Virtual desktop. What is it for and how to create it in the Windows system?

Tired of desktop clutter? Or maybe you need more space to work on different projects? Windows 10 has a clever solution. The virtual desktop lets you keep work documents separate from personal ones, and graphic projects apart from texts you’re currently writing. Learn how to fully utilize the features Windows gives you.

Virtual desktop – everything you need to know to get started

Company documents on one screen, graphic designs on the second, and study materials on the third – that’s exactly how the virtual desktop works in Windows 10. The system lets you create several independent workspaces that you can freely switch between.

Graphic designers, photographers, and programmers have long discovered the advantages of this solution. No wonder – when you work on many projects at once, it’s easy to get lost among open windows and documents.

This feature has long been available in MacOS and Linux systems. Microsoft introduced virtual desktops with the launch of Windows 10 in 2015, joining MacOS and Linux systems.

What’s best about it? Theoretically, an unlimited number of desktops. Just remember that each additional one adds extra load on your hardware.

Second Windows 10 desktop – setup and personalization

Windows 10 runs smoothly on basic hardware configurations, but with each additional running program you’ll notice more slowdown. That’s why it’s worth equipping your computer with at least 8 GB of RAM.

To create a new workspace in Windows 10, you have several options:

• press Windows + Ctrl + D;
• swipe up with three fingers on the touchpad;
• click the Task View icon on the taskbar, then “New desktop”;
• use the shortcut Windows + Ctrl + arrow keys (left or right) to switch between areas.

If you prefer the touchpad, just swipe three fingers sideways. The system will automatically display the selected space.

Importantly, each newly created workspace operates independently. You can open different programs and files in it than in the others. This way, you can easily separate different tasks – for example, work documents from private media.

How to switch desktops – personalization options

Windows 10 gives you many options to personalize each desktop. You can set a different background, change the theme color, or modify the set of icons on the taskbar – the system will keep these settings separately for each workspace.

Set a new wallpaper from the context menu – right-click on the desktop and choose “Personalize.” Different wallpapers are a good way to mark desktops – you’ll instantly tell the work space from the personal one.

On the taskbar, you’ll see only the programs you’ve launched on that desktop. You can change this in system settings – then program icons will be visible everywhere. This is useful if you often use the same apps across different tasks. For example, a web browser works well for both work correspondence and evening movie watching.

Windows also offers moving windows between desktops. Right-click the window’s title bar and select the target space. This way you can quickly organize your tasks. The system also has additional window management options – you can pin them to a specific desktop or set them to appear on all at once.

The taskbar can be customized to your preferences. It’s worth changing its position, size, or icon display method – separately for each desktop. This way you’ll create a perfect workspace for every task.

Switching between desktops – from basics to advanced tricks

Once you’ve created several desktops, it’s time to learn how to move between them efficiently. Windows 10 offers several simple ways to switch:

• press Windows + Ctrl + arrow keys (left or right) to quickly move between desktops;
• click the Task View icon on the taskbar or use Windows + Tab to see all desktops on one screen;
• swipe three fingers sideways on the touchpad if you prefer gestures.

It is just as easy to move screens between desktops.just grab a window with the left mouse button and drag it to another desktop in Task View. You can also right-click the window’s title bar and choose where to move it.

On the taskbar, you decide whether to show programs from all desktops or only the current one. This helps you quickly find the apps you need, even when using them across multiple projects.

To quickly close an unnecessary desktop, use the Windows + Ctrl + F4 shortcut. Don’t worry – all programs open on it will automatically move to the adjacent desktop.

Second Windows 10 desktop – what is it useful for?

Windows 10 introduced a feature that really simplifies daily computer work. Virtual desktops allow you to divide the screen into several independent spaces, so each task has its own dedicated place.

Imagine a typical day at the office. In the morning, you open spreadsheets and invoices that you need to handle before noon. Meanwhile, emails from clients arrive requiring immediate responses. After lunch, you prepare a presentation for tomorrow’s meeting. Instead of getting lost in dozens of open windows, you place each of these tasks on a separate desktop.

Teachers also use this feature. On separate desktops, they prepare materials for different subjects, for example, after finishing a biology lesson, they quickly switch to chemistry materials – without closing and opening dozens of files.

During remote work, it’s often hard to focus. Notifications from social media can effectively distract from work documents. That’s why it’s worth separating these spheres – work files and programs on one desktop, and personal ones on another.

However, keep your hardware limitations in mind. Each new desktop means additional programs in your computer’s memory. Check whether your processor and RAM can handle such a load.

How to solve problems with virtual desktops?

Is your computer slowing down with every new desktop? This often happens when you work intensively with Windows 10. Fortunately, a few simple steps are enough to make the system run smoothly again.

First, check Task Manager. You’ll see which programs are most taxing the processor and RAM. Often closing a few unused applications is enough to get everything running at full speed again.

However, the main reason your computer slows down is insufficient RAM. To efficiently handle multiple desktops, you need at least 8 GB. Programs like Photoshop or computer games require even more power, so it’s worth installing 16 GB – then you’ll forget about performance issues. Programs like Photoshop or computer games require even more power, so it’s worth installing 16 GB – then you’ll forget about performance issues.

Start using virtual desktops today!

Don’t wait – try virtual desktops in Windows 10. Press Windows + Ctrl + D and create your first additional workspace. Switch between desktops using Windows + Ctrl + arrow keys, and you’ll quickly realize how convenient your digital office can be. Just remember to regularly check system performance and close unused programs.

FAQ – most frequently asked questions

• Why does my computer run slower after creating multiple desktops?

Each new desktop adds extra load on RAM and processor. Check Task Manager to see which programs most heavily load the system and close unnecessary apps. To work smoothly with many desktops, you need at least 8 GB of RAM.

• Why can’t I open the same program on the second desktop?

This is normal Windows 10 behavior. When you try to open a program already running on another desktop, the system will automatically take you to the first instance.

• Can I have different wallpapers on each desktop?

Yes, but you need to set it manually. By default, all desktops have the same wallpaper and icon set.

• What happens to open programs when I close a desktop?

Don’t worry – all open programs automatically move to the adjacent desktop. You won’t lose any data or open documents.