Window number mode allows you to select windows by numbers. `window-number-switch' same as `other-window' (C-x o) when windows less than three. If have three windows (or more) showing, `window-number-switch' will highlight window number at mode-line then prompt you input window number. I binding `window-number-switch' on 'C-x o' to instead `other-window'. ; Installation: Put window-number.el to your load-path. The load-path is usually ~/elisp/. It's set in your ~/.emacs like this: (add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name "~/elisp")) And the following to your ~/.emacs startup file. (require 'window-number) (window-number-mode 1) No need more.