v4-728px-Switch-Tabs-with-Your-Keyboard-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   2
   Press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+→ to go to the next open tab.
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   3
   Press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+← to go to the previous open tab.
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   4
   Press ⌘ Command+1 through ⌘ Command+9 to go to a tab by number. For example, pressing ⌘ Command+3 will bring you to the 3rd open tab.
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   5
   Press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+t to re-open the last closed tab.
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