How to Use Virtual Desktops in Windows 11

How to Use Virtual Desktops in Windows 11

Virtual desktops let you keep separate groups of windows on one PC - for example, one desktop for work, one for personal browsing and one for a project. Only the windows on the current desktop are in front of you, so the screen stays tidy. Here's how to use them.

Open Task View

Everything starts in Task View:

• Press Windows key + Tab, or
• Select the Task View icon on the taskbar (two overlapping squares). Hovering over it also shows your desktops.

If the icon is missing, right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, and turn on Task view.

Create a New Desktop

• In Task View, select New desktop, or
• Press Windows key + Ctrl + D - Windows creates a desktop and switches to it.

Switch Between Desktops

• Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow / Left arrow: go to the next or previous desktop.
• Or open Task View and select the desktop you want.
• On a touchpad that supports gestures, a four-finger swipe left or right switches desktops too.

Rename or Reorder Desktops

1. Open Task View (Windows key + Tab).
2. Right-click a desktop thumbnail and choose Rename, then type a name such as "Work".

You can also drag desktop thumbnails left or right in Task View to change their order.

Give Each Desktop Its Own Wallpaper

1. Open Task View.
2. Right-click a desktop and select Choose background.
3. Pick a picture.

Microsoft notes that only picture backgrounds can differ between desktops. Slideshow and solid-colour backgrounds apply to all of them.

Move a Window to Another Desktop

1. Open Task View and point at the desktop that has the window.
2. Drag the window's thumbnail onto another desktop at the bottom of the screen.

Or right-click the window's thumbnail in Task View and choose Move to, then pick a desktop. The same menu has Show this window on all desktops - handy for a chat or music app you want everywhere.

Close a Desktop

• Press Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close the desktop you're on, or
• In Task View, hover over a desktop and select its X.

Closing a desktop doesn't close your apps. Any windows on it move to the desktop next to it.

Choose What the Taskbar and Alt + Tab Show

1. Go to Settings > System > Multitasking.
2. Expand Desktops.
3. Under On the taskbar, show all the open windows, choose Only on the desktop I'm using or On all desktops.
4. Under Show all open windows when I press Alt + Tab, choose the same way.

If you pick "only on the desktop I'm using", each desktop feels like a separate screen.

Tips

• Desktops stay after a restart, but apps don't reopen on them automatically - you'll need to reopen them.
• Combine desktops with Snap to put windows side by side on each one - see how to split screen in Windows 11 with Snap layouts.
• If the Windows key + Ctrl shortcuts don't respond, check Windows key not working in Windows 11.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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See Also:windows 11 desktops multitasking