Virtual desktops are returning in Windows 11, giving you the option to create a secondary desktop to help you switch from work to play, create a different work environment for different jobs, and so on.

So, how do you create a virtual desktop in Windows 11, and are they now worth using?

How to Create a Virtual Desktop in Windows 11

Virtual desktops are easy to set up in Windows 11 with the addition of a new Task View icon on the taskbar. Rolling over the Task View icon shows you any active virtual desktops, along with the option to create a new one.

windows 11 virtual desktop new desktop

So, here's how you create a new virtual desktop in Windows 11.

  1. Hover over the Task View icon.
  2. Select New desktop.

Alternatively, press the Windows key + CTRL + D shortcut to create a new virtual desktop.

That's it—a new virtual desktop awaits you, accessible through the Task View button.

Where Is the Task View Icon?

windows 11 virtual desktop task view button taskbar settings

If you cannot see the Task View button on your taskbar in Windows 11, it's likely hidden from view. You can restore it using the Settings app.

  1. In the Start menu search bar, input taskbar settings and select the Best match.
  2. Toggle the Task View to switch the icon on.

You should now spot the Task View button on your taskbar.

How to Rename a Virtual Desktop in Windows 11

If you want to keep your work and home life separate, you can name your virtual desktops accordingly.

From the Task View, right-click and select Rename.

windows 11 virtual desktop rename desktop

How to Change the Background on Your Windows 11 Virtual Desktop

One of the best new features for virtual desktops in Windows 11 is the option to set different backgrounds. It's a long-requested feature that Microsoft has resisted introducing until now.

Setting a separate background makes it easier to spot which virtual desktop you need at a glance, which is handy.

  1. Hover over the Task View taskbar icon.
  2. Right-click the virtual desktop you want to set a different background for and select Choose background.
  3. The Settings app will open on the Background page, from which you can choose a background for your virtual desktop.

How to Switch Between Virtual Desktops in Windows 11

If you're using several virtual desktops (or just one extra one), you'll want to switch between them with ease. There are two ways of switching between virtual desktops: the Task View or via shortcuts.

windows 11 task view window whole screen view
  1. Hover over the Task View button and select the next virtual desktop, or
  2. Press Windows key + TAB and select the virtual desktop you want.

There's also the option of using a keyboard shortcut:

  • Press Windows key + CTRL + arrow key to move between virtual desktops (using the left or right arrow key.)

Windows 11 Virtual Desktops Are Here

Virtual desktops aren't a new Windows 11 feature, but Microsoft is working to make them more useful.

The Windows 10 iteration of the same tool had many shortcomings, and while you could use it to place different apps on a different screen or create a different environment for certain tasks, it lacked the features required to turn into a fully useful tool for most.

As you can see in our article on improving Windows 10 virtual desktops, some of the ideas that required a third-party app back then are now becoming standard features in the Windows 11 version.

However, some features, like launching an app directly on a specific virtual desktop or the ability to work with different virtual desktops on multimonitor setups are still not available, which restricts its use and functionality.

As you've seen with the Windows 10 virtual desktop article linked above, it's likely that third-party apps will begin to appear for Windows 11 virtual desktops, adding some of the extra functionality that users want. Furthermore, there's also the chance that Microsoft implements some of these additional features themselves, not forgetting that Windows 11 is still in its Insider Preview testing phase at the time of writing.

Either way, the option to use virtual desktops in Windows 11 is here, and you now know how to do it.