# Windows and apps

> Switch and close apps, windows, tabs and Spaces with the left hand, and open your most-used apps with one chord.

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LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

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## Window control {#windows}

Tab, Q, W, A and S sit under the left hand, so you can switch and close while
the right hand stays on the mouse or the navigation keys.

| Key | `⇪` | `⇪ ⌘` | `⇪ ⌥` | `⇪ ⌃` | `⇪ ⇧` |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Tab | Next app (⌘Tab) | Previous app (⇧⌘Tab) | Space to the right (⌃→) | | Next tab (⌃Tab) |
| Q | Quit the app (⌘Q) | Quit the app (⌘Q) | | Lock the screen (⌃⌘Q) | Log out (⇧⌘Q) |
| W | Close the window or tab (⌘W) | Close (⌘W) | Sleep the display | | Sleep the Mac |
| A | | Mission Control (⌃↑) | Show the desktop (F11) | Open Apps (Launchpad) | |
| S | Next tab (⌃Tab) | Previous tab (⌃⇧Tab) | Next window of the app (⌘\`) | Previous window of the app (⇧⌘\`) | |
{.matrix .wide}

`⇪ A` on its own has no binding. Sleep the display and Sleep the Mac are
built-in actions that run immediately; in the Playground's Safe Practice mode
they are only previewed.

## Open apps {#apps}

E, R, T, Y, F and G open apps, three per key. An app that is not installed is
skipped: the key does nothing until you install it.

| Key | `⇪` | `⇪ ⌘` | `⇪ ⌥` |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| E | Safari | Finder | Mail |
| R | iTerm | Preview | Terminal |
| T | Visual Studio Code | Typora | Notes |
| Y | Siri | Karabiner-Elements | Amphetamine |
| F | Alfred | Dash | Dictionary |
| G | IntelliJ IDEA | Google Chrome | Calendar |
| C | Codex | Claude | |
{.matrix .wide}

`⇪ ⌃ P`, `⇪ ⌃ A` and `⇪ F4` open Apps (Launchpad on older macOS).

Apps are matched by bundle ID, not by name or path, so they open wherever they
are installed. To open a different app, pick the key in the
[keyboard editor](/docs/guide/editor/) and choose **Open app**.

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Backlinks:

- [Default layout](/docs/layout/)
- [Navigation and selection](/docs/layout/navigation/)