WindialSwitch Chrome windows by number.
Windial is a Chrome extension for people who keep one window per topic. One shortcut lists your windows. One number key takes you to the one you want.
⌥W opens the list. On Windows and Linux it is Alt+W.
1 to 9 jump to that window. 0 jumps to the last one.
Keys
- ⌥W Alt+W
- Open the list. Press it again to close.You can change the shortcut at
chrome://extensions/shortcuts. - 1 to 9
- Jump to that window. Windows are numbered in the order you opened them, so a window keeps its number while you move around.
- 0
- Jump to the last window, however many there are.
- Enter
- Go back to the previous window. It is already selected when the list opens.
- Type anything
- Search window names, tab groups, tab titles and addresses. Enter opens the window and the matching tab. Number keys still jump.
- ⇧ + number
- Move the current tab into that window and follow it. Add ⌥ or Alt to move it and stay where you are.
- ⇧A, ⇧B …
- Jump to the tenth window and beyond. The letter is shown next to each window.
- F2
- Name the selected window. An empty name brings back the default, which is the site of the window's first tab.
- Esc
- Clear the search, then close.
When something doesn't work
The shortcut does nothing
Chrome gives an extension its suggested shortcut only when nothing else uses that key. If ⌥W (Alt+W) was already taken, Windial has no shortcut yet, and its welcome page says so right after install.
Type chrome://extensions/shortcuts into the address bar, find Windial, and set a key for “Activate the extension”.
I can't see all my windows
Chrome limits how tall a popup can be. Right-click the Windial icon, choose Options, and pick the compact list: about 13 windows fit, compared with about 10 in normal and 8 in large. Typing a few letters also narrows the list.
A name I gave a window is gone
Windial recognises a window by its tabs. After Chrome restarts, a window that still has enough of the same tabs gets its name back. If most of its tabs changed, it starts with the default name again. Press F2 to rename it.
Incognito windows are missing
Chrome hides incognito windows from extensions until you allow it. Open chrome://extensions, go to Windial's details, and turn on “Allow in Incognito”.
Names given to incognito windows last only until Chrome closes. Chrome does not let a tab move between a normal and an incognito window, so those windows are greyed out when you move a tab.
My windows are on different desktops
That works. On macOS, jumping to a window on another desktop (Space) switches to that desktop.
Which number is this window?
The Windial icon in the toolbar shows the number of the window it sits in, so you can read it without opening the list.
Does Windial send my tabs anywhere?
No. It has no server and makes no network requests. Names and settings stay in your browser profile. The privacy policy has the details.
Questions and bug reports
Write to hayden.park.apps@gmail.com, or open an issue on GitHub. It helps to say which Chrome version and operating system you use, and what you pressed.