virtualbox.org

App switching in OSX host is "command-tab" (where "command" is the key to the left of the spacebar).

In Windows10 the default key to give access to host is the button directly to the right of the spacebar.

However in testsI can only rarely get this 3 key combination to work. There seems to be a conflict with various Windows 10 shortcuts.

What's the best key to set to give access to Host in a Windows10 guest so can seamlessly use the OSX host app switcher?

maker675 wrote:In Windows10 the default key to give access to host is the button directly to the right of the spacebar.

In Wikipedia's article on Apple keyboards, the first picture shows there's two Command keys on both sides of the spacebar, and the "button directly to the right of the spacebar" as a right Command key. Same thing for an Apple "Magic Keyboard". This isn't a Windows 10 function that 'gives access to the host'. Virtualbox handles that.

The key for switching back to the host or for activating guest Virtualbox window menu options while focus is in the guest is called the "host key". You can set the desired key as the "host key" in the main Virtualbox window, File menu(?), Preferences, Input, Virtual Machine tab, Host Key Combination. In Windows the default is Right-Ctrl. I don't know the Mac default, I guess it's Right-Command?

On a Windows host, to get to the Windows "app switcher" I would use the host key (or host key combination) first then the Windows Alt-Tab to switch apps from the keyboard, not try to do it all in one fell swoop. Host-key and app-switch are two different functions by two different programs, and there's probably some slight timing difference in the order your fingers hit the various keys, thus the apparent rare times the three-key-combination will work. If the right Command key gets hit a few microseconds before the left-Command-Tab, then Virtualbox kicks out of the guest to the host, then OSX switches apps. Do it the other way around, and the Left Command key combo goes into the guest, which if it's Windows, goes "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?", then Virtualbox may kick out to the host.

Do this in a two-step process. Host key first, then app switch.

FWIW I find that having the Host Key be Right-Ctrl on my Windows host interferes with typical Ctrl-key combos I need to do with my right hand. So I set my Host Key combo to Right-Ctrl-Right-Shift.

scottgus1 wrote:I don't know the Mac default, I guess it's Right-Command?

Yes.

Edit: ... but only on my iMac host. Years ago, when starting to use VirtualBox 4.3.x, I must have changed the host key and kept this setting until today (and beyond ). Sorry for adding to the confusion.

Thanks for the expose @scottgus1. Hadn't understood it might be a two-step process.

Also thought that the default host key was the right command @fth0 (had read that in documentation) but now actually check it turns out mine is set to LEFT command. Perhaps an upgrade with 6.1? Once one understands that it's actually the left AND that it's a two step process the whole thing works incredibly well. Basically I tap the left command once to get host and then tap and hold a second time and start tabbing.... which brings up the mac app switcher over the windows desktop. Perfect.

Thanks!

maker675 wrote:it turns out mine is set to LEFT command. Perhaps an upgrade with 6.1?

According to the 5.2.34 (randomly chosen), 6.0.14, and 6.1.0 manuals:

On a Mac host, the default Host key is the left Command key

Yours was probably set that way all along.