The Alt-Tab shortcut key combination in Windows helps you cycle between multiple active application windows. However, in the Windows 1124H2 update, this shortcut key is broken, and if the key combination is pressed, a black screen will be triggered. Although the Alt+Tab function will not stop working, the black screen will persist for 10 seconds. This kind of delay is certainly unacceptable, especially when you want to quickly switch to another app.
Multiple Open Community posts and Reddit threads discuss the issue. In most cases, the problem occurs after updating to Windows 1124H2. , users can choose to roll back the update, but only if they act quickly; after the ten-day window has expired, the update will not be rolled back.
Microsoft fixed the black screen issue in the October 2024 optional update for 24H2 PC. However, optional updates do not install automatically, making it difficult to resolve the issue. The fix is part of a gradual rollout, so even if you manually installed the October 2024 optional update, you won't get the fix right away.
In other words, Alt-Tab is still broken for the millions of users using the Windows 11 2024 update, but we have good news. Microsoft will fix the Alt-Tab black screen bug in Windows 1124H2 for everyone in December.
How to fix Alt+Tab black screen issue in 24H2?
During our testing, we found that the culprit was the Game Mode feature, and turning it off helped fix the black screen to an extent. However, this is not a foolproof method and the black screen will still appear, just for a shorter period of time. Disabling hardware acceleration can help resolve issues in web browsers and social apps like Discord. But you won’t find hardware acceleration settings in every app that encounters a black screen.
You can also try disabling the Windowed Game Optimization feature, which reduces lag when switching to another application.
Please note that the next Patch Tuesday update for Windows 1124H2 (also known as November 2024) will provide a fix for the Alt+Tab black screen issue. So until then, please be patient and wait for gradual improvements, which may take a few more weeks.
In addition to the Alt-Tab black screen error, Windows 1124H2 has other bugs, including an issue with File Explorer's menu appearing off-screen. Another error causes the Internet (Wi-Fi) to stop working and tethering to disappear.