The fastest way to open a new desktop

On Windows, right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select New, then choose Folder or Shortcut depending on what you want to create. On Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then go to File menu and select New Finder Window. If you mean opening a second workspace or virtual desktop, Windows 10 and 11 users can press Windows key + Tab to see all open desktops, then click the plus sign to add a new one. Mac users with multiple desktops can swipe up with four fingers to see all desktops, then click the plus sign in the top right.

The method you use depends on what you're trying to do: create a new folder on your desktop, open a second file browser window, or switch to a completely separate workspace. Each approach takes less than five seconds once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can press Windows key + Tab to create a new virtual desktop, which gives you a blank workspace separate from your current one.
  • Mac users swipe up with four fingers or press Control + Up Arrow to see all desktops and add a new one from the overview screen.
  • If you want a new file browser window instead of a new desktop, use File menu > New Window on either operating system.
  • Right-clicking your desktop lets you create new folders or shortcuts directly on the desktop surface itself.

Opening a new virtual desktop on Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 both include a virtual desktop feature that lets you create separate workspaces. Press Windows key + Tab to open the Task View screen, which shows all your open windows and desktops at the top. You'll see a plus sign labeled "New desktop" — click it to create a blank workspace.

Each new desktop starts completely empty. You can move windows between desktops by dragging them in Task View, or by right-clicking a window and selecting Move to. This is useful when you want to keep work projects separate from personal browsing, or when you need to focus on one task without seeing other open programs.

To switch between desktops without opening Task View, use Windows key + Right Arrow to move to the next desktop or Windows key + Left Arrow to go back. Close a desktop by right-clicking it in Task View and selecting Close — any windows on that desktop will move to your other desktops automatically.

Opening a new virtual desktop on Mac

Mac computers with macOS have a feature called Spaces that works similarly to Windows virtual desktops. Swipe up with four fingers on your trackpad to open Mission Control, which shows all your open windows and desktops. You'll see a plus sign in the top right corner — click it to create a new desktop.

Alternatively, press Control + Up Arrow to open Mission Control directly, then click the plus sign. Each new desktop appears as a separate space at the top of the Mission Control screen. You can move windows between desktops by dragging them in Mission Control, or by opening a window and using Control + Right Arrow or Control + Left Arrow to move it to an adjacent desktop.

To switch between desktops without opening Mission Control, swipe left or right with four fingers on your trackpad. You can also use Control + Right Arrow to move to the next desktop or Control + Left Arrow to go to the previous one. Close a desktop by opening Mission Control, hovering over the desktop you want to remove, and clicking the X that appears.

Creating a new folder or file on your desktop

If you want to add a new folder directly to your desktop rather than open a new workspace, right-click on an empty area of your desktop. A menu will appear with several options — select New to see a submenu. On Windows, you can choose Folder to create a new folder, Shortcut to create a link to a program or file, or other options depending on what software you have installed.

On Mac, right-click your desktop and select New Folder from the menu. The new folder will appear on your desktop with a default name like "untitled folder" — you can rename it when ready by typing a new name. Both systems let you drag files into these new folders to organize your desktop.

Opening a new file browser window

A new file browser window is different from a new desktop — it's a second window showing your files and folders. On Windows, open File Explorer (the folder icon in your taskbar), then click File at the top and select New window. You can also press Ctrl + N as a shortcut. This opens a second File Explorer window so you can view two folders side by side.

On Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then go to the File menu and select New Finder Window. You can also press Command + N. This is useful when you need to copy or move files between two locations — you can drag files from one window to the other without navigating back and forth.

Common mistakes when opening a new desktop

The most common mistake is confusing a new virtual desktop with a new file browser window. If you press Windows key + Tab expecting to see your files, you'll instead see Task View with your desktops. Remember: virtual desktops are separate workspaces, while file browser windows show your folders and files.

Another mistake on Mac is forgetting that you need four fingers to swipe for Mission Control. Using three fingers or two fingers won't work — the gesture specifically requires four. If swiping doesn't open Mission Control, check your trackpad settings in System Preferences to make sure the gesture is turned on.

Windows users sometimes create a new desktop when they actually want to minimize all windows to see the desktop. If you want to hide all open windows and see your desktop, press Windows key + D instead of Windows key + Tab. This shows your actual desktop without creating a new workspace.

Organizing multiple desktops and windows

Once you have multiple desktops open, you can organize them by purpose. For example, use one desktop for work email and documents, another for web browsing, and a third for creative projects. This keeps your screen less cluttered and helps you focus on one task at a time.

You can also combine virtual desktops with multiple file browser windows. Open a new desktop, then open a new file browser window on that desktop to view specific folders. This setup is especially helpful if you work with files from different projects or departments — each desktop can have its own set of windows and folders open.

On both Windows and Mac, you can drag windows between desktops in the Task View or Mission Control screen. This is faster than closing a window and reopening it on a different desktop. You can also right-click a window's title bar on Windows to see options for moving it to another desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than four virtual desktops?

Yes. Both Windows and Mac let you create as many virtual desktops as you want. Keep adding new desktops by clicking the plus sign in Task View or Mission Control. However, having too many desktops can make it harder to remember which one you're on — most people find three to five desktops is a practical limit.

Do programs stay open when I switch desktops?

Yes. Programs continue running in the background on their desktop. If you have an email program open on Desktop 1 and switch to Desktop 2, the email program keeps running and checking for new messages. You just can't see it until you switch back.

What's the difference between a new desktop and minimizing windows?

Minimizing hides a window but keeps it on the same desktop. A new desktop is a completely separate workspace where you can open different programs. Use minimizing when you want to temporarily hide something; use a new desktop when you want to work on a different project without seeing your other windows.

Can I delete a desktop if I change my mind?

Yes. On Windows, open Task View, right-click the desktop you want to remove, and select Close. On Mac, open Mission Control, hover over the desktop, and click the X. Any windows on that desktop will move to your remaining desktops automatically.

Why isn't the swipe gesture working on my Mac?

Make sure you're using four fingers, not three. Also check System Preferences > Trackpad > More Gestures and confirm that "Swipe between full-screen apps" or "Mission Control" is turned on. If you have an older Mac, you might need to use Control + Up Arrow instead of swiping.