On macOS, pressing Command + Tab summons the App Switcher, a horizontal bar displaying the icons of all currently running applications. Holding Command and repeatedly pressing Tab allows you to quickly cycle through these icons to bring a specific app to the foreground.
While this is a fundamental feature of macOS (mirroring Alt + Tab on Windows), some power users prefer third-party window managers (like Contexts, AltTab, or Raycast) that offer superior, window-based previews rather than just app icons. However, macOS fiercely protects the Command + Tab shortcut, preventing third-party apps from intercepting it. If you want to replace the default App Switcher with a better alternative, you must forcefully disable the native shortcut.
How to Disable Command + Tab on macOS
You cannot unbind this shortcut in System Settings. You must use a third-party key remapping tool like Karabiner-Elements to intercept it at the kernel level.
- Download and install Karabiner-Elements from its official website. (You will need to grant it extensive system permissions during installation).
- Launch the Karabiner-Elements application.
- Select the Complex Modifications tab from the left sidebar.
- Click the Add rule button at the bottom.
- Click the Import more rules from the Internet (open a web browser) button.
- Search the Karabiner rule repository for “Disable Command Tab” or “Prevent Command-Tab.”
- Click Import next to the rule, and when Karabiner prompts you, click Enable.
Karabiner-Elements will now completely intercept the Command + Tab keystroke before macOS can see it. The native App Switcher will no longer appear, freeing up the keystroke for you to assign to a superior, third-party window switcher of your choice.