To switch between desktops in Windows 11, press Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow to move to the next desktop and Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow to go back. You can also press Windows key + Tab to open Task View and click the desktop you want. To fill a desktop with several windows of the same app, open multiple windows in Windows 11.
These steps cover Windows 11 on any PC. The shortcuts and Task View steps also work in Windows 10, with the few differences noted near the end.
What a Virtual Desktop Is
A virtual desktop is a separate workspace on the same PC. Each one keeps its own set of open windows, so you can keep work apps on Desktop 1 and personal apps on Desktop 2 and flip between them. Your desktop icons and files are the same on every desktop, and every desktop shares the same processor and memory, so extra desktops don’t make the PC faster or slower by themselves. You need at least two desktops before the switching shortcuts do anything.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Virtual Desktops
- Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow: go to the next desktop.
- Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow: go to the previous desktop.
- Windows key + Ctrl + D: create a new desktop and switch to it.
- Windows key + Ctrl + F4: close the current desktop. Its open windows move to the next desktop instead of closing.
- Windows key + Tab: open Task View to see all desktops.
These shortcuts are listed on Microsoft’s keyboard shortcuts in Windows page, and they work the same way in Windows 10. The arrow shortcuts follow the order of desktops in Task View, so put the ones you use together side by side.
How to Switch Desktops With Task View
- Press Windows key + Tab, or click the Task View button on the taskbar. Your open windows appear as thumbnails, with a row of desktops at the bottom of the screen.
- Click the desktop you want. Task View closes and that desktop’s windows appear.
For a quicker switch with the mouse, hover over the Task View button. A row of desktops pops up above the taskbar, and you can click one without opening the full Task View screen. Microsoft describes both methods in How to multitask in Windows.
To switch without a mouse, press Windows key + Tab, press Tab until a desktop thumbnail is highlighted, use the arrow keys to pick one, and press Enter. Press Esc to leave Task View without switching.
If you don’t see the Task View button, turn it on under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar in the Taskbar items section. You can customize the rest of the Windows 11 taskbar on the same page.
For more about this screen, see what Task View does in Windows.
How to Add, Rename, Reorder, or Close a Desktop
Add a desktop
- Hover over the Task View button on the taskbar, or press Windows key + Tab.
- Select New desktop. You can also press Windows key + Ctrl + D from anywhere. Windows names it with the next number, such as Desktop 2.
Rename a desktop
- Open Task View.
- Select the desktop’s name, or right-click its thumbnail and select Rename.
- Type a new name, such as Work or School, and press Enter.
Reorder desktops
Open Task View and drag a desktop thumbnail to a new spot in the row. You can also right-click a desktop and choose Move left or Move right, or select it and press Alt + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow. Microsoft added these reorder options in a 2021 Windows Insider build.
Close a desktop
- Open Task View.
- Hover over the desktop and select the X on its thumbnail, or switch to it and press Windows key + Ctrl + F4.
Closing a desktop doesn’t close its apps. They move to the next desktop. Microsoft covers creating desktops, renaming them, and setting backgrounds in its multiple desktops guide.
Move a Window to Another Desktop
- Go to the desktop that has the window and press Windows key + Tab.
- Drag the window’s thumbnail onto another desktop in the row at the bottom, or right-click the thumbnail, select Move to, and pick a desktop.
To keep one window on every desktop, such as a music player or a chat app, right-click its thumbnail in Task View and choose Show this window on all desktops. Choose Show windows from this app on all desktops to do the same for every window of that app.
How to Switch Desktops With a Touchpad Gesture
On a precision touchpad, swipe left or right with four fingers to move between desktops. This is the default gesture, per Microsoft’s touchpad gestures page. The swipe switches desktops but doesn’t create new ones.
If the swipe doesn’t work:
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
- Expand Four-finger gestures.
- Set Swipes to the option that switches desktops.
The same page controls taps too, so you can stop two-finger taps from right-clicking if they get in the way.
You can pick the same option under Three-finger gestures if you prefer three fingers. If you don’t see these gesture settings at all, your touchpad isn’t a precision touchpad. Check the PC maker’s support site for an updated touchpad driver.
How to Switch Desktops on a Touchscreen
On a touchscreen PC or tablet, swipe left or right on the screen with four fingers. This gesture appears in the touch gestures guide.
If nothing happens, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch and turn on Three- and four-finger touch gestures.
Choose What Shows on the Taskbar and in Alt+Tab
By default, the taskbar and Alt+Tab only show windows on the desktop you’re using. To change that:
- Open Settings > System > Multitasking.
- Expand Desktops.
- Under On the taskbar, show all the open windows, choose Only on the desktop I’m using or On all desktops.
- Under Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab, make the same choice.
Showing windows from all desktops helps if you often forget where an app is open. Clicking a taskbar button for a window on another desktop switches you to that desktop.
Using Desktops With More Than One Monitor
When you switch desktops, every connected monitor switches at the same time. You can’t keep Desktop 1 on one screen while showing Desktop 2 on the other. Windows also can’t show a different picture on each monitor while you use more than one desktop. On a single desktop, though, you can set a different background for each monitor.
If Switching Desktops Doesn’t Work
- The shortcut does nothing: make sure you have at least two desktops. Keyboard remapping tools and some games can capture Windows key shortcuts, so close them and try again.
- An app shows on every desktop: it’s set to show on all desktops. Right-click it in Task View and turn off Show this window on all desktops.
- A window seems to be missing: open Task View and hover over each desktop to preview its windows. If the window is off the edge of the screen, move an off-screen window in Windows 11 back into view.
- Gestures don’t work: check the touchpad or touch settings above.
Switch Between Desktops in Windows 10
Windows 10 uses the same shortcuts and Task View steps as Windows 11, including Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right arrow and Windows + Tab. Microsoft’s Windows shortcut list covers both versions. Two things differ: if the Task View button is missing, right-click the taskbar and select Show Task View button, and the touchpad settings are under Settings > Devices > Touchpad. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.
On a Windows 10 touchscreen or 2-in-1, you can also turn on Tablet mode in Windows 10 for a touch-first layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from Alt + Tab?
Alt + Tab switches between open windows, not desktops. To put two windows side by side on the same desktop instead, split screen on Windows 11.
Do virtual desktops stay after I restart?
Windows normally keeps your desktops and their names after a restart, but apps that were open don’t reopen on them automatically. You’ll need to move apps back to their desktops. If all your windows seem to have vanished, you can get back to the normal desktop in Windows 11.
Can each desktop have its own wallpaper?
Yes. Right-click a desktop in Task View and select Choose background. Only a single picture works per desktop; a slideshow or solid color applies to all of them. The other background choices are covered in changing the desktop background in Windows 11.
How many desktops should I use?
Two to four is enough for most people, such as one each for work, school and personal apps. More desktops mean more arrow presses to reach the one you want.
Next, try giving each desktop a name and its own background so you can tell them apart at a glance in Task View.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.