IdeaSift

Mac users find app and desktop switching slow and inflexible

Mac power users who navigate by keyboard report friction switching between apps and virtual desktops: desktop transitions can feel slow, and the built-in app switcher can show minimized apps they would rather skip. Some users also organize virtual desktops around different projects or clients, making clear, direct navigation important. The requests span several parts of desktop navigation, so a focused utility could help without replacing the whole desktop.

For mac power users who switch between apps and virtual desktops. Mentioned from Apr 2025 to Apr 2026 on Hacker News.

4 different people described this problem in 4 separate discussions.

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0 mentions in the last 12 weeks
Indie fit
7.0/10
Pain
6.0/10
Frequency
5.8/10
Willingness to pay
5.0/10
Momentum
5.0/10
Who pays
Consumers
Competition
Medium
Build difficulty
High

What people said

Quoted word for word. Follow a link to read the whole discussion.

  1. does it display minimized apps as default macos switcher? that bothers me to degree i would pay for substitute
    finchisko on Hacker NewsSep 2025Asked for a toolWould pay
  2. Is there a tool which eliminates the animation, also when switching between apps with cmd+tab? I almost never use ctrl+→, I just know what application I want to switch to
    mabedan on Hacker NewsApr 2026Asked for a tool
Build brief

See what to build and who will buy it

  • 2 product ideas with the smallest useful version and pricing
  • 3 places to find your first customers
  • 2 more quotes from people who have this problem
  • Current workarounds, existing solutions and risks