How to use Virtual Desktops in Windows 11

If you've ever found yourself with dozens of windows open at the same time, Virtual Desktops might be exactly what you need. Windows 11 lets you create multiple separate desktops on the same computer, each with its own set of open windows and apps. You can use one desktop for work, another for personal browsing, and a third for a project you're in the middle of, and switch between them in seconds.

In this post, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about Virtual Desktops in Windows 11, from creating your first one to customizing each desktop with its own wallpaper.

What are Virtual Desktops?

A Virtual Desktop is a separate workspace on your computer. Each one has its own set of open windows and apps, completely independent from the others. Switching between Virtual Desktops is like having multiple monitors, except everything runs on the same screen.

Here are a few ways you can use them:

• Keep work apps on one desktop and personal browsing on another.
• Dedicate a desktop to a specific project so it doesn't clutter your main workspace.
• Separate communication apps like email and chat from the rest of your work.

Virtual Desktops don't affect your computer's performance in any meaningful way. Apps on other desktops run in the background, the same as they always do.

How to open Task View

Task View is the built-in Windows 11 tool for managing Virtual Desktops. There are two ways to open it:

• Left-click on the Task View button on the Taskbar. It looks like two overlapping rectangles and sits between the Start button and the Search bar.
• Or press the Windows logo key + Tab on your keyboard.

Once Task View opens, you'll see thumbnails of all your open windows across the top of the screen, and your Virtual Desktops displayed as a row of thumbnails along the bottom.

How to create a new Virtual Desktop

1. Open Task View using either method above.
2. Left-click on the New desktop button in the bottom-left corner of the screen. It appears as a large + symbol next to your existing desktop thumbnails.

A new desktop will appear in the row along the bottom of the screen, labeled Desktop 2. You can create as many virtual desktops as you need.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop without opening Task View.

How to switch between Virtual Desktops

There are two ways to switch between Virtual Desktops:

• Open Task View and left-click on the desktop thumbnail you want to switch to.
• Use the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Ctrl + the right arrow key to move to the next desktop, or Windows logo key + Ctrl + the left arrow key to move to the previous one.

The keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to move between desktops once you get used to them, since you don't have to open Task View at all.

How to rename a Virtual Desktop

By default, Windows 11 names your desktops Desktop 1, Desktop 2, and so on. Giving them meaningful names makes it much easier to stay organized.

1. Open Task View.
2. Left-click on the name of the desktop you want to rename. The name will become editable.
3. Type the new name and press Enter.

You can name them anything you like, such as Work, Personal, Projects, or whatever helps you stay organized.

How to give each Desktop its own wallpaper

One of the most useful features of Virtual Desktops in Windows 11 is the ability to set a different wallpaper on each one, making it instantly obvious which desktop you're on.

1. Open Task View.
2. Right-click on the desktop thumbnail you want to customize.
3. Left-click on Choose background.
4. The Personalization settings will open. Left-click on Background and choose a new wallpaper for that desktop.

The wallpaper change applies only to the desktop you selected. Your other desktops keep their own wallpapers.

How to move a window to a different Virtual Desktop

If you open an app on the wrong desktop, you don't have to close it and reopen it on another one. You can move it directly from Task View.

1. Open Task View.
2. Find the window you want to move in the thumbnails at the top of the screen.
3. Right-click on the window thumbnail.
4. Left-click on Move to.
5. Left-click on the name of the desktop you want to move it to.

You can also left-click and drag a window thumbnail from the top of the Task View screen down to a desktop thumbnail at the bottom to move it.

How to close a Virtual Desktop

When you're done with a Virtual Desktop, you can close it without losing any of the windows that were open on it. Windows 11 automatically moves any open windows from the closed desktop to the one next to it.

There are two ways to close a Virtual Desktop:

• Open Task View, hover your cursor over the desktop thumbnail you want to close, and left-click the X that appears in the top-right corner of the thumbnail.
• Use the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Ctrl + F4 to close the current desktop.

Virtual Desktop keyboard shortcuts

Here's a quick reference for all the Virtual Desktop keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11:

Action	Keyboard Shortcut
Open Task View	+ Tab
Create a new virtual desktop	+ Ctrl + D
Switch to the next desktop	+ Ctrl + Right Arrow
Switch to the previous desktop	+ Ctrl + Left Arrow
Close the current desktop	+ Ctrl + F4

For more Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts, check out our post: Windows logo key shortcuts for Windows 11.

Virtual Desktops are one of the most underused features in Windows 11, and once you get into the habit of using them, it's hard to imagine going back. Whether you use them to separate work from personal browsing, keep a project contained, or to simply reduce the clutter on your screen, they're a simple and effective way to stay organized.