Tablift

TabLift is a lightweight macOS utility that restores minimized apps instantly when switching with ⌘+Tab or ⌘+`.
By default, macOS ignores minimized windows unless you hold the Option key.
TabLift fixes this behavior, making app switching intuitive and seamless — no extra keys needed.

🌐 Visit the TabLift website

Features

• Instantly restores minimized windows when you switch to an app using ⌘ + Tab or ⌘ + `
• Menu bar icon with quick popover for access and control
• Multiple settings for customizing the window, dock & app management
• Runs quietly in the background with minimal resource usage
• Compatible with Mission Control, multiple desktops, and most macOS versions
• Website included in the repo, for documentation and SEO
• Dock popups with live window previews: Shows a beautiful popup when you hover Dock icons, including a diamond indicator for minimized windows.
  
• App Window Switcher that displays the windows of the same app and is activated by the ⌘ + ` shortcut
  

Quick Start

Option 1: Download Prebuilt App

1. Download the latest release
2. Open the .dmg file and move the app into the /Applications folder
3. Launch TabLift
4. Grant Accessibility permission when prompted

Option 2: Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/turtle-key/TabLift.git
cd TabLift
open TabLift.xcodeproj

Then build and run in Xcode.
You'll be prompted to grant Accessibility permission.

Website

The website sources are in the website/ folder, powered by SvelteKit.
To run locally:

cd website
npm install
npm run dev

Permissions

TabLift needs Accessibility Access to restore minimized windows.
You'll be prompted on first launch, or you can enable it manually:

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → Enable TabLift

UI Preview

File Structure

TabLift/
├── Sources/
│   ├── TabLiftApp.swift
│   ├── AppMonitor.swift
│   ├── WindowManager.swift
│   ├── MenuBarManager.swift
│   ├── DockIconHoverMonitor.swift   
│   ├── DockPreviewPanel.swift      
│   ├── SettingsView.swift
│   ├── AccessibilityPermissionWindow.swift
│   └── ... other Swift files
├── website/
│   ├── src/
│   ├── static/
│   └── ...
├── Images/
│   ├── banner.png
│   ├── banner-wbg.png
│   ├── tablift-shot-light.png
│   ├── tablift-shot-dark.png
│   └── ...
├── Assets.xcassets/
├── Info.plist
├── Sparkle/
└── TabLift.xcodeproj

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome!
If you have suggestions, bug reports, or want to help improve TabLift:

1. Fork the repo
2. Create a feature branch:

   git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name
   

3. Push and open a PR

License

AGPL-3.0 License
© Mihai-Eduard Ghețu – See LICENSE for details.

Credits

Built for macOS power users frustrated with Apple's default app switching.
Thanks to the accessibility community and everyone who contributed feedback(the voices in my head).

TabLift – Lift your windows. Free your workflow.