Windows 11 lets you create and switch between separate desktops using Task View

Windows 11 includes a built-in feature called Virtual Desktops that lets you create multiple workspaces on a single computer. Each desktop is separate — you can have different windows and programs open on each one, and switch between them without closing anything. This is useful if you want to keep work projects separate from personal tasks, or organize by project type.

The fastest way to switch desktops is to press Windows key + Tab. This opens Task View, which shows all your open desktops at the top of the screen. Click the one you want, and Windows takes you there when ready. Your windows stay exactly as you left them.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Windows key + Tab to open Task View and see all your desktops in one view.
  • Click any desktop thumbnail to switch to it, or use the arrow keys and Enter to navigate without the mouse.
  • Create a new desktop by clicking the plus sign in Task View, and you can have as many as you need.
  • Right-click a desktop in Task View to rename it or delete it when you no longer need it.
  • You can also use Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow to move forward through desktops, or Left Arrow to move backward.

Opening Task View to see all your desktops

Task View is the control center for virtual desktops. Press Windows key + Tab to open it. The screen dims slightly, and you see a row of desktop thumbnails across the top. Each thumbnail shows a preview of what's on that desktop — open windows, browser tabs, and programs all appear in miniature.

If you have only one desktop, you'll see just one thumbnail. If you've created multiple desktops, they line up left to right. The desktop you're currently on has a light border around it so you know which one is active.

Switching to a different desktop with the mouse or keyboard

To switch desktops with the mouse, open Task View (Windows key + Tab) and click the desktop you want. Windows closes Task View and takes you to that desktop. All your windows on that desktop appear exactly as you left them.

If you prefer the keyboard, use Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow to move to the next desktop to the right, or Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow to move to the previous desktop to the left. These shortcuts work without opening Task View — you switch when ready. This is faster if you're moving between just two or three desktops regularly.

Creating a new desktop

Open Task View by pressing Windows key + Tab. Look for the plus sign button that says "New desktop" — it appears to the right of your existing desktop thumbnails. Click it, and Windows creates a blank desktop and switches you to it when ready.

You can create as many desktops as you need. There's no practical limit, though most people find three to five desktops enough for their workflow. Each new desktop starts empty with no windows or programs open.

Renaming a desktop to keep track of what's on it

By default, Windows names desktops "Desktop 1," "Desktop 2," and so on. You can rename them to match what you use them for — for example, "Work," "Personal," or "Project X." Open Task View and right-click the desktop you want to rename. A menu appears with the option to rename. Type the new name and press Enter.

Renaming is optional but helpful if you switch between many desktops. A name like "Email and Messages" is faster to recognize than "Desktop 3" when you're scanning the thumbnails.

Deleting a desktop you no longer need

Open Task View and right-click the desktop you want to remove. Select "Delete this desktop" from the menu. Windows closes that desktop and any windows on it move to the next desktop automatically — nothing gets lost, just relocated.

If you delete a desktop by accident, you can when ready undo it by pressing Ctrl + Z. After a few seconds, the undo option disappears, so act quickly if you need to restore it.

Moving windows between desktops

You can move a window from one desktop to another without closing it. Open Task View (Windows key + Tab), right-click the window you want to move, and select "Move to" followed by the desktop name. The window disappears from the current desktop and appears on the one you chose.

Alternatively, you can drag a window directly in Task View. Open Task View, find the window in its desktop thumbnail, and drag it to a different desktop thumbnail. This takes practice but works once you get the hang of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see windows from all desktops at once?

No — each desktop is separate by design. Task View shows you thumbnails of all desktops, but to work with windows you have to switch to that desktop first. This separation is the whole point of virtual desktops: keeping different projects visually isolated.

What happens to my desktops when I restart Windows?

Windows remembers which desktops you created and what windows were on each one. When you restart, your desktops come back with the same layout. However, programs don't automatically reopen — only the windows that were running before the restart return to their desktops.

Can I use a trackpad gesture to switch desktops?

On some trackpads, you can swipe left or right with four fingers to move between desktops. This depends on your trackpad driver and settings. Check your trackpad settings in Windows Settings under "Bluetooth and devices" to see if gesture switching is available and how to enable it.

Do virtual desktops work with multiple monitors?

Yes. Virtual desktops span across all your monitors — if you have two monitors, they both show the same desktop. You can't have different desktops on each monitor. When you switch desktops, both monitors switch together.

Is there a way to see all open windows across all desktops?

Open Task View (Windows key + Tab) and you see thumbnails of all desktops with their windows visible in miniature. This is the closest Windows gets to showing everything at once. You can also use Alt + Tab to cycle through all open windows across all desktops without opening Task View.