Windows 10: Alt + Tab gets slower over time, not related to video games and full screen apps...

So recently I got this pretty much brand new laptop, and after resetting it and installing all the programs I need for day to day use it worked pretty much fine, however, yesterday alt + tab started becoming sluggish and extremely slow after around 10 - 15 minutes, to be clear, its not the common focus assist issue that happens to video games and full screen apps, I am talking about switching between tabs, now I have tried pretty much everything online to no avail, turned off focus assist, updated all the necessary drivers and windows, restarted the computer multiple times, restarted windows explorer etc...

Also this is the only problem that I have noticed, windows doesn't slow down when the issue starts, and windows key + tab works just fine, this seems to be the only issue with this laptop.


here are the computer's specifications in case it might help diagnosing the issue:

ThinkPad e490 from Lenovo

512GB of ssd

16GB of ram

I5-8265U

Windows 10 Pro verison 1903 OS build 18362.418


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

:)

 

Weird alt-tab out of fullscreen games.

Hi Simon,

The multitasking capability of a game depends on the total memory of your computer. If you have large amounts of RAM on your computer, it can multitask heavy programs easily like high-end games. To ensure that we can provide the appropriate resolution
for your concerns with the alt-tab function, we’d like to ask you a few questions:

• What were the recent changes made on your computer before you experienced this issue?
• When did the issue start?

• Have you pressed the alt-tab key during you play Rainbow Six Siege? Or it just happen without pressing it?
  
• Does the automatic ALT-TAB behavior happens on other games?
• Do you have any other programs running on your computer while playing?
• What is the anti-virus program you're using?

• What is your device or system specifications? To know, follow these steps:
  1. Press Windows + S and type
     About your PC.
  2. Send us the information listed under Device specifications.
  
  

Moving forward, if you're multitasking while playing, we recommend that you play this game only without doing other tasks. Pressing ALT-TAB or performing a multitasking interferes with the performance of your video card, especially if you're running a heavy
game like Rainbow Six Siege. It will generate screen viewing issues like intermittently switching your game screen between your desktop environment.

For now, restart your game and do not press ALT+TAB while playing. This will allow your video card to dedicate its graphics performance on the game only instead of your desktop environment.

If you would like me to provide additional advice, simply respond to this thread. I will get notified and I’ll reply to you as soon as I can.

 

What is the "magic" of alt+tab?

What about using alt+enter to ensure you're full screen, or switch to window and back instead of alt-tabbing to desktop?

Can't recall a game I've played having any issues like what you're reporting...but I do recall using alt+enter to go full screen, still use that from time-to-time when a game launches incorrectly or launches with first run settings. I'm curious to see if only alt + tab works for you or if alt + enter works as well...

 

Alt+Tab screen resolution issues while gaming after latest update.


I play games on an Asus laptop with only an NVIDIA 960M graphics card. I play some games at lower resolutions to keep up frames while gaming. Prior to the update I could alt+tab out of the game and the desktop screen would return to 1920x1080 and tabbing back in would keep lower resolution I have set for the game. Now, when alt tabbing out of of lower resolution screen, Windows desktop reverts to the lower resolution I have set for the game (in-game resolution is 1280x720, as exclusive fullscreen). And when tabbing back into the game there are some video settings being used that are used for 'borderless window' instead of my setting of exclusive fullscreen.