Last Updated: August 21, 2021 09:21 IST
Written by Shikhar Mehrotra
Microsoft is improving its Windows operating system to facilitate an easy and seamless user experience. There are plenty of Windows features that focus on multitasking. A Windows 10 user can use features such as a split-screen for working on two or more applications at the same time. Additionally, there is another feature that allows users to create multiple desktops for performing different types of tasks. The feature is called Virtual Desktops that allows a user to create multiple desktops on a system.
What are Windows 11 Virtual Desktops?
As the name suggests, Virtual Desktops in Windows 11 are separate desktops that can be created by a user for organising different types of tasks such as working or gaming. Just like everyone has a desktop that acts as an interface between an operating system and a user, Virtual Desktops allow a user to create multiple home screens on a Windows-driven device to execute different tasks. For instance, all the work-related applications like Word, PowerPoint and MS Teams can take up a separate virtual desktop, while a user can keep apps like Netflix or another desktop. While the feature is already present in Windows 10, it will be refined in Windows 11.
How to use Windows 11 virtual desktops?
- On the taskbar, click on the Desktops icon right beside the Search Box and the Cortana shortcut.
- If the icon is not available on the Taskbar, press Windows and Tab keys together to open the Virtual Desktops screen.
- The Virtual Desktops Menu shows all the desktops active at a given time. Additionally, it also displays all the active applications at a given time on the system.
- To activate a new desktop, users need to click on the plus icon at the top left corner of the screen. Alternatively, users can also press Win + CTRL + D on the keyboard to switch to a new virtual desktop.
- Once created, a virtual desktop can be renamed according to the user or for identification by the user.
- Users can reorder the Virtual Desktops on a computer by simply dragging them over one another or by right-clicking on them and selecting 'Move to left/right'
- Users can change the background of a virtual desktop and it will not affect the other desktops. It can be done by right-clicking on the background in a desktop and selecting 'Choose Background'
- Once multiple Virtual desktops are created, a user can divide active apps among them by simply dragging the app tiles to the desktop in the Virtual Desktops Menu.
IMAGE: REPUBLICWORLD/WINDOWS10
Published: August 21, 2021 09:21 IST
Window has began rolling out the Windows 11 operating system. Amd it says it will be rolled out in batches to Windows computer users – with the latest Windows devices getting the feature first. However, if you cannot wait for the update notification from Microsoft, you can go ahead and download the new Windows 11 manually. But first, you should checkout the device requirements for Windows 11.
From our review of the Windows 11, it looks like Microsoft is prioritizing productivity. It comes with a couple of features that are designed to boost the productivity of users. The new Virtual Desktop feature is one such feature. It lets you add extra screens to your computer to help improve your work productivity. The feature is similar to the multiple monitors feature in Windows 10, but with new improvements. Instead of having one desktop housing all of your desktop apps, you can set up to separate your personal and work things, and switch between them when you want. Here is how.
How to Create Multiple Desktops in Windows 11
To create multiple desktops, make use of the Task view button in the taskbar – this should appear next to the search button [the Virtual Desktop icon looks like two overlapping squares], then tap the + sign in the New desktop space.
If, for some reasons, you don’t find the Task view icon in the taskbar, you might have disabled it at some point. You will need to enable it to use it. To do this, right-click an empty section of the taskbar and tap Taskbar settings. Then, toggle-on Task view.
Using Multiple Desktops in Windows 11
To switch between virtual desktops, hover your cursor over the Task View icon and when the pop-up appears showing a preview of all your virtual desktops, place your cursor on the virtual desktop you would like to access. You can also name all your open Virtual desktop. This will make them easier to identify. To do this, right-click a preview and select Rename from the options that appear, then, type your preferred name and press Enter.
To close any desktop, just tap the x button on the virtual desktop. Also, you should know that even after your virtual desktop is closed, all running foreground programs will be moved to the desktop. So you don’t have to worry about accidentally closing all your work.
- What's new in Windows 11?
- 24/06/2021
- In "PC Software"
Windows 11 is available now, and while it's quite similar to Windows 10 in many ways, the updated operating system does introduce a host of new features aimed at helping you better organize and utilize your PC.
While it’s less a revolution and more of a refinement compared to Windows 10, there is one neat new feature of Windows 11 that you should know about — virtual desktops. Within Windows 11, they're just referred to as desktops, and they're treated like copies of your desktop that you can create, customize, and destroy at will.
This virtual desktops feature was actually added to Windows 10 some time ago, but it was never as easy to use as it is on Windows 11, where Microsoft puts a big button for accessing your desktops right on the taskbar, nestled alongside the Start button.
This new button is called Task View, and while you can remove it from your Windows 11 Start bar by right-clicking the Start bar, selecting Taskbar Settings, and switching the Task View button off, it's a useful feature that's worth keeping on your taskbar. You can use multiple desktops to manage your workflow, separate your work from your pet projects, and improve your work/life balance.
Check out our step-by-step guide below to see how you can make the most of multiple desktops in Windows 11.
When you complete a clean install of Windows 11, you should be looking at a single desktop brimming with possibilities. Here's how to create more, and get rid of them when you want to pare down.
1. Hover over or click on the Task View button on the taskbar. You should see a small preview of your current desktop[s], and if you clicked the button you'll also see a preview of the apps you have open on your current desktop.
2. Click the New Desktop button. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Ctrl + D. If you use the keyboard shortcut or the quick method of hovering over the Task View button and hitting "New desktop," you'll immediately switch over to looking at your new desktop. Otherwise, the new desktop will be added to your list of current desktops and you'll have to navigate to it manually.
If you've created too many desktops in Windows 11 and want to pare down, it's a simple process to remove them. However, if you only have one desktop you won't be able to remove it.
1. Hover over or click on the Task View button on the taskbar.
2. Find the preview of the desktop you want to remove and click the X button in the top-right corner to delete it. Note that the X button only appears when you hover your mouse over it. If you're having trouble, you can also right-click the desktop in question and select Close.
Every desktop you have open in Windows 11 is meant to function like its own desktop, which means you can give it a custom background and assign it a unique name.
Also, most apps by default will open different instances if you open them in different desktops — that is, if you open Microsoft Edge in one desktop to search for new wallpaper images, you won't see Edge open in any other desktops. And if you do open Edge in another desktop, it will be a separate instance that won't affect Edge anywhere else.
How to name your Windows 11 desktops
1. Hover over or click on the Task View button to bring up a preview of your current desktops.
2. Click directly on the name of the desktop you want to change. Alternatively, you could right-click the desktop and select "Rename" from the drop-down menu.
3. Type in the name you want to give it, and hit Enter. It's as easy as that!
How to put custom backgrounds on your Windows 11 desktops
1. Hover over or click on the Task View button to bring up a preview of your current desktops.
2. Right-click on a desktop and select Choose Background from the drop-down menu. The Settings > Personalization > Background menu will pop up, allowing you to customize your background [using either a color, image or slideshow] and how it appears on your desktop.
How to use the same app across multiple desktops
As noted, if you open the same app in two different desktops Windows 11 will treat each as a separate instance by default.
If you want to have the same app open in multiple desktops and ensure each app is accessing the same data — say, if you have Microsoft Word open in two desktops and want to ensure you're editing the same document in both, with changes carrying over between desktops — you'll need to use a special command.
1. Click on the Task View button; this won't work if you just hover your pointer over it, since you need the full Task View which shows which apps you have open in your current desktop.
2. Right-click the app you want to use in other desktops. Select "Show windows from this app on all desktops" if you want to ensure anything you have open in that app will be accessible across all your desktops.
You can also select "Show this window on all desktops" if you just want to open a single window in the selected app across all desktops. This is handy if, for example, you have a few spreadsheets open in Microsoft Excel and only want to work on one of them in your other desktops.
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