They don’t create real virtual desktops - they “fake it” by remembering which windows should be minimized and which should be maximized. However, most virtual desktop tools just work by minimizing and maximizing windows.

These tools generally have more features and can feel a bit more “seamless” - you can move windows between virtual desktops and see all your open windows on each desktop’s taskbar, if you like. For example, we thought Dexpot worked very well and there are other virtual desktop managers you can download. There are other virtual desktop tools that seem more powerful. The Sysinternals Desktops v2.0 downloads page explains the limitations of the tool well. RELATED: How to Get Virtual Desktops on Windows with Dexpot Of course, if you want to stop using it, you should disable the “Run automatically at logon” option first. The recommended way to close Desktops v2.0 is to log off and log back on. Try to set up workspaces for specific tasks so you don’t have to constantly juggle windows between desktops.

To move a window to a different desktop, you have to close it and then re-open it on that other desktop.

Unfortunately, you can’t actually move windows between virtual desktops once they’re open. You can also click the system tray icon to see an overview of your desktops and switch between them. You can customize the keys for switching between virtual desktops, but by default you’ll use Alt+1/2/3/4 to switch between your four virtual desktops. If you want to run the tool automatically at login, click the Run automatically at logon checkbox. You’ll see the minimal Desktops setup window.

Open the downloaded Desktops.zip file, extract the Desktops.exe file, and double-click it. Most of them are powerful system utilities full of useful information - not small tools like this one. If you’re a Windows power user, you should get familiar with the SysInternals tools. Sysinternals was once a third-party collection of tools, but the Sysinternals tools are so useful and powerful that Microsoft bought them all a few years ago. RELATED: What Are the SysInternals Tools and How Do You Use Them?ĭownload Desktops v2.0 from MIcrosoft’s Windows Sysinternals site. You don’t have to pay up, deal with nag screens, or deal with a cluttered application to use them. The tool is small, lightweight, and free. While Microsoft’s Virtual Desktops PowerToy hasn’t worked since Windows XP, they do provide another tool that will let you use virtual desktops on modern versions of Windows.

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