What "creating a new desktop" means and why you might do it

A new desktop is a separate workspace on your computer where you can open different programs and windows without cluttering your main screen. Both Windows and Mac let you create multiple desktops so you can keep work projects separate from personal files, or group related tasks together. You switch between them with a keyboard shortcut or by swiping, and each desktop remembers which programs you had open there.

This is useful if you work with many windows at once — you might keep email and messaging on one desktop, design files on another, and research on a third. It keeps your screen less crowded and helps you focus on one task at a time.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 create new desktops through Task View, opened with Windows key + Tab or the taskbar button.
  • Mac creates new desktops through Mission Control, opened with F3, Control + Up Arrow, or the trackpad gesture.
  • Each desktop keeps its own set of open windows and programs, and you can move windows between desktops.
  • You can rename desktops on Mac but not on Windows; Windows identifies them by number only.
  • Keyboard shortcuts let you switch desktops without using the mouse, which is faster once you memorize them.

Creating a new desktop on Windows 10 and 11

Open Task View by pressing Windows key + Tab on your keyboard, or click the Task View button on your taskbar (it looks like two overlapping rectangles). Your screen will show all open windows and, at the top, a section labeled "Desktops" with a button that says "+ New". Click that button to create a new desktop.

The new desktop appears blank and ready to use. You can now open programs on this desktop without affecting what you have open on your other desktops. To switch between desktops, use Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow to move forward or Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow to move backward. You can also click directly on a desktop thumbnail in Task View.

To delete a desktop you no longer need, open Task View, right-click the desktop thumbnail, and select "Close". Any windows open on that desktop will move to your previous desktop, so you won't lose them.

Creating a new desktop on Mac

Open Mission Control by pressing F3, or press Control + Up Arrow, or swipe up with four fingers on your trackpad. Your screen will show all open windows and, at the top, a row of desktop thumbnails. In the top-right corner, you will see a "+" button. Click it to create a new desktop.

The new desktop appears as a blank space in your Mission Control view. You can now click on it to switch to that desktop and open programs there. To switch between desktops without opening Mission Control, use Control + Right Arrow to move forward or Control + Left Arrow to move backward. You can also swipe left or right with four fingers on your trackpad.

On Mac, you can rename desktops to keep track of what you use them for. Right-click a desktop thumbnail in Mission Control and select "Rename Desktop", then type a name like "Work" or "Design". To delete a desktop, right-click it in Mission Control and select "Delete Desktop". Windows open on that desktop will move to another desktop.

Moving windows between desktops

On Windows, open Task View and find the window you want to move. Right-click it and select "Move to", then choose which desktop you want it on. You can also drag a window thumbnail directly onto a different desktop thumbnail.

On Mac, open Mission Control and drag a window thumbnail to a different desktop. Alternatively, click on a desktop to switch to it, then use the window's menu or drag it to move it to another desktop. Some Mac programs also let you right-click a window and choose which desktop to send it to.

Keyboard shortcuts for faster switching

Once you have multiple desktops set up, keyboard shortcuts are faster than clicking. On Windows, Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow moves you to the next desktop to the right, and Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow moves you left. You can cycle through desktops this way without opening Task View.

On Mac, Control + Right Arrow moves to the next desktop and Control + Left Arrow moves to the previous one. If you prefer trackpad gestures, swipe left or right with four fingers. These shortcuts work from any desktop, so you can jump between workspaces without interrupting what you are doing.

What happens when you restart your computer

On Windows, your desktops and the programs open on them are saved when you shut down. When you restart, Windows recreates the same desktops with the same windows in the same places. If you had three desktops with email on one and design files on another, you will see that same setup when you log back in.

On Mac, the behavior depends on your settings. By default, macOS saves your desktops and windows when you restart. You can change this in System Settings by going to General > Login Items and unchecking "Reopen windows when logging back in" if you prefer a fresh start each time.

Troubleshooting common problems

If Task View does not open on Windows, check that you are pressing Windows key + Tab correctly — the Windows key is usually at the bottom left of your keyboard, next to the spacebar. If the shortcut still does not work, try clicking the Task View button on your taskbar instead. On some keyboards or laptops, you may need to hold the Fn key along with the Windows key.

On Mac, if Mission Control does not open, check that F3 is not being used by another program or system setting. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Mission Control and make sure the shortcut is enabled. You can also change it to a different key if F3 conflicts with something else.

If you create a desktop but cannot see it, make sure you are looking at the desktop thumbnails at the top of Task View or Mission Control. On Windows, the thumbnails appear in a row at the top of the Task View window. On Mac, they appear at the top of the Mission Control view. If you still cannot see it, try closing and reopening Task View or Mission Control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than four desktops?

Yes. Both Windows and Mac let you create as many desktops as you want. There is no built-in limit. However, having too many can make it harder to remember which one you are on, so most people use between two and five.

Do programs run in the background on desktops I am not using?

Yes. If you have email or a read running on Desktop 2 and you switch to Desktop 1, the email and read keep going. Desktops are just different views of your screen — all your programs continue working regardless of which desktop you are looking at.

Can I move a window from one desktop to another without opening Task View or Mission Control?

On Windows, you have to use Task View to move windows. On Mac, you can drag a window while in Mission Control, or use some third-party tools that add drag-and-drop between desktops. The built-in Mac method requires Mission Control.

What happens to a desktop if I close all the windows on it?

The desktop stays there. It becomes blank, but it does not disappear. You can still switch to it and open new windows on it. To remove it, you have to delete it manually through Task View or Mission Control.

Can I use desktops to organize by project or by task type?

Yes, that is one of the main reasons people use them. You might create one desktop for each client project, or one for work and one for personal use. On Mac, you can name them to remember what each one is for. On Windows, you will have to remember by the order or by what windows you see when you switch to each one.