> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.otter-shell.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# otter-switcher

> Current-workspace Alt-Tab strip. Ships in the otter-overview package.

`otter-switcher` is the Alt-Tab window strip for the current workspace. Same package as [otter-overview](/desktop/otter-overview). Separate binary, separate runtime socket. Bind it to Alt-Tab. Do not autostart it.

```bash theme={null}
otter-switcher
```

First launch opens the strip. Each later invocation while it is open advances the selection. Release Alt to focus the selected window. Escape cancels. Enter confirms.

## Suggested binds

**Sway** (`~/.config/sway/config`):

```
bindsym Mod1+Tab exec otter-switcher
```

**Hyprland** (`~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf`):

```ini theme={null}
bind = ALT, Tab, exec, otter-switcher
```

**Niri** (`~/.config/niri/config.kdl`):

```kdl theme={null}
Alt+Tab { spawn "otter-switcher"; }
```

## Input

| Input                     | Action                |
| ------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Repeated `otter-switcher` | Advance selection     |
| Release Alt               | Focus selected window |
| Enter                     | Confirm / focus       |
| Escape                    | Cancel                |
| Mouse hover               | Select tile           |
| Left click                | Activate              |
| Wheel                     | Cycle                 |
| Click outside             | Cancel                |

## What it shows

Only windows on the current workspace. On Sway it reads the workspace and tree through `swaymsg`. Other compositors reuse the same window sources as [otter-overview](/desktop/otter-overview) (Hyprland IPC, niri IPC, mango/dwl, or ext-workspace plus foreign-toplevel).

Thumbnails follow overview capture settings when available. Missing capture falls back to a per-app tint.

## Configuration

Shares `~/.config/otter-shell/otter-overview.conf` with the overview. Colors and capture keys apply. Edit in otter-settings under **Overview**, or by hand. See [otter-overview](/desktop/otter-overview).

## Package

Installed by `otter-overview` (`usr/bin/otter-switcher`). Comes with `pikman install otter-shell`.

## Dependencies

* Wayland compositor with `zwlr_layer_shell_v1`
* Sway: `swaymsg` for the current-workspace list
* Other compositors: same IPC / foreign-toplevel stack as otter-overview