Witch for Mac

4.3.8

4.3.8

See all Versions

essential application imo

I've tried several other apps like this, and after paying for a different one discovered that Witch is more mature and has a better feature set. I have had problems intermittently with lag for command-tab switching, but after upgrading to Sierra (which required the painful switch away from Karabiner to Karabiner Elements) and then some changes to my Karabiner-Elements setup suggest that one of my Karabiner-Elements configs might have been at fault for the lag. I'll adjust my rating down if it turns out that Witch itself is to blame. But the feature set is really top-notch. I'm hoping that its performance is equivalent.

The only reason I didn't try Witch before the competitors is that I tried it MANY years ago when it only (AFAIK) did Windows-style switching, which switches windows instead of apps. While I can understand a former Windows user wanting that, I find Apple's app-oriented switching to be superior 95% of the time for my style of working. Fortunately Witch now lets you do both, and also a combination, where you can first switch between apps, and then (without opening a different switcher UI) drill down into the windows for the chosen app. This is the best of both worlds. It is also HIGHLY configurable.

There are some features I would like it to have, but nothing else (AFAIK) has them. It would be awesome if we could write functions (shell or AppleScript) to determine if an app is shown or hidden from the command-tab switching menu. This would allow much more sophisticated control over that.

It would also be nice if we could explicitly hide an app from the switcher in the current workspace, using (e.g.) shift-control-H. This would allow ad-hoc changes to which apps we want to show and hide, and wouldn't require OS hiding to result in Witch switcher hiding, because I never find that the two are the same for me.

Some people have complained about the price. HUUUHHHHHH? It's very cheap! Developers need to eat and pay rent! It might seem "simple" because it serves a very well-defined need, but an app like this is actually a very impressive feat. I'm glad to pay for it.

My only serious concern is the performance issue. If that returns, and cannot be attributed to something else, then I'll drop the stars WAY down. If you see this remain at 5 stars, then I recommend this over all the others like it.

This app has so much potential but is ultimately frustrating becuase of its limited functionality with respect to detecting tabs. I understand why this is the case, different apps have different implementations and not all use Apple's APIs, but it's extremely frustrating for users who are really only looking only for this functionality. In particular some apps show as not having tabbed windows at all, even of they do, such as Finder, others like Terminal show as having tabs, but cannot handle name changes to the tabs. Very disappointing.

No day without it. Didn't even think about upgrading to 4.0 for a second. :)

Nice addition to OS X's default Command + Tab switching. I wonder why Apple haven't implemented something like this. I wish it could detect tabs inside each window, but that's the limitation imposed by Apple's Accessibility API. Maybe someday. Even without that, it is an excellent workflow enhancement.

Nützliche und hervorragend umgesetzte Erweiterung.

Warum werden Nutz dieser hervorragenden Erweiterung, die diese über den App-Store gekauft haben, so vernachlässigt? Während hier schon die Version 3.9.7 verfügbar ist, steht im App-Store seit 11. August 2014 immer noch nur die Version 3.9.4 zum Download.

Witch broken by Yosemite. Attempting to activate Witch brings up message to grant access to Witch in Security & Privacy preference pane. But when I go to that pane, click plus, and attempt to select Witch, it is greyed out. Selecting "system preferences" does not help with respect to Witch.

I'm sorry... I'm a good Mac lover since 2000, and trying to be kind here but... Witch is a bloated helper, resource-hungry and sporting features I don't even need: Apple should get LiteSwitch code and inject it into the next OS release instead. Pleasea

A wonderful app, totally indispensable for me! I moved recently from Windows to OSX, and the one thing I could not stand about OSX is the handling of applications and windows. I used Windows and Linux for decades, and would use Alt-Tab hundreds of times a day and was very fast at switching back and forth between windows. So I found the Mac's handling of Cmd-Tab to be a huge regression - I found it simply dreadful having to Cmd-Tab between apps, then separately cycle between windows with another shortcut. Enter Witch, which solves all these problems, and has quite a few customisations and extra features which actually make it much better than Windows/Linux switching. I very much like the numbering of windows, allowing the quick selection of a window by hitting its number. It has a good selection of fully customisable shortcuts (I have the main switcher configured to Cmd-Tab, disabling OSX's default application switcher, which I never use.) You can ignore apps or windows that match certain patterns, which is useful for excluding certain types of windows/panels that you never want to switch to. And the appearance is fully customisable with sensible and attractive defaults. It's also fast and stable - I've never had a crash or seen a glitch. For me, there's only one missing feature right now: the ability to disable the mouse from affecting the switcher. I often Cmd-Tab with my left hand with the mouse in my right, and that can cause me to move the pointer over the switcher, changing the selected window. This can slow my down sometimes, getting in the way of quickly flicking back and forth between windows. I'm contacting support to suggest they add that. It's wonderful tool and I really can't enjoy OSX without it. If I could run only one productivity/UI app on OSX, it would be Witch.

Witch is great! But is there any way that I can "reactivate" minimized apps just like in Witch but in the regular Mac OS?

So what ever happen to Witch 4, which Many Tricks last mentioned below back on December 8, 2010 (more than 2 years ago)? Count me as another unsatisfied customer who has switched to Optimal Layout (formerly WindowFlow). A 2-year silence from the developer is not good for future business.

It seem like Witch uses too much virtual memory for what I use it for. I just have it as an alternative way to switch between apps with gestures since if I use xgestures with the native apple app switcher there's a bug with apple or whatever that will make it scroll continuously as if I'm pressing and holding Command-tab without letting go. Witch handles it much better, but I'm not sure it should be using so much VM as it goes. (it uses as much as safari does) - Mac OS 10.6.7 / Witch 3.7

Witch used to be great, but it now pales in comparison to newer alternatives, like Switche or WindowFlow.

Can't see previews of Photoshop photos, I mean first tab is visible. There is also problem with psd-cmyk photos- cant see prev. Generally this version is unstable. I'll wait until next update will be available.

Witch gets unresponsive when the system is under high load (while I am able to use any other application like ms word, watch movies etc.). Emailed to the developper but got no response.

Great addition..But 'windows previews' implemented poorly. Just make them appear on the left Side so the previews wont Cover/hide the other windows. Thanks.

This new feature, previews of windows, is overly cool, wonderful, BEAUTYful. Cant't believe you guys are putting this in a free update. Thank you!

Yeah, SPACES, they've finally done it!

A good, solid update to Witch. The new customization options are nice, and the ability to replace Command+Tab and Command+` is just what I was hoping for. I don't use Spaces, so fortunately I'm not bothered by the lack of compatibility. The upgrade price for Witch 2 owners is very reasonable at less than half of the full purchase price. Unlike with Leech, I don't grudge the upgrade cost for Witch. Other than the 32-bit pref pane annoyance, it worked fine for me in Snow Leopard, and I feel like I got my money's worth from it. I'm glad to see Many Tricks back up and running, and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that, with their new organizational scheme, the old inconsistencies with updates and support won't be issues any more. People are starting to mention WindowFlow in here. I think it's a good utility too, but there are a couple of things that still make Witch the clear winner for me at this point. First and foremost is that WindowFlow doesn't properly keep track of the order of minimized or hidden windows (at least when sorting by window activity). It lumps them together at the end of the list, so any time you minimize or hide a window it goes to the bottom and throws off the sorting order, which is a major annoyance since I use minimized windows a lot. The second thing is the lack of a function to cycle the windows of the frontmost application only. That said, I can see why heavy Spaces users might prefer WindowFlow at this point. Whichever utility you prefer, it's always nice to have alternatives :)

Needs Spaces support. WindowFlow handles this perfectly (and even tells you which space a Window is in before you switch), so it clearly is not a case of it being unimplementable. I registered version 2.0, and found it useless for this reason.

This is still one of my favorite helper apps for my Mac.

Would be great to have a window preview feature like WindowFlow does. I find it to be a very useful feature.

Great, and very nice to see that development for Witch is indeed being continued. I've given it five stars overall but only four stars for “Features” because of the missing windows in other Spaces which is also the only thing which I'm missing in Witch 3.0.

Still doesn't appear to work well with Spaces. Only the apps on the particular space are shown in the list. I was hoping that 3.0 would fix this...

It's a sad truth that Many Tricks had quite a hiatus in the past, say, two years, together with an almost non-existent communication. But NOW I'M HAPPY to witness that Many Tricks is back online, with the great communicator Rob Griffiths (of MacOSXHints fame) joining the company. There have been RECENT UPDATES, they have an ACTIVE BLOG now, and I definitely know they ARE ACTIVELY WORKING on cool new stuff as well as on more updates to their existing software. See http://www.manytricks.com and http://www.manytricks.com/blog for more information. And no, I'm not married to Peter or Rob or Alex, and I'm not affiliated with Many Tricks, I'm just a happy user of some of their stuff, and I'm in contact w/ them over their blog.

The site is up, and a 3.0 version (free to those purchasing now) is promised “*very* soon.” I believe it because Rob Griffiths (macoshints founder, Macworld) is now aboard, handling “all aspects of the business side of the company,” including support. In announcing that, the original developer stated bluntly, “I've had no interest in the ‘business' side of the software industry,” which explains some things. It seems he is now free to code merrily away while Mr. Griffiths keeps bills paid and users happy.

Their site is working for me. You might check this blog: http://www.manytricks.com/blog/ That, of course, does not explain any issues with licensing. But thought you'd want to know that the site itself does appear to still exist.

Unfortunately the manytricks.com web site has been down for all of 2010 with no resurrection in site. Since there is no way to buy this app anymore, can anyone please tell me how to disable the annoying "Please buy Witch!" message?

I wish I had checked MacUpdate recent reviews first before plunking money on this app. I purchased the license, which was delivered as part of the checkout process. However, the license cannot be installed. I have tried, as suggested in the email to drag it, and have tried to download it and copy it from the finder, but to no avail. I had sent an email to their "info" alias and have not heard anything back. Unfortunately, I paid this via Paypal--the only payment option it seems--and Paypal dismissed the claim saying "the buyer's protection does not apply to the quality of the goods". So much for Paypal's "buyer's protection", but that's another rant. Luckily, I found out about it with this small purchase.

weird, do you know for a fact the dev has quit? He has many very popular apps out so I don't see why he would abandon everything unless something very bad has happened to someone or someone close to him. Summary: Do you have proof the dev has quit? Other than not responding to emails which could be explained in many matters why he couldn't get back to those emails...

BUYER BEWARE: Witch for Mac OS X has been discontinued and is no longer being supported by the developer. Do not spend $$ on Witch for Mac OS X, because the bugs in the product will NOT be fixed.

In case anyone is wondering, Witch works on OS X 10.6.1.

Company is completely unresponsive to customers. Development stopped on this product in November 2008. Have tried to email tech support several times over the last month in regards to bug fixes -- ZERO response from the company. Cannot recommend this product at all. This product does not work properly with Leopard's Spaces. When you use Witch's keyboard shortcut to cycle through ALL of your applications when Spaces is active, Witch won't show you all of your applications from the OTHER spaces. It shows you SOME of your applications from the other spaces, but not ALL of your applications from the other spaces. You actually have to switch over to that other space first and THEN use the keyboard shortcut to cycle through those applications that are located in that space. But then the same problem crops up over there -- the applications from the PREVIOUS space that you were in don't all show up again. Emailed tech support many times over the last month... no response. Do not support these developers or this product!

Nice and useful piece of software. It's a pitty that developer will not be as good. A week to go after payment and still waiting for the serial... They even don't reply to emails!!!

Now Shareware. Somehow I'm not surprised -- I don't think Peter Mauer will have a freeware app left in his stable once he's done. Shame.

1000% improvement in window management for OS X with this app. It's like giving your windows the ability to dance with your fingers. My usage: Minimize Window: Command M (OS default) Maximize Window: Option M Un-minimize all Front-most app windows: Ctrl-Option-Command M Thought I'd share my config incase you're at a loss for custom shortcut ideas. Pressing Option M in my config repeatedly toggles last window state w/maximized - SLICK. Witch makes modifying these shortcuts possible and easy with a nice System Pref module. JL

Doesn't seem to work right with Spaces. Only sometimes displays Windows from non-active spaces.

works perfectly with my Leopard. I just discovered this yesterday and I don't know how I got along without it. I prefer keyboard commands, and this allows me to unminimize windows and cycle through minimized windows without mousing, among many other things. I use command keys for Apple commands, control for Quicksilver, and Option for Witch, and now my OS is perfect!

not working in leopard, will not stay enabled even tho it installs

I love this prefpane, too. Great functionality. I have one request, though--is it possible to get Witch to show the Safari or Firefox TABS that are open within the browser window and allow you to switch to a particular tab? I find myself habitually Command-Tabbing to switch to a Firefox tab, even though all I can do is switch to that window. Thanks for the great software.

Once upon a time, when switching windows with Witch, I could highlight a window and click w or q, and thereby close the window oe even quit the program. This seems no longer to be possible. Any insights here? Tips? Plans for the future? MacBook Pro / OS 10.4.7

After hearing endless complaints from Windows users (or "switchers") about how much of a drag it was for cmd+tab to not include individual windows (as it does in Windows XP), I figured I'd give this little program a try and see what all the fuss was about. Well, I'm gonna say it: The Windows way is better. Well, sort of. See, on Windows, you don't see the NAME of every window. You just get an icon. You have twenty MS Word documents open? 20 MS Word icons will show up, and you get to scrub through and pick your favorite! Witch gives you all that plus one better: Your windows are NAMED. This simple enhancement makes it a far superior app switcher than Windows or Mac provides. Witch also provides a very customizable appearance, many configurable hotkeys to do just about anything (I especially appreciate the ability to switch between the current application's windows -- great for when I DO have 20 MS Word docs open!) and a handful of other goodies. All for the low low price of whatever you think is fair! My one regret is that it can't take over cmd+tab, so you end up having to use option+tab or something dumb like that. Apple shouldn't be so greedy with their keyboard shortcuts.

This is an excellent app. I haven't replaced command tab, but it bridges the gap between command tab and command tilde nicely. The ability easily bring up a specific minimized window is incredibly useful. I do have a few suggestions to make this app even better. 1. Adopt command tab's tilde for reversing the direction in addition to shift. 2. Adopt command tab's quick change (with just a tap of the tab key) between the two most recent windows without showing the witch window. Those complaints said, this thing is a great addition to my workflow and has earned 5 stars across the board. $ has been sent via the link on the author's page. I look forward to future versions of this.

I switched from windows and I missed the ALT+TAB feature. Yes mac has Command+TAB and Command+` but they do not cycle through windows minimized to the dock. Also they do not give a list of all windows that are open for a given application. Now with WITCH I can finally leave windows behind. This is how apple should have implemented the Command+` to cycle through windows... Anyway this app is a lifesaver... WITCH+QUICKSILVER change the way I use my mac for the better...

Don't know how I got along without this... Just installed this not 15 minutes ago and alreadt it's indispensable! Thanks SOOO much!

FANTASTIC! Beautiful, easy, customizable. Fills a gaping hole in Apple's application switcher.

Normally I don't like to install all kinds of utilities because I end up not using them. Witch is an exception because now I can't imagine using OS X without it. Witch allows you to switch to any other application window or an instance of an application window by using a key combination that you choose. It is simple to setup and very useful. Equally useful is "Textpander" by the same developer. --Gary

When I used windows machines I loved being able to switch to a any window using the keyboard and have been wanting something along the same lines for osx and here it is.

The second-best utility on OS X, without question. Only just pipped at the post by Quicksilver as "the-utility-that-doubles-your-use-and-enjoyment-of-OSX". Peter's a genius.

Can you make it possible to use multiple hotkeys for the same function? I have a hotkey that I prefer to use with a full keyboard, but doesn't work well when I'm not using that keyboard with my laptop. For the interface I'd be happy with selecting a current hotkey and simply pressing another to add it. If I wanted to clear the current one I could use the already present "clear hotkey" button. Thanks!

Y0 MASSIF! GIVE IT UP FOR PETER MAURER! My selecta is dropping you the mad-fresh, software selection straight from his dome. Original software flava! Big it up! Give it up for my selecta inside and make a small donation to keep his threads crisp and his sneakers dry. E-Z Peter Maurer 0wnz! Respect.

Peter Maurer is GOD! Check all other developer apps.

Nice features, easy to install and to use, stable, free = perfect!!! From the same author, Butler is a great utility too.

Is Peter Maurer the Messiah? I think he is.

Wow, wow wow wow WOW. Peter Maurer does it again, with another intuitive, user friendly, powerful application. Free equates to yet another 'Wow.' If you haven't downloaded this, you're truly missing out. Excellent app. Related, I second the notion on Peter's terrific responsiveness to questions about any of the apps he develops. I'm continuously amazed at his quick reply to any question/bug concerns.

Seems to work in Tiger, if anyone's curious. :)

A great application. I had half expected Apple to 'borrow' this idea and code the alt-tab it properly themselves but until then, this is a lovely implementation.

Holy cats, is this thing beautiful! Might be nice if there was some way to make this override Apple's built-in switcher (the way Lite Switch does). Absolutely smashing.

One word: briliiant! I don't know how I did anything before I had this program. This combined with Butler is perfect (maybe should be incorporated into one program?), the other poster is right, apple needs to hire this dude right now.

I had to hit back to check the version of the software: 1.0b4? A beta? Witch is more stable, full-featured and customizable than most software well into the double digits. It's a shame so many people are submitting superficial and misinformed reviews, because this is some of the most useful and well-coded freeware that I've come across in a long time. Bravissimo.

This witch put a spell on me! Use it one time, and you won't be able to remember the time when you fiddled with Exposé and the app switcher. Great concept, great design. Kudos to Peter Maurer. Your contributions to the Mac community are very much appreciated.

he does it again... They really need guys like him at Apple. They owe him for making OS X about 100 times more convenient to use...

The border around selected elements needs to leave a couple more pixels around the edge of the name and icon. The current layout looks just a bit too cramped because there's no "clearance" between the icon and the surrounding frame. I'd also like an option to leave the application name off, and just show the window name and icon.

@rawsweets: > you can't exit the dang "window selection" ... This > just doesn't take with "switchers" like QS and > LiteSwitch, where pressing escape cancels the > selection pane, and you can get on with your > work. Have you ever tried pressing [escape]? Because actually, you can exit the window selector by pressing [escape]. Please refer to the "Switching Windows -- Advanced" section of Witch's documentation. Moreover, you can configure Witch to always show a "Cancel" item at the top/bottom of its windows list. > Once I get in the app, I expect to move around > a simple list of items, as I would any other finder > list - use the up and down keys!! Have you ever tried pressing those keys? Because actually, you can navigate the window selector by pressing [up arrow], [down arrow], [return]/[enter], and the abovementioned [escape] key, of course. Please refer to the "Switching Windows -- Advanced" section of Witch's documentation once more. Moreover, you can navigate the window selector with your mouse. Do you think it's fair to complain about the absence of a feature without even checking if it's actually there? > The interface options are cool, but it all seems > like aqua overkill, and the author should focus > more on the core features. I tend to think that's just a matter of taste. However, I'd like to make two points here: 1. It is actually very important to many users to customize the looks of system utilities, such as Witch. 2. Providing users with some controls to customize the looks of Witch is easy. With modern development tools --such as XCode, for instance-- doing so doesn't take very long. Thus, you can rest assured that I didn't really have to take my focus away from the core features. > The author really needs to set some limits to > the user, instead of prompting them with a > flimsy warning, about how setting the "escape" > key as a shortcut could effect other > applications... not smart, even if the user is. While developing Butler and --most importantly-- dealing with feedback from Butler's users, I have learnt a few things about shortcuts (a.k.a. "hot keys"). And one of these things is: "do NOT restrict the range of possible key combinations". Most users know what they are doing, but the developer might not be able to anticipate what they are trying to achieve. Here's an example: I have recently heard about a user who uses Butler to fake a [return] keystroke by pressing [enter]. (His [return] key is broken.) Honestly, I would never have thought of this way of using Butler. But it would have been impossible if I had restricted shortcuts in such a way that [enter] would not have been a valid option.

Works great and is easy to use. I only use the default setup (opt+tab or opt+left/right arrow) so I'm not as intensive as others might be. For me, it works great! Well done. A great augmentor and maybe even replacement to cmd+tab!

Is it possible to use cmd-tab as a hotkey? I'd like to use this in place of Apple's lame app-switcher.

Great idea, decent implementation, poor usability. Biggest complaint is that you can't exit the dang "window selection" window, unless you select a window. So even if you click on the frontmost application's window, the switch's pane doesn't dissapear until you finish using it - clicking it or using the keys to select a window. This just doesn't take with "switchers" like QS and LiteSwitch, where pressing escape cancels the selection pane, and you can get on with your work. Second biggest complaint, is that you need shortcuts to *use* the dang thing, after it's activated (when the window pane is visible). So while I'm seeing it, I still have to use shortcuts (that you must set prior via the preference pane), just to navigate a list. This can't be, and is not only awkward, but ranks this app as the most obnoxious widget on earth. Shortcut keys are way too precious to devote to just one app. Once I get in the app, I expect to move around a simple list of items, as I would any other finder list - use the up and down keys!! The interface options are cool, but it all seems like aqua overkill, and the author should focus more on the core features. The pref pane isn't too simple to understand - there are way too many controls and the shortcut creation method is awful. The author really needs to set some limits to the user, instead of prompting them with a flimsy warning, about how setting the "escape" key as a shortcut could effect other applications... not smart, even if the user is. In a nut shell, this is beta in form but not function. Downloaded it, but won't use it yet.

Before you can update Witch, make the following steps: 1. Open "System Preferences" 2. Open "Witch" pane 3. Uncheck the "Enable Witch" box 4. Close "System Preferences" 5. Replace the old Witch pane file in your ~/Library/PreferencePanes/ folder by the new downloaded Witch pane. 6. Open "System Preferences" 7. Check the "Enable Witch" box 8. Close "System Preferences" and everything's fixed and it works again.

Great idea, reminds me of Quicksilver-esque simplicity. The CPU usage when in the foreground is crazy though 70%+.

Just a marketing note: Some of this author's Freeware or Donationware Apps have a history of turning into Shareware, especially when they become really popular. My advise: if you like this app, don't get too attached to it, unless you are eventually willing to pay $$.

works very well... in the background 0% of CPU use... in the foreground : 60% of cpu use on a 1.5Ghz G4....too much...only problem to solve for me...

URGENT HELP NEEDED!!! Which preference pane is called "Universal Access" ??? I'm a German user and don't know how it is called in German...!! How does it look like? thanks for any urgent help!

Augh! I can't tell what the default key combination is to switch windows (I think I have an Apple Pro Keyboard) and any key combination I try to change it to, I get a message saying that some applications might not work well if I change it. I'm wondering what special key combination is being used that doesn't effect other applications that is the default. Can anyone help describe to me what this magical key combination is? I know the open-apple key and shift-open-apple key are involved, but I can't tell what the other is. :(

Cool thing. It looks wonderful and works fine. Keep updating and developping it!