What is Task View?
Task view is used to manage windows across several monitors or virtual desktops, quickly find open windows, rapidly hide all windows and reveal the Desktop, and more. Task View is a task switcher and virtual desktop system originally introduced in Windows 10. Windows 10's Task View feature enables you to arrange your programs across various virtual desktops. It is a system that offers an environment for using several apps more effectively. It allows you to switch between active applications easily and spread work across different desktops to concentrate on one task at a time.
"Task View" in Windows 11/10 allows you to establish numerous virtual desktops and prevent your work efficiency from declining due to too many open task windows. To multitask more effectively, you can rapidly switch between several workspaces.
How to open Task View?
- Click on the Task View icon so that you can access Task View. It may be found on your taskbar next to the search box.
Note: If you don't see this icon on your taskbar, right-click a blank space and choose the Show Task View button.
- Task View can also be accessed by pressing Tab while holding the Windows key.
You may see a list of all the open application windows on your current Desktop in the Task View. Below are icons for each of your desktops.
How to Create a new Desktop?
- Click + New Desktop after selecting the Task View icon to add a new desktop.
- You can also press the Windows key + Ctrl + D keyboard shortcut.
This operation produces a brand-new desktop, giving you a clean workspace to use your applications. Clicking any of your desktop icons in the task view goes to that Desktop.
How to Assign Applications to desktops?
A new program is instantly added to your active Desktop when you start it. To relocate an application to a different desktop, follow the below steps:
- Go to Task view
- Click and drag your application window into the desktop icon you want to use to relocate it to a different desktop.
How to switch between the Desktops?
To change between desktops:
- Select the icon for the Desktop you want to utilize in task view.
- To switch to the previous or next Desktop, you may use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow or Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow.
How do close the Desktop?
A desktop can be closed by:
- Clicking the X in the top-right corner when the mouse is over its icon in the task view.
- Close the current Desktop by pressing the Windows key + Ctrl + F4 on your keyboard.
After closing the Desktop, applications on that Desktop are immediately relocated to a nearby desktop.
How to configure Multitasking?
The taskbar shows only the programs whose windows are visible in your current view by default. When you press Alt +Tab to switch tasks, these are the only applications automatically displayed. Instead, if you want to see the active applications in all task views, follow the below steps:
- Click the Start button.
- Choose Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Multitasking from the left sidebar.
- To find Virtual Desktops, scroll below.
- Use the two drop-down menus to customize the taskbar and Alt +Tab task switching.
How to use Task View’s Timeline?
Timeline is a brand-new Task View feature added with the April 2018 Windows 10 release. It scrolls over program and document activity and logs your actions during all recent 30-day Windows 10 sessions you've logged into. To go back to where you left off, you can click and open any task from your past. Additionally, it gives Microsoft access to your usage history.
To change this new feature's settings, go to Settings ->Privacy -> Activity History.
We use virtual desktops for various tasks and projects, and the Timeline helps carry on work on documents across several devices.
How can I split the screen and snap windows in Task View?
By snapping windows left or right on the Active Desktop, Task View quickly divides your screen. To take a picture of a window, right-click on it or hold down the mouse button. Based on your preference, click or press on Snap left or Snap right in the contextual menu. Instantaneously, the app is enlarged and moved to occupy the corresponding portion of your screen.
In Windows 11, we can also customize the Virtual Desktop as follows:
Rename:
You can alter the name of each virtual Desktop to identify it quickly.
Right-click on the Desktop you wish to alter, choose Task View, and then choose Rename.
To modify the name, type it in and press the Enter key.
Rearrange:
Choose Task View, right-click on the Desktop you want to move, and choose Move left/Move right to change the order of your desktops.
Change the desktop background:
Each virtual Desktop has a customizable desktop wallpaper.
Right-click the Desktop you wish to alter.
Choose Task View, and then click Choose background.