By beautiful imaging and state-of-the-art experiments, vinculin is established to be a central switch in mechanotransduction at integrin-based focal adhesions. Cycles of tension-regulated vinculin switching control focal adhesion dynamics and signaling to enable polarized cell migration and alignment. ; By beautiful imaging and state-of-the-art experiments, vinculin is established to be a central switch in mechanotransduction at integrin-based focal adhesions. Cycles of tension-regulated vinculin switching control focal adhesion dynamics and signaling to enable polarized cell migration and alignment.