How to Switch Desktops on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

Windows 11 lets you set up several virtual desktops so you can keep work, personal browsing, or different projects separated without juggling a pile of windows on one screen. Switching between them only takes a click, a keyboard shortcut, or a swipe, depending on how you like to work. This guide covers every method so you can pick whichever fits your setup.

Quick steps

Click the Task View icon on the taskbar (or press Windows key + Tab).
Look at the desktop thumbnails along the top of the screen.
Click the desktop you want to switch to.

Before you start

Virtual desktops are a built-in Windows 11 feature, so you don’t need to install anything extra. A few quick things to know first:

Each virtual desktop can run its own set of open apps and windows, separate from the others.
Whether your desktops and their open apps persist exactly as you left them after a restart or sign-out can vary depending on your Windows 11 version and settings, so don’t assume your layout will always carry over.
You can use a mouse, a keyboard shortcut, a touchpad gesture, or a touchscreen tap to move between desktops, whatever’s quickest for your hardware.
The taskbar Task View icon might be hidden if you’ve customized your taskbar. If so, you can still use the keyboard shortcut instead.

Switch desktops using Task View (mouse or trackpad)

Find the Task View icon on the taskbar. It usually sits near the search box, showing overlapping rectangles.
Click it to open the Task View screen, which shows your open windows and your desktop thumbnails along the top.
Click on any desktop thumbnail to jump straight to it.
Click anywhere outside the thumbnails, or press Esc, to close Task View without switching.

Switch desktops with a keyboard shortcut

If you’d rather keep your hands on the keyboard, these shortcuts work in Windows 11:

Press Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow to move to the desktop on the right.
Press Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow to move to the desktop on the left.
Press Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then use the arrow keys and Enter to pick a desktop.

How to add a desktop in Windows 11

Open Task View by clicking its taskbar icon or pressing Windows key + Tab.
Click New desktop, which appears as a plus icon near the desktop thumbnails.
A new desktop appears in the row, numbered after your existing ones (for example, Desktop 2).
Click into the new desktop to start opening apps on it.

You can also press Windows key + Ctrl + D to create and switch to a new desktop in one step, without opening Task View first.

How to rename or close a desktop

Open Task View.
Hover over a desktop thumbnail. A text field appears below it along with an X to close that desktop.
Click the name field and type a new name if you want something more descriptive than “Desktop 2”.
Click the X on a thumbnail to close that desktop. Any open windows on it will move to the desktop before it in the row.

You can also close the current desktop quickly with Windows key + Ctrl + F4.

Switch desktops using touchpad gestures

On a laptop with a precision touchpad, you can switch desktops without touching the keyboard or clicking anything:

Place three or four fingers on the touchpad (this depends on your device’s gesture settings).
Swipe left or right to move between your virtual desktops.
Swipe up with three fingers to open Task View and see all your desktops at once.

If gestures don’t respond, check your touchpad settings under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad to confirm gestures are turned on for your device.

Switch desktops on a touchscreen

On a touchscreen device, you can switch virtual desktops without a keyboard or mouse:

Tap the Task View icon on the taskbar to open the desktop thumbnails.
Tap the desktop thumbnail you want to switch to.
To create a new desktop, tap the plus icon next to your existing desktops in the Task View screen.
Tap anywhere outside the thumbnails to close Task View without switching.

Touch gesture support can vary by device and Windows version, so if a particular swipe doesn’t do what you expect on your hardware, use the taskbar icon instead.

If it doesn’t work

The Task View icon is missing from the taskbar

If someone’s hidden the icon, you can still open Task View with Windows key + Tab. This works regardless of your taskbar settings.

Keyboard shortcuts aren’t switching desktops

Double check you’re pressing the full combination: Windows key, Ctrl, and the arrow key, all at once. Some external keyboards or remote desktop sessions can intercept these shortcuts before Windows sees them, so test the shortcut on the physical device first.

Touchpad gestures don’t respond

Not every touchpad supports multi-finger gestures, and some laptop manufacturers ship their own touchpad software that overrides Windows gestures. Check your touchpad settings in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, and also check for a manufacturer-specific touchpad app if gestures still don’t work.

Windows disappear after closing a desktop

They haven’t actually vanished. When you close a desktop, its open windows automatically move to the desktop immediately to its left in the Task View row. Open Task View and check the desktop before the one you closed.

Desktop layout looks different after a restart

Whether your desktops and their apps persist across a restart or sign-out can depend on your Windows 11 version and settings. If your layout looks different after rebooting, treat this as expected variation rather than a fault, and recreate desktops or reopen apps as needed.

Frequently asked questions

How many virtual desktops can I create on Windows 11?

You can create multiple desktops as needed for your workflow, and they’ll show up as a row of thumbnails in Task View. There’s no need to plan ahead, just add a new one whenever you want more separation between tasks.

Can I use a different wallpaper on each desktop?

Yes, each virtual desktop can have its own background. Right-click an open area of a desktop and choose the personalization option to set a different wallpaper for that specific desktop.

Do apps stay open when I switch desktops?

Yes. Apps keep running on the desktop where you opened them. Switching desktops just changes what you’re currently viewing, it doesn’t close or pause anything.

What’s the difference between virtual desktops and multiple monitors?

Virtual desktops let you organize windows into separate screens you switch between on the same monitor. Multiple monitors give you extra physical screen space to view windows side by side at the same time. You can actually combine both, using virtual desktops on each connected monitor.

Can I move a window from one desktop to another?

Yes. Open Task View, right-click the window you want to move, choose the option to move it, and select the destination desktop from the list.