What to Know

• Select theTask viewshortcut on the taskbarorpressWin+Tabto open it.
• Use Task view to switch between desktops, add new desktops, rename desktops, moveapps, and more. 
• Go toSettings>Personalization>Taskbarand select theTask viewtoggle to enable the taskbar button.

This article explains how to use multiple desktops in Windows 11, including how to view and switch between virtual desktops, customize virtual desktops, and use the same app on multiple desktops.

How to View Your Virtual Desktops

There are two ways to check out an overview of your current virtual desktops.You can either open Task view for a full overview of your desktops and the active apps on your current desktoporcheck a quick view of just your active desktops.

Task view is similar to the Task Switcher that's accessed by pressingAlt+Tab, but it shows both your active apps and your desktops.To access Task view, you can pressWin+Tab, or you can select theTask viewshortcut on the taskbar. In Windows 11, the icon looks like a dark rectangle with a lighter, partially transparent rectangle superimposed over it.

The other way to view your virtual desktops is to move your mouse over the Task view icon, but don't click it. If you hold your mouse over this icon, you'll see a popup that shows your current desktops in addition to the option to create a new desktop.

The Task view button is enabled by default, but it can be turned off. If you can't find yours, navigate toSettings>Personalization>Taskbar, and make sure theTask viewtoggle is turned on.

While you're viewing your virtual desktops, you can create a new one by selectingNew desktop.

You can also close one of your virtual desktops. When you move your mouse over a desktop thumbnail, anXwill appear in the corner of the thumbnail. Press it to close the desktop.

Here's how to access Task view and check your desktops from the taskbar:

1. Select theTask viewicon.

   

2. Task view shows your desktops on the bottom row, with the apps from the active desktop displayed above.

   

3. If you move your mouse over a desktop thumbnail, you can preview the apps that are open on that desktop.

   

4. You can also move your mouse over the Task view button for a quick overview of your desktops, and move your mouse over a desktop thumbnail to preview that desktop without switching to it.

   

How to Switch Desktops in Windows 11

There are three ways to switch desktops in Windows 11. You can use the full Task view window, the Task view popup, or a keyboard shortcut.

Task view provides an overview of your virtual desktops and the active apps on your current desktop, and it also allows you to switch your active desktop. You can navigate this screen with your arrow keys, and switch to a different desktop or app by highlighting the one you want and pressing enter. You can also just use your mouse to choose a virtual desktop.

The other way to switch desktops with Task view is to move your mouse over the icon on the taskbar,and selectthe desktop you want. This method is a little faster because it doesn't involve actually opening Task view. However, it doesn't let you see your active apps like the full Task view screen.

When you select a new desktop, your active desktop will swap to the one that you selected. The active apps will switch to the ones associated with the new desktop, and the wallpaper will change if you've set a different wallpaper.

To swap between desktops using a keyboard shortcut, press eitherWin+Ctrl+Left Arrow or Win+Ctrl+Right Arrow. By default, your desktops are arranged with the oldest at the far left and the newest at the far right.

There is no wraparound with the desktop switching commands, so repeatedly moving left, for example, will eventually take you to your original desktop, but will stop there.

How to Move Apps Between Desktops in Windows 11

When you open an app on Windows 11, and you have multiple desktops set up, the app only shows up on your currently active desktop. That makes it easy to set up a desktop with the exact apps you want since you can open a new desktop, switch to that desktop, and then launch the specific apps you need there.

If you change your mind about where an app belongs, apps can be moved between desktops using Task view.

Here's how to move apps between your various virtual desktops on Windows 11:

1. Click theTask viewicon on the taskbar.

   

2. Click and drag the appyou want to move.

   

3. Drop the app on thedesktop thumbnailwhere you want the app.

   

4. The app will switch to the new desktop.

   

How to Rename a Desktop in Windows 11

If you're using multiple desktops to organize your apps into specific groups, you may find it convenient to rename your desktops. Selecting descriptive names, like productivity or games, makes it easier to recognize each desktop using the mouseover switch method without opening Task view.

Here's how to rename a desktop in Windows 11:

1. Click theTask viewicon on the taskbar.

   

2. Click adesktop namefrom the thumbnails, type a new name, and then pressEnterto save it.

   

3. You can repeat this process to rename your other desktops if you like.

How to Change Virtual Desktop Backgrounds

Each virtual desktop can have its own background wallpaper, but every desktop shares one set of files, folders, and shortcuts. That means you can set a unique wallpaper to help differentiate a desktop, but if you make a new shortcut on one desktop, the shortcut will show up on all of your desktops at once.

If you select thesolid color or slideshowbackground option, it will apply to all of your desktops. You need to select one of the default Windows backgrounds or your own custom wallpaper image if you want to have unique backgrounds for each desktop.

Here's how to change the wallpaper on a Windows 11 virtual desktop:

1. With Task view open, right-click adesktop thumbnail and select Choose background.

   

2. Click one of the background images in theRecent imagessection.

   

   If you have a custom wallpaper that you want to use, clickBrowse photosand select your wallpaper image.

3. Your new background will now be visible when using that desktop and also when viewing the Task View desktop previews.

   

   Each desktop can have its own background, so you can repeat these steps for each of your desktops if you like.

How to Use the Same App on Different Desktops

The main purpose of having different desktops is to group your apps according to different themes or purposes, but you can sometimes run the same app on more than one desktop. It works differently with different apps, so the only way to know for sure is to try.

In some cases, you can open the same app on multiple desktops and have unique views of that app on each one. For example, you can have Edge open on multiple desktops, and each copy can have its own unique set of tabs open. 

Other apps don't work that way. For example, if you open Photoshop on your second desktop when it's running on your first desktop, Windows will automatically swap you back to your first desktop and the instance of Photoshop that was already open.

When you change this setting, you have the option to show just one window from an app on all desktops or to have the entire app, including all of its windows, show up on all desktops.

Here's how to use one app across multiple desktops in Windows 11:

1. Click theTask viewicon.

   

2. Right click theappthat you want to use on multiple desktops.

   

3. SelectShow this window on all desktopsto just have that one window on all of your desktops, orShow windows from this app on all desktopsfor the entire app to appear on all of your desktops.

   

What Is a Virtual Desktop?

Windows 11 is based around a desktop, which is a workspace that you use to organize and get tasks done on your computer. The main components of the desktop include a taskbar where you can launch and switch applications and a desktop area that can hold folders, files, and shortcuts.

When you add a new desktop in Windows 11, it creates a new instance of the taskbar that can hold its own unique apps. The desktop itself doesn't change though, and it will always display the same set of folders, files, and shortcuts. You can change the wallpaper of each virtual desktop to help differentiate between them, but you can't place unique files, folders, or shortcuts on them.

Since each virtual desktop has its own taskbar, you can have different apps on each desktop. This can be useful for organizational purposes, and you may choose to have apps that pertain to different projects or tasks to each have their own desktop. One straightforward implementation is to have one desktop for work-related apps and another for social apps or games.

Adding a new Windows 11 desktop isn't the same as creating or running a virtual machine, so there is no compartmentalization between the desktops. Each desktop is attached to the same instance of Windows 11, corresponds to the same user, and even has the same set of files and shortcuts on the desktop itself.

• Can I disable multiple desktops in Windows 11?

  No. There's no way to disable the virtual desktops feature, but you can hide the Task View icon. Go toSettings>Personalization>Taskbarand turn off theTask viewtoggle.

• How do I split my desktop in Windows 11?

  To split the screen in Windows 11, hover the mouse cursor over a window'sMaximizebutton to bring up the Snap Layout options. Select the option you prefer.

• How do I use multiple monitors on Windows 11?

  To add a monitor in Windows, connect your monitor and PC using an HDMI cable. Then go toSettings>System>Display>Multiple Displays>Detect.