How to use Multiple Desktops on Windows 10

In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to use Multiple Desktops with Windows 10.

Shortcut Keys covered in this video:
Windows + D To open a new desktop
Windows + CTRL + F4 To close a desktop
Windows + CTRL + Left arrow / Right arrow To navigate to the previous or the next desktop

As full-disclosure, I work at Microsoft as a full-time employee.

[soramadoo]

even microsoft employees don't use edge

[mihirgovilkar]

When I add a new desktop, it's not a clean slate as it is shown here. All the icons and files of my main desktop are replicated. A copy gets made. I was wondering if it's possible to have a new desktop which has nothing on it, so I could have two completely different looks as well.

[Gary-ccoe]

Can we save & recover our apps on multiple desktops even after restart?

[sethmedley]

This would be so much better if you could have custom desktop and taskbar shortcuts. For example, I want to have a casual desktop with my browser and media shortcuts and I also want a programming desktop with all of my programming shortcuts. It is very difficult, but possible to change the wallpaper of different desktops in Windows 11. That is about the only customization you have with this feature, which is not good in my opinion. I think by allowing users to create custom multi-desktops will give the user a whole new experience.

[abrahambanaddawa]

I feel like there is more functionality that is as of yet not being exploited to create real virtual desktops. From hosting different shortcuts to different backgrounds and different settings on each desktop. I believe iOS might be better in this regard and I hope someone from MS sees this comment and pushes for better features

[luisfelipecarreira]

In case it helps: for those who have a touchpad with this functions, using 4 fingers gestures left and right also navigate between existing desktops, while using 3 fingers allows you to navigate between apps at a given desktop.

[agostinhomatos]

Unfortunately Windows 10 desktops are very similar to linux workspaces, with the same limitations. Several desktops or workspaces just to have different apps opened in each one of them is quite short in terms of features. I would rather have several desktops behaving like different user desktops or computer desktops, where each desktop could have an independent configuration - screen resolution, program icons, taskbar shortcuts, etc. This is what I would expect from more than one desktop or workspace. The current solution is ONE desktop divided into two or more sub-desktops, all of them constituting one main desktop.

[daniel.ampcap]

Hi, thank you for your videos! Is there any way to save desktops like workspaces? In case of updates, restarts and other circumstances wehre you would have to open up all desktops completely from scratch

[ScubaToyBoy]

When I create a new desktop, it is not clean. It is just a copy of my default desktop. How can I create a clean uncluttered desktop that is empty.

[EDRISSALEXIS]

@ 3:50 mark: "Clicking on an item & dragging it into (different) desktops" is exactly what I was looking for. It worked. (And "Windows" + "Ctrl" + "right arrow key / left arrow key" to shift between desktops was an added bonus!) Thanks again. As always. Great work, Kevin.

[bikersoncall]

From my perspective this cool feature should not be called MULTIPLE DESKTOPS,
it should be called multiple taskbars.
I use my Desktop as an organizational tool, I usually have 30 to 50 visually
recognizable icons on the desktop, that streamline my abilitty to navigate between
projects or tasks, some might be folders others might be website icons etc.
If this feature tutorial was actually about multiple desktops,
when I add, say, desktop two,
then click desktop two it should be a totally blank slate with nothing showing
but the recycle bin, until I start loading it with website icons, pictures, folders etc.
An additional feature that would be nice but not crucial would be to enable us to use
different desktop themes for the additional desktops that we create, but here I am
again back to the beginning of my comment; 'This feature is not about multiple desktops,
it is a tool to add multiple taskbars' imv..

[Muinteoir]

Is it possible to set the desktops to different screens? I have 2 additional screens attached to my laptop and it would be fantastic to be able to have different desktops on each screen.

[f]

Or, you could switch desktops without all those hotkeys by just clicking on the correct pane on the desktop pager on the taskbar.

Oh wait... that's KDE on Linux...for years, now. Nevermind.

[rocko]

Seems like the virtual desktops is really just a way to group the applications into virtual desktops.
Can I have an application opened in more than one desktop? For example, if I opened an excel spreadsheet in desktop 1, can I open a different excel spreadsheet in desktop 2? Also, will I have a problem opening the same file in a different desktop?

[afgbehzadable]

THE REAL QUESTION IS how do you save multiple windows?

This function is almost useless if you have to create your workspace over and over again because its lost after a simple shut down or restart. It is meant to save time.

So if anyone knows: How do we save multiple windows? I havent found a solution.

[TheBroJames]

Thanks, Kevin, you are a great presenter, I'm glad I found you and your channel. Question: What do multiple desktops do to memory resources?

[erroreliminator.]

What if you accidentally closed a desktop? Is there any way to re-open it?

[rajatchillz]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have been having the following issue:

I can create multiple desktops but they are all the same. What I do on the first desktop is replicated on the others. If I delete something off one, it deletes off all the others as well. That totally defeats the purpose of having more than one desktop. I want to be able to assign each desktop to different uses. I tried to discuss it on Help Chat but the person on the other end keeps talking about how it can’t be set up for different USERS when I am talking about different USES, not that it makes much difference. The multiple desktop feature states that each desktop can be used for different purposes, and on mine, they can’t – they are all the same! How do I do it?


Please advice

[Aliusmi]

All this covid time, I watched your videos and it helped me a lot. Good stuff and well explained topics. Thank you

[smiledLand]

...What if you want a different desktop as in the icons and folders and anything on that desktop would be different than the first one?