Forum Discussion
Norbiprg
Nov 12, 2020Brass Contributor
I can't switch back to Teams chat with Alt+Tab on Mac
I can't switch back to Teams chat with Alt+Tab on Mac, becose Teams have two windows: the chat and the Microsoft Teams Notification. Microsoft Teams Notification is the default window, and this window is nowhere, and can't close.
Very frustrating.
Test your apps Microsoft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, I found a "solution" to force Teams to use the notifications.
Simple version:
01. You go to your teams https://teams.microsoft.com02. When it asks for notifications, give the permission and that's it.
As an App in your dock:
02. You copy the URL from your logged-in teams-tab (01.)
03. You install Epichrome
(Very useful, you can wrap a Website as a App and it appears in the dock. Basically is MS doing the same with their "App" except it uses Electron, Epichrome uses Chrome or Brave.)
04. Start it, go through the wizard, when it asks for the URL, give your Teams-URL and a fine name for it.
(Icon can be automatically downloaded)
05. Start the new app, log in, give permission for notifications. Since it is basically a browser, it is forced to use the default MacOS Notifications. Alt-Tab works again.
Alternatively, there is a way to make a WebApp with chrome. But I never use chrome.
- HadarNCopper ContributorHappens in Windows as well (could not find a specific discussion for it)
- ivanborealCopper Contributor
Norbiprg I found a pseudo solution, use Teams not maximized, just scale it out as big as possible and alt + tab or command + tab must work.
- ZenoPopoviciCopper ContributorDisable GPU acceleration under Settings in MS Teams. This fixes the issue and theres no noticeable slowdown.
- patchworkCopper Contributor
Norbiprg I finally FIGURED THIS OUT! I only read the first page of replies so maybe someone else has also posted this, but if you enable Mac notifications in the Teams settings you'll get rid of that Notification window and allow tabbing between Teams and other apps like you'd expect (have to restart the app after making the change).
As an added bonus, you will also get notifications via Notification Center and the app icon will badge.
Not sure why Teams doesn't default to Mac notifications...
 
- Colin_SeowCopper Contributor
- Colin_SeowCopper ContributorUPDATE: oops, spoke too soon... still does not work when there is more than one MS teams window open. Still have to use the command+tab+up-arrow combo.
- NickFunwinBrass Contributor
- renemsCopper Contributor
As probably someone mentioned before, this is by design to be able to show "non-Mac-OS-native" notifications, even if the user is not on the same desktop/screen than the main Teams window. But this is simply a bad design decision. None of the previously suggested workarounds work for me - nor am I willing to use the in-browser version of the app. Using the [cmd] + [tab] + [arrow up] is what comes closest to an acceptable workaround, but this still means I have to remember handling MS Teams differently to any other app and this is disrupting my workflow anyway.
So my question is: Microsoft, can anyone please give a statement whether you're working on a fix for this issue or not? This is really frustrating and I think reducing frustration should really be of higher priority than new features. Just an opinion on general software development. 😉
Did anyone else find a solution that makes [cmd] + [tab] working again long-term for Teams in multi desktop setups?
- RKeilmanBrass Contributor
I first contributed to this thread in Dec of 2020, this issue is clearly as low priority as one can get. LIke NickFunwin, my solution was to find an alternative to Teams. I've still been receiving notifications about this topic, just in case -- but I think it's time I follow Microsoft's lead and abandon it. Thoughts and prayers for you all.
- NickFunwinBrass Contributor
renems yeah we did. The way to fix it is google SLACK and download it.
Love the irony that the fix name, fittingly describes the Teams developers response to this bug.
- mattdorangCopper ContributorIt looks like the only solution might be to buy a windows laptop
- tderksenCopper ContributorYes, I think its not a bug, its there strategy.
- MCyphCopper ContributorIt's ridiculous how long this has been an issue. Microsoft needs to fix this seemingly small bug that has been around too long.
- MarcJirianCopper ContributorOver the years I've tried all the mitigations mentioned in this thread. Some have worked until the next wake from sleep, and then it's back to no alt tab love. Here's a screencap for what it's worth.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/duHuNcYHAJcNTtqs5 - Colin_SeowCopper Contributor
I t's Dec 2022 and we still have this problem - why can't it be resolved? Microsoft? Norbiprg
- Colin_SeowCopper ContributorUPDATE: 23 December 2022 - the issue seems to have somehow been fixed, although I do not know how or why? Was it an automatic update that I was not aware of? Or a re-start? No idea how it got fixed, but now alt-tab to Teams does switch to Teams, even if it is on a separate space/desktop.
- studiorizCopper Contributor
Colin_Seow
Ok, it's semi-fixed...it works for about 5 mins after launch. Not sure why it fails after a while.
- mburchillCopper Contributor
Colin_SeowDecember 2022 ... It's so annoying.