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Learn how to Fix ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games‘ issue in this guide. Does it bother you when you have to wait a long time to switch between games and apps? It can be really annoying to have this problem, which is called “Alt-Tab wait when playing Games.” Getting distracted by it breaks up your game play and slows you down. Your computer may have trouble switching between apps without lag, which could cause the game to freeze or cause delays.
This can be really annoying, especially if you’re in the middle of a cool fight or need to quickly check something. Don’t worry, though; there are ways to fix this issue and make it easier to do other things while gaming. The ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games’ problem can be fixed by figuring out what’s wrong and finding good workarounds. After that, you’ll be able to easily switch between apps and play games without any interruptions. Here are the simple ways how to Fix ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games’ issue.
What is ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games’ issue
Many players run into the “Alt-Tab wait when playing Games” issue when they use the Alt-Tab shortcut to switch between multiplayer games and other programs. If you press Alt-Tab to leave a game that is running in full-screen, it may take a while before you can see your desktop or other apps again. Depending on your computer’s resources, how well the game is optimized, and your software options, this delay can be annoying. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

It can get in the way of your flow if you’re trying to do more than one thing at once or switch between jobs quickly while you’re gaming. It’s always being worked on by game makers to fix this problem with updates and improvements that make the gaming experience better. Some gamer have found that moving to border-less windowed mode can cut down on the time they have to wait when they Alt-Tab out of a game. If you want to know more information about this issue visit Microsoft Official Website.
Causes for ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games’ issue
- Resource-Heavy Games: Playing games that use a lot of resources can slow down the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut when moving between apps. As long as the game is using a lot of system resources like CPU, GPU, or RAM, it might take longer to switch between apps.
- Background Processes: Alt-Tab lag can also be caused by other programs or processes going in the background while the game is being played. These tasks might be using up system resources or causing problems, which makes the switching process take longer.
- Changing the graphics settings: If the game is in full-screen mode, changing the graphics settings to high can make Alt-Tab lag worse. When rendering complicated graphics and textures, it may take longer to switch between them, which can cause delays.
- Choices for the Operating System: The Alt-Tab key may behave differently depending on the choices or configurations for the operating system. Setting up window management, virtual memory, or power management, for instance, could change how fast apps switch.
- Multitasking: Trying to run several resource-heavy programs at the same time while gaming can slow down the system and cause Alt-Tab lag. Closing programs or apps that you don’t need can help fix this problem.
- Full-screen Optimization: When Windows tries to optimize the screen for full-screen, it can sometimes make Alt-Tab lag. It’s possible that turning this function off for certain games or all games could make Alt-Tab work better.
How to Fix ‘Alt-Tab wait when playing Games’ issue
Update Graphics Drivers
- Check drivers for graphics card are up to date.
- Download and install recent drivers from manufacturer’s website.
Disable Fullscreen Optimization
- Right-click on the shortcut or .exe file representing the game.
- Select Properties.
- Scroll to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box next to “Disable fullscreen optimisations.”
Adjust Power Settings
- Open Windows settings.
- Navigate to Power & sleep settings.
- Select Power & sleep settings.
- Choose Additional power settings.
- Pick High Performance from the list.
Close Background Applications
- Avoid delays when alt-tabbing.
- Remove superfluous programs running in the background.
- These programs consume system resources.
Run as Administrator
- Right-click on the shortcut or .exe file for the game.
- Select “Properties” from the menu.
- Navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
- Check the box next to “Run this program as an administrator.”
Disable Game Mode
- Eliminate interference with alt-tabbing by going to Windows settings.
- Select Gaming > Game Mode.
- Once you are there, switch off Game Mode.
Adjust Windows Visual Effects
- Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer” and select “Properties.”
- Click on “Advanced system settings” on the left-hand side.
- Under the “Performance” section, click “Settings.”
- Choose the option for “Adjust for best performance” or manually deselect some visual effects to reduce system load.
Check for Windows Updates
- Verify your operating system is up to date.
- Search for and install any Windows updates available from Microsoft.
Adjust Graphics Settings
- Lower visual settings in the game.
- Reduce strain on system.
- Potentially enhance alt-tabbing performance.
Use Borderless Windowed Mode
- Several games offer a borderless windowed mode option.
- This mode, compared to fullscreen mode, enhances alt-tabbing functionality.
- It facilitates smoother alt-tabbing transitions.
Restart Your Computer
- Restart: Often, just restarting can solve temporary issues and refresh system resources.
- Fix: A restart can improve system performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, delays or breaks that happen when you use Alt-Tab to switch between apps while you’re gaming can be annoying and take away from the fun. The first step to fixing this problem is to recognize it. To fix this problem, you can change the game settings, update the graphics drivers, or look for other ways to do more than one thing at once. You can fix the Alt-Tab delay problem and enjoy smoother games if you take action and learn about it.
Remember that every gaming setup is different, so it might take some time and trial and error to find the best answer. Do not let bugs in the game stop you from having fun. You can get past these problems if you work hard and think outside the box. Then you can go back to your favorite virtual places and enjoy every moment. Make sure nothing gets in the way of your fun while you play games by taking charge of your experience.
Question and Answer
After attempting all of the instructions, if you are still experiencing delays when using the Alt-Tab button, you should consider contacting the game’s creator or the community forums for additional assistance. It is possible that they have resolutions or upgrades that can fix the issue.
You can get better performance from your computer by making it faster by updating its CPU, GPU, or RAM. But if the delay when switching between programs doesn’t go away, hardware changes might not be enough to fix the problem.
It is imperative that you check the settings of your graphics card to ensure that you have full-screen options, triple buffering, and v-sync enabled. This configuration can have an effect on how the game interacts with the screen of your computer.