What Virtual Desktops Are and Why You'd Use Them

Windows lets you create multiple separate desktops on a single computer—each one a blank slate where you can open different programs and windows. You can have one desktop for work email and documents, another for web browsing, and a third for personal projects, then flip between them when ready without closing anything. The programs stay exactly where you left them.

This feature is called Virtual Desktops or Task View, and it's built into Windows 10 and Windows 11 at no extra cost. You don't install anything or change your hardware. It's purely a way to organize what's on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Task View by pressing Windows key + Tab, then click the plus sign to create a new desktop.
  • Switch between desktops using Windows key + Right Arrow or Windows key + Left Arrow, or by clicking the desktop thumbnail in Task View.
  • Each desktop keeps its own open windows and programs—closing a window on one desktop doesn't affect the others.
  • You can drag windows between desktops by holding them in Task View and dragging to a different desktop thumbnail.
  • Desktops are temporary by default; they close when you restart your computer unless you leave programs running on them.

Opening Task View and Creating a New Desktop

The gateway to virtual desktops is Task View, which shows all your open windows and desktops in one place. Press Windows key + Tab on your keyboard. Your screen will dim slightly and show thumbnail previews of every window you have open, plus a row of desktop thumbnails at the top.

To create a new desktop, look for the button labeled "New desktop" or a plus sign (+) in the desktop row at the top. Click it. A fresh, empty desktop appears in the row. You can create as many desktops as you want—there's no practical limit, though most people use between two and five.

If Task View doesn't open, your keyboard might have a different layout. On some laptops, you may need to hold the Function key (Fn) along with Windows + Tab. If that doesn't work, you can also right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and look for a "Show task view" or "Task view" option.

Switching Between Desktops Using the Keyboard

Once you have multiple desktops, the fastest way to move between them is the keyboard. Press Windows key + Right Arrow to jump to the next desktop to the right. Press Windows key + Left Arrow to jump to the previous desktop to the left. You'll switch when ready, and all your windows on that desktop will appear exactly as you left them.

This works even when Task View is closed. You can be working on Desktop 1, press Windows key + Right Arrow, and land on Desktop 2 without ever opening Task View. The keyboard shortcuts are the fastest method once you memorize them.

Switching Between Desktops Using Task View

If you prefer using your mouse or trackpad, open Task View again with Windows key + Tab. You'll see a row of desktop thumbnails at the top of the screen. Each one shows a preview of what's on that desktop. Click any thumbnail to jump to that desktop.

Task View also lets you see all your open windows at once, which is useful if you're hunting for a specific program. You can click any window thumbnail to bring it to the front on its current desktop, or drag a window thumbnail down to a different desktop thumbnail to move it.

Moving Windows Between Desktops

Sometimes you'll open a program on the wrong desktop or decide you want to reorganize. You can move windows without closing them. Open Task View with Windows key + Tab, then find the window you want to move. Click and hold on the window thumbnail, then drag it down to a different desktop thumbnail. Release the mouse button, and the window moves to that desktop.

Alternatively, you can right-click a window thumbnail in Task View and look for an option like "Move to" or "Move this window to", which will show you a list of available desktops. Click the desktop you want, and the window moves there.

Closing Desktops and What Happens to Your Windows

When you're done with a desktop, you can close it. Open Task View, hover your mouse over the desktop thumbnail you want to close, and a small X button will appear in the corner. Click it. The desktop closes, but here's the important part: any windows that were on that desktop move to the nearest remaining desktop. Nothing gets deleted.

If you close all your desktops except one, you're back to a single desktop with all your windows. If you restart your computer, all desktops disappear and you start fresh with one desktop—unless you had programs running on them, in which case Windows may reopen those programs on the default desktop when you log back in.

Organizing Your Desktops for Different Tasks

The real power of virtual desktops comes from organizing by task or project. A common setup is: Desktop 1 for email and communication, Desktop 2 for active work projects, Desktop 3 for research and reference material, and Desktop 4 for personal browsing. You can name your desktops to remember what goes where—right-click a desktop thumbnail in Task View and look for a "Rename desktop" option (this is available in Windows 11; Windows 10 doesn't have built-in renaming, but you can use third-party tools if you want labels).

Switching between desktops takes a fraction of a second, so you can move between focused work and distractions without closing anything. When you're done with a task, close that desktop or leave it dormant and come back to it later in the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see all my desktops at once without clicking between them?

Yes. Press Windows key + Tab to open Task View, which shows all your desktops and windows at the same time. You can see what's on each desktop without switching to it. Close Task View by pressing Escape or clicking elsewhere on the screen.

What happens to my programs if I close a desktop?

The programs don't close. They move to the nearest remaining desktop. If you close Desktop 2 and you have Desktop 1 and Desktop 3, all programs from Desktop 2 slide over to Desktop 1 or Desktop 3. You can always move them back to a new desktop later.

Do my desktops stay when I restart my computer?

No. Virtual desktops reset when you restart. You'll start with one blank desktop. However, if you had programs running on a desktop, Windows may reopen them on the default desktop when you log back in, depending on your settings.

Can I use virtual desktops on Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Yes, both versions have Task View and virtual desktops built in. The feature works the same way on both. Windows 11 added the ability to rename desktops, but the core switching and creation process is identical.

Is there a way to move a window to a desktop without using Task View?

Not with the built-in Windows tools. You have to use Task View to drag and drop windows between desktops. Some third-party desktop management tools offer additional shortcuts, but the standard Windows method is Task View.