Windows 10 & 11 Virtual Desktops: Setup, Taskbar and Alt+Tab Settings, Helper Risks

This guide covers the current steps, the two Multitasking settings that matter most, and an optional third-party utility that comes with security caveats.

What virtual desktops actually are​

Microsoft's multitasking documentation, which applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11, describes multiple desktops as a way to keep unrelated, ongoing projects organized or to separate work and personal tasks. Each desktop can have its own set of open applications.

They are separate workspaces on the same display. They don't add pixels. Engadget's "more screen real estate" line is best read as more organized workspace, not a bigger monitor. Snap is the feature for arranging windows within one desktop's screen space.

Engadget's suggested workflow is to put music, chat and social apps on one desktop and keep Excel or email on another. That is the author's illustration, not a Microsoft recommendation. It's a sensible one, though. Distractions are easier to ignore when they sit on a desktop you aren't looking at.

Create, switch and manage desktops​

These steps follow Microsoft's support documentation and Engadget's walkthrough.

1. Create a desktop. Hover over the Task View icon or press Windows + Tab, then select New desktop. Windows + Ctrl + D creates one directly. It is listed in Microsoft's keyboard-shortcuts page under virtual desktops.
2. Switch desktops. Use Task View, hover over the Task View button and pick a desktop, or press Windows + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow.
3. Move a window. In Task View, drag the window onto another desktop's thumbnail. Or right-click it, choose Move to, and pick a desktop.
4. Close a desktop. In Task View, use the close button on the desktop's thumbnail. Windows + Ctrl + F4 closes the one you're on. Closing a desktop doesn't close its apps. Microsoft says open applications on the closed desktop will be moved to the next available desktop, so you won't lose work.
5. Make desktops easy to tell apart. Right-click a desktop in Task View to rename it. Engadget says custom wallpapers per desktop are available only on Windows 11. Microsoft's page confirms per-desktop backgrounds exist but doesn't state that version limit.

If the Task View button is missing, right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings and turn on Task view. One how-to site notes that Windows key + Tab opens Task view even while the button is hidden.

The setting that changes how separate your desktops feel​

Go to Settings (Windows + I) > System > Multitasking and expand Desktops. Microsoft's guidance lists two independent drop-downs. Each one offers either Only on the desktop I'm using or On all desktops.

• On the taskbar, show all the open windows. This controls whether the taskbar lists windows from the current desktop only or from every desktop.
• Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab. This controls the same choice for the app switcher.

These settings don't change which apps are open. They only change what you can see and switch to.

A third-party how-to site, Support Your Tech, offers a useful rule of thumb. Choose "only on this desktop" if you want each desktop clean and separate. Choose "all desktops" if you often forget where an app lives, because selecting it takes you to the right desktop. You can set the two options differently, for example a clean taskbar but a global Alt+Tab.

A different setting on the same page, "Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt+Tab", controls Microsoft Edge tabs in the switcher. It is not a desktop control. Don't mix the two up.

Labels can shift between builds. Microsoft's own pages use "Desktops" in current Windows 11 guidance, and one older Windows 10 section calls it "Virtual desktops". Expect small wording differences.

Windows Virtual Desktop Helper: useful, with caveats​

Engadget recommends a small free GitHub utility called Windows Virtual Desktop Helper. According to the project's README, it:

• shows the current desktop number or initial in the notification area
• displays the desktop's name when you switch
• offers previous/next icons in the notification area
• supports custom hotkeys for virtual-desktop actions
• can autostart with Windows

The README explains the gap it fills: Windows includes virtual desktops, but some features are missing, such as showing which desktop you are on when switching. It is a modest tool for people who run many desktops and lose track.

Setup details​

• The project offers a v2.0 MSI installer and a v2.0 executable ZIP.
• It also lists a Scoop install with scoop bucket add extras followed by scoop install windows-virtualdesktop-helper.
• It requires .NET Framework 4.7 or later.
• Settings live in a config file under %appdata%\WindowsVirtualDesktopHelper.
• The README says command-line arguments can also set options and take precedence over the config file.
• Its hotkey examples include jumping to a specific desktop and moving forward or backward. These are examples, not defaults.
• The tray number icon may land under the notification-area chevron. The README says you can drag it into the main tray area.

The caveats Engadget doesn't mention​

• It isn't code-signed. The README says the app may be reported as untrusted by Windows Defender or other antivirus tools. It also says the MSI's autostart option may trigger malware flags. The developer says this should fade as more users report it as safe. That is the maintainer's explanation, not independent verification. A warning is not proof of malware, but it isn't proof of safety either. Decide whether you trust the project and its source before running it. The README suggests the ZIP version if you want to avoid some of these issues.
• It relies on unofficial APIs. The README says it uses undocumented Windows APIs, so Windows updates can break it. The maintainers say they must reverse-engineer changes, and they warn not to expect immediate support for Insider builds.
• Support is limited. The project states Windows 10 and Windows 11 are supported, and Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Server are not. It adds that not every build is fully working.

In managed or work environments, installing an unsigned utility may violate policy. Check with your IT team first. The helper is optional. Everything Engadget describes about creating and organizing desktops works without it.

Practical recommendations​

• Start with two or three desktops. Support Your Tech's guide notes that a handful is easier to track than ten.
• Name each desktop for a purpose, such as Work, Comms or Project.
• Use browser profiles alongside desktops, as Engadget suggests, so personal and work tabs don't blend together.
• If you lose a window, press Windows + Tab and check each desktop. You can also temporarily set Alt+Tab to On all desktops.
• If you rely on a specific layout, retest it after major Windows updates. A guide from Digital Citizen says app behavior around saved desktops can vary by app and update.

Bottom line​

Engadget's core advice holds up against Microsoft's documentation: virtual desktops are free, work on Windows 10 and 11, and take seconds to set up. The Multitasking settings are the best upgrade, since they decide whether desktops feel separate or just like extra clutter. The third-party helper is a convenience, not a requirement, and its unsigned, undocumented-API design means you should install it only if you're comfortable with the trade-offs.